Ascites in dogs - or water belly in dogs, as it is popularly called - is a condition caused by the accumulation of fluids in the animal's abdomen. The action of worms in dogs is one of the best known reasons for the appearance of the problem, but more serious complications, such as heart failure and tumors with bleeding, are also part of the list of causes of ascites in dogs. Understandbetter the symptoms, causes and know what to do to keep your dog healthy!

Dog with water belly: how to identify it?

Ascites in dogs, in general, is a silent problem - after all, it is possible for the dog to live with it for a while without showing any significant change in its health status. Because of this, the main tip for not letting this condition go unnoticed is to keep an eye on the pet's abdominal cavity and go immediately to the veterinarian if you notice any changes there.Thus, by performing all the necessary tests (such as removing the fluid to find out the composition; blood; feces; ultrasound and cardiovascular evaluation), the professional will be able to identify what caused the canine ascites and how to treat the problem so that the animal does not have compromised health.

Be aware: In some cases, a bloated belly can also be accompanied by symptoms such as discomfort, loss of appetite, weight gain and difficulty breathing.

Possible causes of ascites in dogs

When it comes to water belly in puppies, worms and nutritional deficiencies are among the most common causes. In this case, in addition to the swollen abdomen, ascites in the dog is also usually accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and even dehydration. In adult dogs, although worms and lack of necessary nutrition may also be among the reasons, the causes of this disease are the followingHeart failure, inflammation of the peritoneum, kidney disease, liver complications, clotting and even tumours with bleeding are on the list.

You can see that you can't ignore the problem, right? Because even though the condition itself is not a serious illness, what is behind your dog's ascites indicates that his health really needs attention.

Treatments for water belly in dogs vary according to the severity of the situation

As canine ascites can appear for different reasons, it is necessary for the veterinarian to evaluate the specific case of each animal to know the most suitable treatment. Puppy worming can be a cause, which is easily resolved with the administration of a dewormer. Water belly in puppy can also be the result of malnutrition - and nutritional supplementation usually already in place to treat it.Now, if an infection is responsible for the dog's watery belly, it is very important to use an antibiotic, as well as diuretics when the cause is renal.

Drainage of ascites in dogs - the removal of abdominal fluid through a procedure known as paracentesis - is recommended when treatment with medications has failed. In more serious cases, such as those involving the appearance of a tumor, it is likely that the dog will have to undergo a surgical procedure.

Ascites: dogs given a low salt diet are less likely to develop the problem

In addition to taking the animal regularly to the veterinarian and being attentive to any changes presented on a daily basis, an important tip to prevent ascites in dogs is to decrease the amount of salt consumption. As sodium increases the accumulation of body fluids, the ideal is to prefer feed with less amount of this substance. The same tip applies to those who are guardians of dogs with water belly that alreadyIn addition, delaying the dewormer for dogs is not indicated under any circumstances.