Peritonitis in dogs is life-threatening.
The peritoneum is a thin skin that covers all abdominal organs and the abdominal cavity.
Peritonitis is medically known as peritonitis and is a life-threatening condition. This is why it is so important to recognize the symptoms and act immediately.
We have put together all the important information about peritonitis in dogs for you.
What is peritonitis in dogs?
The peritoneum, medically referred to as the peritoneum, is one membranewhich lines the abdominal cavity.
If your fur nose becomes inflamed in the peritoneum, injuries or infections are usually the trigger.
Peritonitis in dogs can be acute or chronic. She is not contagious.
But peritonitis in dogs is dangerous and must be treated by a veterinarian.
What are the causes of peritonitis?
The most common peritonitis are secondary, septic and diffuse. This means that they were caused by a trigger such as an injury or rupture.
Canine peritonitis can be caused by damage to the stomach, intestines, uterus, gallbladder, or bladder.
Hepatitis or a twisted stomach can also lead to peritonitis.
Canine peritonitis can come in two forms: septic and aseptic peritonitis.
Inflammatory peritonitis in dogs is subject to various classifications. These are:
- Primary
- Secondary
- Tertiary
- Local
- Generalized (diffuse)
Septic peritonitis
The injury to the corresponding hollow organ such as the stomach, intestines or bladder is usually caused by a rupture or a sharp foreign body.
The contents of the stomach, intestines or urine pass through the tear or hole into the abdominal cavity of the four-legged friend. Infection of the abdominal cavity occurs.
An external injury, for example through the bite of a conspecific or a branch that penetrates the abdominal cavity while romping, can cause peritonitis.
A kick can also cause internal bleeding.
Another trigger of peritonitis in dogs can be viral or bacterial infections.
Worms can also cause peritonitis. They penetrate the wall of the stomach or intestines and leave injuries.
Some types of tumors are also the reason for peritonitis.
Are certain dog breeds particularly prone to peritonitis?
Generally, there is no genetic predisposition in dogs for peritonitis. There are other reasons that can make your four-legged friend vulnerable.
The Labrador, for example, is an omnivore. No sock is safe from him. 8 rubber duckies have already been surgically removed from a labrador’s stomach.
Such actions can lead to peritonitis in the dog.
Breeds like the Miniature Schnauzer are prone to pancreatitis. This often also leads to peritonitis.
Correctly identify peritonitis
Peritonitis in dogs is one life threatening illness. Fast action is required to save your dog’s life.
This requires knowledge of the symptoms. These are:
- abdominal swelling
- exhaustion
- Fever
- loss of appetite
- Strong pain
- induration of the abdomen
- nausea
- Vomit
- dehydration
Danger
If your dog shows these symptoms, you must take him to the vet immediately. Urgent urgency is required!
Your vet will make an initial assessment by feeling your four-legged friend’s stomach and listening to their bowel sounds.
The diagnosis is then confirmed by an abdominal ultrasound and a blood test.
To be absolutely sure, your vet will also x-ray the abdomen.
A puncture of the abdominal wall and the removal of fluid from the abdominal cavity also support the diagnosis.
Diagnosis & treatment of peritonitis
Peritonitis in dogs is always medical Emergency. It must be done on an inpatient basis.
Peritonitis is often very protracted. Its course can drag on for weeks and months.
Medication
If no injuries to the peritoneum can be diagnosed, drug treatment is possible.
In this case, strong antibiotics, cortisone preparations and antispasmodic drugs used.
In addition, your fur nose must be given painkillers.
However, drug treatment is sometimes not enough and surgical intervention is necessary.
surgical intervention
Since peritonitis is often caused by injuries to the stomach, intestines, uterus or bladder, surgery is usually required.
It runs as follows:
It starts with opening the abdominal cavity of your four-legged friend. A sample is taken from the fluid that has accumulated in the abdomen.
By creating a bacterial culture to determine the bacterial strains, the triggering bacteria are determined.
The causes are then treated by closing the ruptured intestine, bladder or stomach.
Or an abscess is removed if it is the cause.
Now the adhesions of the inflamed tissue have to be loosened. And the dead or dirty tissue is removed from the wound.
The vet flushes the abdomen with an isotonic saline solution or another liquid that builds up the same osmotic pressure as the blood has.
Finally, an open or closed drainage is placed. This allows the wound fluid to drain after the operation.
Sometimes the flushing of the abdominal cavity has to be repeated for several days.
At the same time, the same medication is used as for drug treatment.
What is the life expectancy with peritonitis?
The estimated mortality rate for septic peritonitis is between 20 and 48 percent.
However, it is always difficult to make a prognosis about life expectancy. Because there are no complete statistics.
Also, no autopsies are performed to be sure what a dog died of.
So such forecasts are always just one estimated value.
How can you prevent peritonitis?
Since peritonitis is mainly caused by injuries or ruptures in the abdominal cavity, special preventive measures are necessary difficult.
That is why it is not always the case that prevention is better than cure.
It is therefore crucial to take the dog to the vet immediately at the slightest sign of peritonitis.
Every minute really counts!
Has your dog ever suffered from peritonitis? Which Experiences did you do the treatment? We would be happy if you leave us a comment on it.