What this means
A round, sagging belly is easiest to see by looking at the dog from the side and from above. In a healthy dog the belly tucks up towards the hind legs, while a sagging or round belly looks like a barrel. Sometimes a dog has thin legs and little muscle but a big belly, and sometimes it is heavy all over.
A round belly can come from fat, but there may be other reasons: illnesses that enlarge the belly or weaken the muscles, or fluid or other changes inside the belly. Only a vet can feel the belly and work out what is happening there. There is no need to "diagnose" the belly at home.
Note how quickly the belly grew, whether your dog is also drinking and urinating more, whether its appetite, coat or energy have changed, whether it breathes harder and whether the belly is painful. Say how much your dog weighs and how its weight has changed. If possible, photograph your dog from the side so the change can be seen.
Possible causes
These are things that can cause this sign. It is not a diagnosis, and they are not equally likely for your dog.
-
Excess weight
When a dog carries too much fat, the belly becomes round and sagging and the ribs are hard to feel. This can make movement and health harder.
About the condition: Obesity -
A hormone disorder
Some hormone diseases weaken the belly muscles and change how fat is spread, so the belly sags. Greater thirst and urination are usually noticed as well.
-
Fluid building up in the belly
When fluid collects in the belly it swells and can become heavy. A vet has to find the cause.
-
Parasites, especially in puppies
In puppies a round belly can be caused by intestinal parasites. A vet should assess this.
-
Enlarged internal organs
An enlarged liver or other organ can push the belly out. This can only be found by examination.
-
Pregnancy in an unspayed bitch
The belly of an unspayed bitch also grows with pregnancy. This too is worth checking with a vet.
What else to watch for
These observations help your vet build the picture faster. Note down what you saw and when.
- How fast the belly grew and whether it feels hard, soft or painful
- Whether your dog drinks and urinates more than before
- Whether appetite, weight or energy have changed
- Whether the coat or muscles are thinning, especially on the back and legs
- Whether your dog breathes harder or tires more easily
- How your dog's body looks from the side and from above, and whether the ribs can be felt
When to book a routine visit
If your dog's belly has become round or sagging, book a vet visit so the cause can be found. Say how quickly it appeared and how your dog's weight, thirst and energy have changed.
Related conditions
Conditions whose entries mention this sign. The list is somewhere to read on, not a way to reach a diagnosis.
- Cushing's disease Hormones and metabolism Cushing's disease is a condition in which the body makes too much of a stress hormone. This hormone affects many of the body's processes, so an excess gradually changes a dog's appetite, skin, coat and muscles. The changes come on slowly, so they are easy to mistake for simple ageing.
- Obesity Hormones and metabolism Obesity is a condition in which too much fat builds up in a dog's body. The extra weight strains the joints, heart and breathing, raises the risk of diabetes and other diseases, and makes it harder for the dog to move and enjoy an active life. Weight creeps on gradually, so it is easy for an owner to miss, and a vet can help assess the dog's body condition.
- Intestinal worms Parasites Intestinal worms are parasites that live in a dog's gut: roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms and whipworms. Any dog can become infected, and puppies even before birth or through their mother's milk. Some dog worms are dangerous to people too, especially children; which worms a dog has is for a vet to establish from a stool sample.
Body systems: Hormones and metabolism Parasites