Treatment for ascites in dogs will depend on the underlying condition causing it. Treatment Options for Dogs with Abdominal Fluid If you observe changes in the size of your dog’s abdomen or suspect that your dog may have developed ascites, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your vet for a proper medical check. Accurate diagnosis is of utmost importance for the successful treatment and management of ascites in dogs. (ECG) and measurement of systemic blood pressure can help assess the dog’s heart function. Blood tests can help check kidney and liver function and can help measure the level of protein in the blood. Your vet will request specific tests depending on the results of the physical exam and the history leading up to the apparent ascites. Confirmation of ascites can be done through diagnostic imaging tests such asįiguring out what caused the ascites is a different story altogether. A thorough physical exam, along with a detailed medical history, will help your vet assess if the enlargement of the patient’s abdomen is due to ascites. How will my vet know if my dog has fluid in his abdomen?Ĭonfirming the presence of fluid in the abdomen of dogs can be straightforward if the volume of fluid is significant. The leak goes to the subcutaneous space (space underneath the skin) causing edema. In some situations, fluid accumulation is not confined to the abdominal cavity. Severe kidney disease, liver disease, and intestinal problems can lead to an increased rate of protein loss and subsequent low blood protein (hypoproteinemia).
Abdominal fluid retention free#
When blood protein levels drop, vascular osmotic pressure changes and water leaks out from the cells and tissues into free spaces such as the abdomen. Protein in the blood is responsible for maintaining osmotic pressure between cells and tissues and holds water molecules inside the cells in tissues. When a dog develops heart disease, the efficiency as to which the heart pumps blood out to different organs becomes severely compromised, increasing the dog’s blood pressure.Īnother common cause of ascites in dogs is any condition that results in low blood protein levels.
In dogs, abdominal fluid is most commonly associated with cardiovascular diseases, particularly those that affect the right side of the heart. It’s a complication that develops secondary to an underlying health problem. Causes of Abdominal Fluid in DogsĪs mentioned, ascites is a clinical sign rather than a condition. Some conditions will result in protein-rich fluid (exudate) filling up the abdomen, while other causes result in a less viscous fluid (transudate) from the vascular spaces. The type of fluid that accumulates will also depend on the specific cause. In cases where there’s minimal fluid volume, the changes in the abdominal size are very subtle and make detection difficult. The extent of fluid accumulation in the abdomen heavily depends on the specific cause. What does it mean if my dog has fluid in his abdomen?Ī common misconception is that ascites is a disease, but it’s actually a clinical sign of an underlying condition.
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