You should never ignore or sit out a hard stomach in your dog.
In the worst case, it can be a life-threatening stomach torsion, which must be treated immediately by a veterinarian.
In this article I will explain how you can recognize a torsion in the stomach and what other causes a hard stomach in dogs can have.
In short: Your dog has a hard stomach
Have you noticed that your dog’s stomach is very hard? This is where you need to closely monitor your dog. Because the bloated, firm stomach could be a sign of gastric torsion.
Other symptoms of torsion include retching without vomiting, excessive panting, pale mucous membranes, not drinking enough water and restless behavior.
If you notice these signs in your dog, you should definitely visit a vet, because a torsion is always an emergency!
Don’t know what your dog has? Get a vet’s opinion in minutes.
at Dr. Sam you can immediately book a consultation with a veterinarian. You can consult veterinary advice 16 hours a day, 365 days a year without waiting.
Causes of a hard stomach
A hard belly in dogs is always a serious sign of illness. It is important that you can distinguish the causes in order to help in time.
1. Torsion of the stomach
A torsion is a life-threatening disruption of the blood supply to the digestive tract. The stomach rotates around its own axis and thus constricts the blood vessels at the entrance and exit.
An undersupply becomes critical for the stomach and circulatory arrest can occur due to the blocked vessels.
Symptoms:
- strong panting
- hard, tense abdomen
- restlessness
- pale mucous membranes due to insufficient blood flow
- unsuccessful attempt to vomit or drink water
If your dog has a twisted stomach, you need to go to the vet immediately! Even a few hours can be deadly for him.
A torsion in the stomach often occurs in dogs that gobble down their food greedily or romp and roll around wildly after feeding. Particularly at risk are very large dogs whose stomach has a lot of free space to move in the abdominal cavity and whose food portions are larger.
The vet will always operate on a gastric torsion. He empties the stomach and turns it back so that the blood circulation is intact again.
2. Intestinal obstruction
An intestinal obstruction is caused by an untreated constipation, intestinal paralysis due to poisoning or a blockage that was swallowed.
Swallowed blockages are typically toys or socks that get stuck in the intestines.
Symptoms:
- cramping abdominal pain
- hard, twitching stomach
- constipation
- Vomit
- bowel noises no longer audible
A complete intestinal obstruction must be treated immediately by the vet, otherwise there is a risk of blood poisoning!
The vet will x-ray your dog and do a blood count. If the suspicion of an intestinal obstruction is confirmed, he operates on it and removes the blockage or treats the poisoning.
3. Ascites (dropsy in abdomen)
Fluid retention in the abdomen usually occurs as a result of another underlying condition affecting the heart or urinary system. These include, for example, liver disease, heart failure and infections.
The water accumulates slowly, sometimes it can take weeks before you notice the signs.
Symptoms:
- rapid panting
- strong thirst
- Vomit
- Pain when touching abdomen
- Avoiding lying positions that put pressure on the abdomen
- hard, bloated abdomen
Your vet will prioritize treating the underlying condition that caused the ascites. If the water retention doesn’t improve, he prescribes diuretics.
4. Peritonitis (peritonitis)
A peritoneum becomes inflamed by bacteria that enter the abdomen through a ruptured liver abscess, a ruptured gallbladder or bladder, or inflammation of the pancreas.
If left untreated, such an inflammation can lead to blood poisoning!
Symptoms:
- Listlessness to clouding of consciousness
- hard, tense abdomen
- Avoiding lying positions that put pressure on the abdomen
- Vomit
- rapid panting
Since peritonitis develops insidiously, a short-term vet appointment should be arranged at the first sign.
As in humans, clouded consciousness and a high breathing rate indicate the beginning of blood poisoning. Then the dog should go to the vet immediately, as there is a risk of septic shock!
Depending on the severity of the inflammation, the dog will be given antibiotics or may even need surgery.
5. Bloating
Every dog owner can painfully confirm that flatulence is part of everyday dog life. Excessive gas formation in the digestive tract leads to painful stretching of the intestinal walls.
Flatulence becomes a problem if it does not go away after a few days or if it occurs with fever and diarrhea. This could indicate an incipient intestinal obstruction or intestinal inflammation.
Dogs in particular suffer from painful flatulence if they gulp down their food too quickly and don’t chew it up enough. This promotes gas formation.
Food containing milk or soy or foods that cause flatulence such as fatty sausages, legumes or onions also cause flatulence.
Reading tip: Wondering why your dog farts at night? Find out more about this curious phenomenon and its possible causes in our article on dog farting in the evening. Read on now and get valuable tips on how to deal with it!
6. Internal bleeding after accident
A hard stomach is also caused by bleeding into the abdomen. After an accident, a dog should always be taken to a veterinarian immediately.
If there is no external injury, internal bleeding can otherwise go unnoticed.
When should you see the vet for a hard stomach?
Some medical conditions that cause your dog to have a hard stomach are life-threatening. A few hours here are crucial for his health.
However, you should always understand a hard stomach as a serious sign of illness and seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.
Immediately to the veterinary clinic
Torsion of the stomach or intestinal obstruction can be fatal and must be treated immediately. Blood poisoning usually only becomes apparent when the dog is already in mortal danger.
After an accident, a veterinary check should always be carried out immediately, because even if a dog looks unharmed on the outside, internal bleeding can be devastating.
Make an appointment for the next few days
If a belly starts to harden or enlarge, a veterinarian should be consulted in the following days. Accumulation of water in the abdomen, inflammation or persistent flatulence are recognized early and can be easily treated.
However, you are not quite sure what the next steps are?
You can at Dr. Book Sam for a video consultation with a veterinarian in minutes. He will give you professional advice and tell you what to do.
What you can do for your dog now
You can try to relieve your dog’s pain and support their well-being.
But always pay attention to his reaction, whether he finds your help pleasant, and use that as a guide.
What almost always helps is heat. Especially when your four-legged friend feels pain when pressure is applied to his body, he will be happy about an extra padded basket.
You can tuck him in or put a hot water bottle next to him. The hot-water bottle should never be filled with hot water. Hand-warm water is sufficient.
If nothing prevents your dog from eating, you can give him oatmeal, psyllium husk porridge, or carrot soup. But make sure that the food is at most lukewarm.
Important:
If your dog is vomiting or has diarrhea, he should drink more to replace the water loss. If necessary, animate him with water, to which you add some chicken broth or a few teaspoons of fruit juice.
If there is no improvement or if your dog’s condition worsens, you should definitely see a vet.
How can you prevent a hard stomach?
Most stomach problems are based on problematic eating habits. After feeding, it is therefore advisable to take breaks in which the dog does not romp or roll around, but digests in peace.
An anti-sling bowl helps against eating too quickly, forcing the dog to eat more slowly and at the same time providing cognitive challenges. Dividing the food into smaller portions, which are fed throughout the day, also prevents eating problems.
Dogs with sensitive stomachs should not be given flatulent foods that are high in fat or calcium. You can soften dry food with a little water or broth.
It is particularly important to regularly check your dog yourself and to pay attention to physical or behavioral changes.
Explainer video
Conclusion
A hard belly in dogs is a cause for concern. There are often serious illnesses behind it, such as a torsion in the stomach or an intestinal blockage, and your dog is almost always in pain.
It is therefore important that you know the possible causes and can act correctly and quickly.
dr Sam is therefore available for you around the clock every day and connects you directly to a veterinarian without waiting. So you always have a reliable contact person with you and are prepared for all emergencies, big and small.