Many people are wondering if it is normal for puppies to have a huge stomach? If your puppy has a large stomach, there may be many reasons. If your dog’s stomach expands after drinking or eating but then goes away shortly afterward There’s nothing to cause worry.
Due to the small size of the puppy’s body, it’s common for them to puff a little after adding something to their own body. So long as your puppy is acting normal, there’s nothing to be concerned about.
If your puppy’s stomach has become swollen up and doesn’t deflate, or is displaying signs of pain or discomfort, it could be suffering from a serious condition that needs treatment.
Table of Contents
Parasites
The majority of puppies are born with an intestinal worm of some kind. Roundworms and hookworms are the two most prevalent kinds of worms that are found in puppies.
If not addressed, parasites could cause the intestines of the dog to fill with gas, resulting in the appearance of a potbelly. It’s a great suggestion to have your puppy regularly tested for worms.
A vet may conduct a fecal test in order to determine whether your puppy is suffering from worms. However, these tests aren’t always able to reveal the presence of the worms, especially when the problem hasn’t become serious. Deworming is recommended between the ages of 2, 4 6, and 8 weeks.
It could be your responsibility to pay for the last dose or two doses, depending upon the age and condition of the puppy at the time you decide to adopt.
Overfeeding
image Credit: pitiful
Many people are wondering if it is normal for puppies to have a huge belly when being fed by a bottle?
If you have a newborn puppy (one that was born early or abandoned) and you are feeding your bottle using the formula, you could observe your pup’s swelling belly.
In addition to having a huge belly, your dog might also be a bit colicky and may have yellow or green stools which are fluid.
These signs are an indication that you’re overfeeding your puppy. To correct the problem you can try diluting your puppy’s food by increasing the amount of water by 25% over some days.
This helps to prevent overfeeding and assists in the treatment of diarrhea. It also assists in preventing your puppy from becoming dehydrated.
Abdominal Hernia
If your dog has an internal hernia, it may create the appearance of an overly swollen stomach.
The most frequent reason for umbilical hernia occurs the case when the umbilical band is not properly closed after birth. When this happens, the case, you’ll see swelling in your abdomen, just below the ribcage.
Hernias in the umbilical area are usually apparent when your puppy is stressed or stands up or barks. Most of the time, they are not dangerous enough to will not harm your puppy and can disappear by themselves as your puppy develops.
It may also be a protruding diaphragm, or abdominal organs pushing into the abdomen wall. It’s recommended that you bring your puppy to a vet to be diagnosed.
Bloat
Image Credit: xdog
Alongside a swelling belly and a swollen belly, your puppy could be experiencing symptoms of vomiting that is not productive, retching, or even attempting to use the bathroom. They may also experience a rapid pulse, racing, and not wanting to lie down. The puppy might be unable to control his whine or exhibit unsteady breathing.
It’s not clear what triggers this issue, but one possible reason is that your dog performs a lot of strenuous exercises right after eating. If you suspect that bloat might be the cause you should consult an expert vet right away to determine the best method to treat your dog. Sitting high above the ground will prevent the puppy from eating air the food.
The air could cause the stomach of your puppy to twist and trap food particles within the intestinal tract. When bloat occurs this can cause death in a matter of hours. Dogs who are overweight have a greater risk because they typically consume as much food as they can.
Fluid Buildup
The main reason for the belly swelling can be a buildup of fluid. There are some puppies who suffer from an issue known as ‘ascites’ that makes the stomach filled with fluid.
According to PetMD the signs of ascites may be:
- Noises of grunting when you move
- Alopecia or loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Vomiting
The buildup could be an indication of an issue with your puppy’s internal organs, such as the liver and the heart. If there’s a problem in the heart’s function, your veterinarian might be able to identify the issue using the Stethoscope. The standard method is to test abdominal fluid for evidence of bleeding or bacteria.
But, your veterinarian might also suggest having your puppy undergo additional tests, such as an x-ray or ultrasound test to identify the cause. Once the issue is identified Treatment usually involves drainage of the fluid, antibiotic treatment, and surgical intervention in certain instances.
What Does A Normal Puppy Belly Look Like?
Image Credit: Unsplash
I hope that at this point, you’ll know that it’s normal for puppies to have a huge stomach. If your dog has just eaten, then it’s normal for its stomach to expand. If they’ve not eaten then it could be due to an issue with a different cause.
Regularly check the stomach of your puppy so that you’re at the top of your game. Conducting regular examinations will allow you to spot issues as soon as they begin to manifest, which will aid in determining if there is something that needs treatment.
The puppy’s underside stomach needs to be smooth without visible masses. It should also be flexible and be able to move whenever you rub it. If you have a tight stomach, it indicates that there is a possibility of problems, like Bloat or worms.
Then, you can run your fingers along the belly to find any knots or bumps that aren’t visible from the outside.
A typical puppy’s belly will be smooth and soft, and will not resist as you push. It’ll feel soft and squishy. If you put your finger on the stomach of your puppy and it is hard to touch it could be due to swelling or bloat.
An increase in the left belly, right below the ribs can be normal when your dog is just finishing eating. Do not perform your examination until there have been several hours since your last meal and also after your pet has had a bathroom break.
Also, you should look for symptoms of discomfort or pain. If your puppy emits noises or is having difficulty breathing when you press on it or pressure, it is advisable to have your puppy examined by a vet for a check-up. The swelling that appears suddenly should be an immediate issue and need the assistance of a veterinarian.
