Ascites in dogs: prognosis and treatment

Our pets often get sick, it's a fact. Not all owners know what ascites abdominal cavity in dogs. Treatment of the disease because of this is often delayed in the long box. This leads to serious complications, and sometimes - to a lethal outcome, and this is by no means a rarity. It is important to monitor the health of the dog, to observe changes in her behavior and appearance. A pet usually lets you know if it is uncomfortable. Ascites in dogs are a dangerous condition, the essence of which every owner of a four-legged friend should know.

What is ascites in a dog

Ascites are a pathology that is characterized bythe fact that a certain amount of liquid accumulates in the abdominal cavity of the dog. Often such a phenomenon occurs in a healthy pet. But while the fluid in the abdominal cavity is very small, it does not interfere with the body fully and regularly perform its functions.

The liquid does not just discomfort the pet. It violates the full and continuous operation of many systems and organs. In this case, the dog suffers from shortness of breath. It suffocates very often, as a result of which rapid fatigue develops, body weight decreases sharply, and sometimes it rises, because water weighs a lot.

In fact, this phenomenon is not considered a disease. Various symptoms can indicate the presence of complex pathologies. Among such signs is ascites in dogs. The fluid accumulates in the abdominal cavity due to other diseases. It is necessary to know, because of what there is such a deviation.

Ascites in Dogs: Causes

As already mentioned above, ascites is a symptom, andnot a disease. He is extremely unpleasant and can lead to sad consequences. To eliminate this phenomenon, you need to know the cause of its occurrence. The most common factors that cause ascites are:

Various tumors. They grow in the body, press on the abdominalcavity. Accordingly, the outflow of lymph is disturbed, which leads to the accumulation of fluid. A particularly difficult situation occurs when the tumor is opened. Then the fluid that accumulates in the abdominal cavity can contain toxins and other harmful substances that cause concomitant complications.
Pathologies that affect the liver. Since this body is responsible for lymphatic filtrationand blood, with its defeat, these functions are violated. The required amount of liquid is not filtered, resulting in stagnation. Then water penetrates through the walls of the organs, causing ascites.
Heart diseases. This is the most common type of pathology. Cardiac ascites in a dog arises when this organ can not cope with a large range of blood circulation. The vascular bed becomes overflowed, as a result of which fluid begins to accumulate.
Diseases associated with the functioning of the kidneys, which are responsible for removing from the body the products of vital activity, toxic and other harmful substances. Sometimes they start to derive useful elements, including protein, which contributes to the accumulation of fluid.
Peritonitis is a condition, the main symptom of which is ascites. In this case, the walls of the abdominal cavity lose elasticity, as a result of which water is not removed from it.
Depletion of the body or protein starvation lead to similar consequences.

To start treatment of the disease, you need to accuratelydetermine the cause of its occurrence. Of course, at home it is impossible to do it qualitatively, therefore, at the first symptoms indicating the presence of pathology, it is necessary to take the dog to the veterinarian. The symptoms of this disease are easily discernible, they can not be overlooked, but one can be confused with another deviation. In this regard, you can not engage in self-medication.

Ascites in dogs: symptoms

Unlike other diseases, with ascites, all of the following symptoms are observed:

Strongly swollen abdomen. Unfortunately, in dogs with excess weight this sign is not very noticeable, so you need to monitor the diet of the pet.
Severe shortness of breath, arising without any reason.
Mucous membranes become blue. If ascites is caused by liver pathologies, then they turn yellow.
Most of the time, the pet spends sitting, to facilitate the breathing process.
The onset of edema. But be careful. This symptom can also manifest as an independent disease, not associated with ascites.
If the pathology is caused by kidney failure, the dog consumes a large amount of water. As a consequence, she often goes to the toilet.
The pet becomes passive, any movement gives him discomfort.
The dog becomes indifferent to all surrounding processes.
The animal does not eat anything, because of what it is very thin.
Despite the fact that fatty deposits decrease and muscle mass atrophies, the dog is gaining weightbecause the fluid in her body becomes too much.
Often there may be vomiting. This can be explained by the cause of the disease.

Before giving a medicine to a pet, it is necessary to diagnose ascites in a dog. Treatment of the disease is appointed after this.

Diagnosis of the disease

You must be ready to diagnose the disease in several stages, which can take a lot of time. Usually the whole process goes according to this scheme:

The veterinarian listens carefully to the owner of the dog, records all the information and clarifies certain aspects, if necessary.
The doctor carefully compares and analyzes all the signs of pathology.
The doctor draws conclusions and diagnoses after carrying out some studies.

You should understand that the examination of the dog may require some financial investment. This is due to the fact that you need more than one analysis to determine the disease.

What kind of research is carried out in the veterinary hospital

If a physician assumes the presence of ascites, he or she gives directions for such studies:

Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity.
Roentgen of the abdominal cavity.

These methods can show whether there is an abdominalcavity of animal fluid. The difficulty is that the water accumulated in the body does not necessarily indicate the presence of ascites. It can be blood, which appeared as a result of internal bleeding. Also, the liquid can be urine collected in the body as a result of improper functioning of the kidneys.

Therefore, for a complete examination, the doctor should take a sample of fluid in the abdominal cavity. If it has a light color and has no smell, then the diagnosis is correct.

Establishing the root cause of ascites

The liquid, which is taken as a sample, is sent for further research. Depending on the cause of ascites, it is divided into such subspecies:

Exudate or hemorrhagic exudate Is a sign of peritonitis or tumors in the animal's body. If there is blood in the fluid, then the pathology of the internal organs takes place.
Transudate - a sign of infection with parasites, liver, kidney or intestinal pathologies.
Modified transudate - a sign of heart failure or hypertension.

Based on the results, the doctor prescribes the treatment of ascites.

Ascites of the abdominal cavity in dogs: treatment

Treatment of ascites in dogs with pharmaceuticals

Unfortunately, it will not be possible to get rid of ascites, notcuring the root cause of his appearance. The main disease, which caused a complication in the form of abdominal dropsy, is treated according to the doctor's recommendations. Usually he prescribes such drugs:

"Veroshpiron".
Furosemide.
"Losartan."

The dosage and method of administration are determinedveterinarian. However, these medicines are not a panacea. They can only alleviate the condition of the pet. Simultaneously with their reception it is necessary to treat the underlying disease. In a very deplorable state, a technique is used, such as pumping a fluid from an animal's body.

Laparocentesis as a method of controlling ascites

Laparocentesis is a temporary measure of treatment of ascites,which consists in pumping the fluid out of the abdominal cavity. It is used to shortly eliminate the discomfort caused to the dog. After a certain time, the liquid will accumulate again, therefore, the underlying disease should be treated without delay.

The procedure has a side effect. Together with the liquid from the body is derived and protein. In this case, the pet is given pharmaceutical preparations containing it. Often the liquid contains toxic substances. Then it makes sense to take a course of antibiotics.

Concomitant methods of treatment

A concomitant method is the administration of diuretics to animals. However, one can not use this method for a long time, since along with harmful substances, potassium is excreted from the body.

Cardioprotectors and hepatoprotectors are a method of treatment that can maintain the state of the heart muscle at a good level, as well as stabilize the liver. This is important in the treatment of ascites.

It is also necessary to change the diet of the dog. From it you need to remove most of the salt. In addition, limit the amount of liquid that your pet can drink.

Unfortunately, sometimes ascites is a symptomincurable disease. However, the veterinarian and the owner of the dog are able to support the life of the animal for some time. To do this, create favorable conditions for the pet.

Prophylaxis of ascites

Certain measures to prevent this phenomenon do notexist. To avoid it, you must carefully monitor the health of the pet, in time to notice the emergence of major pathologies. Their timely removal will allow you not to worry about the health of the dog.

Thus, ascites is not a disease, it isa symptom that indicates the presence of other pathologies. To eliminate it, it is necessary to cure the underlying disease, and also undergo diagnostics to determine the type of liquid.