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Have you noticed your dog鈥檚 belly looking bloated or swollen? You might think a rounder stomach is always a result of weight gain, but it could be ascites. This build-up of abdominal fluid isn鈥檛 a disease in itself, but rather a symptom of a disease. Depending on the cause, ascites can be life-threatening. Here鈥檚 what to look for with ascites in dogs and how it鈥檚 treated.
What Is Ascites in Dogs?
A dog鈥檚 abdomen contains many organs, such as the liver, intestines, stomach, and bladder. Normally, the cavity where these organs are located doesn鈥檛 contain much fluid. But when a dog has certain medical conditions, fluid can build up in the abdomen and surround the organs.
According to Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinarian for the AKC, 鈥淎scites is the medical term used to describe this abnormal development and accumulation of free fluid in the abdominal cavity. Ascites is not a specific condition but a physical abnormality that develops secondary to an underlying condition or disease.鈥�
What Causes Ascites in Dogs?
Dr. Klein states many illnesses can lead to fluid build-up in the abdominal cavity. Some categories of conditions that can lead to ascites in dogs include:
- Heart conditions: For example, affects the function of the right side of the heart. The right side of the heart is responsible for pumping blood to the lungs. If it can鈥檛 push the blood through, the blood will leak into the tissues of the body. Heartworm infection can also cause right-sided heart failure and ascites.
- Low protein levels in the blood: Diseases of the liver, kidney, intestine, or gall bladder can result in low protein levels, which can lead to ascites.
- Trauma: Traumatic injury to an abdominal organ (which can result from events like a car accident) can result in ascites. For example, urine can leak from a ruptured urinary tract, or an injured abdominal organ can bleed into the abdominal cavity.
- Anticoagulant toxins: If a dog ingests certain types of rat poison, it can affect the ability of the blood to clot and result in bleeding into the abdomen.
- Peritonitis: Peritonitis is the inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity. This is often caused by viral or bacterial infection.
- Cancer: Different types of cancers can cause fluid accumulation in different ways, such as organ bleeding, compression of blood vessels by a tumor, inflammation from a tumor, or rupture of a diseased organ.
Are Certain Dogs More Likely to Get Ascites?
You may wonder if your dog is more susceptible to ascites based on breed or sex. Although certain causes, such as cancer, can be more prevalent in certain breeds, other causes (like ) can affect any dog. Dr. Klein explains, 鈥淪ince there are many causes of ascites, including trauma and heartworm and cancer and organ disease, all dogs potentially can develop ascites.鈥�
What Are the Symptoms of Ascites in Dogs?
The main symptom of ascites is fluid build-up in the abdomen, but the amount of fluid can vary, depending on the situation. Dr. Klein says that a vet may or may not be able to detect a small amount of ascites when examining the abdomen. He adds, 鈥淗owever, in some cases, the volume can be large, causing the abdomen to enlarge and give a pot-bellied appearance. Often, people might mistake this for weight gain.鈥�
Besides a swollen-looking belly, dogs with ascites can show other signs based on how the fluid affects their body. For example, excess abdominal fluid can press on the lungs. Resulting problems may include:
- Decreased appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Lethargy or weakness
- Restlessness or other signs of discomfort (such as trembling, anxiety, or agitation)
- Panting
- Coughing
- Struggling to breathe
How Is Ascites in Dogs Diagnosed?
Because there are so many causes of ascites, your veterinarian may need to conduct multiple tests to get to the root of the problem. For starters, your vet will examine your dog and examine their abdomen. Imaging (such as an ultrasound or CT scan) can give your vet a view of what鈥檚 happening inside your dog.
(a way of removing a cell sample) can allow the vet to obtain a sample of the fluid. This can be helpful, as the type of fluid in the abdomen varies based on the underlying condition and how long that condition has been present. Urinalysis, blood work, biopsies, and other tests can also help pinpoint causes.
How Do You Treat Ascites in Dogs?
Treatment of ascites depends on the cause of the underlying condition. For example, if cancer is the cause, your dog might require radiation or chemotherapy to deal with a tumor. However, your dog may need immediate treatment to address the ascites itself, since fluid build-up can be painful and dangerous.
To treat the ascites, your vet might recommend a or prescribe (which increases the body鈥檚 production of urine) to alter the fluid balance in your dog鈥檚 body. Your vet may perform therapeutic paracentesis, meaning they drain the fluid with a needle through the abdominal wall. Based on your dog鈥檚 specific situation, your vet might also recommend surgery.
Can Ascites in Dogs Be Cured?
Even if the fluid is drained, ascites can build up again if the health condition that caused it persists. If there is no cure for that condition, management is the best course of action. In certain conditions, such as heart disease, a sodium-restricted diet and diuretic medications can help. It鈥檚 important to follow your veterinarian鈥檚 instructions to give your dog the best chance of recovery or the most comfortable life.
The prognosis or the most likely outcome for ascites depends on the cause, so the life expectancy for a dog with ascites is hard to predict. Some dogs can live for an extended period with proper management, but in other cases, ascites can indicate a fatal illness. And as there are so many causes, it鈥檚 impossible to prevent ascites in dogs.
Unfortunately, ascites can be associated with a poor health outcome for a dog. For example, a on ascites in dogs with chronic hepatitis (liver inflammation) found that dogs with ascites showed significantly shorter life spans than those with chronic hepatitis alone. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 crucial to see your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog is exhibiting signs of ascites.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.