Content
- cat with swollen belly
- Cat with swollen and hard belly due to ascites
- Swollen belly in cat caused by infectious peritonitis
- Swollen and hard belly - liver tumors
- Cat with swollen belly due to hyperadrenocorticism
- Cat with swollen and hard belly
In this article by PeritoAnimal we will explain why does a cat have a hard, swollen belly. The severity of this situation will depend on the causes that originated it, among which are internal parasitosis, feline infectious peritonitis or hyperadrenocorticism, as we will see in the next sections. All of these circumstances are more or less likely when we find ourselves in front of a cat, a cat, or a kitten. We will also see how to prevent and act faced with this problem.
cat with swollen belly
Perhaps the most common cause that explains why a cat has a swollen, hard belly is the presence of internal parasites, especially when it comes to a young kitten. So, if we take a kitten, we will probably notice that its belly is unusually large. In this case, we must go to our veterinarian to prescribe a comprehensive product in order to, and at the same time, take the opportunity to establish a deworming calendar suited to our kitten's characteristics.
It is also very likely that we will find the cat with a swollen belly and diarrhea, caused by parasite damage in the digestive system when the infestation is considerable. Likewise, we could observe worms or blood in the stool. The veterinarian can take a sample of these stools and look at it under a microscope to identify the type of parasite present and thus adapt the treatment. It should be borne in mind that it is not always possible to locate the parasite in a single sample, in which case it is necessary to collect them on several alternate days. In any case, veterinary assistance is necessary, as an intense infestation in a kitten can cause profuse diarrhea that dehydrates it and puts its life at risk.
Cat with swollen and hard belly due to ascites
The accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity is known as ascites. It can have different causes and veterinary treatment is necessary to identify and treat it. Ascites may be the reason our cat has a swollen, hard belly. In the following sections, we'll look at the most common causes of ascites in cats.
Swollen belly in cat caused by infectious peritonitis
Feline infectious peritonitis, also known as FIP, is one of the most serious illnesses that explains why a cat has a swollen, hard belly. Is viral pathology causing inflammation of the peritoneum, which is the membrane that lines the inside of the abdomen, or in different organs such as the liver or kidneys. As a virus, there is no treatment other than support. Also, there is a vaccine against this disease, which is very contagious among cats.
In addition to ascites, we can observe other symptoms such as chronic fever that doesn't improve, anorexia, emaciation or lethargy. There may also be breathing problems due to pleural effusion and, depending on the organs affected, there may be jaundice, neurological problems, etc.
Swollen and hard belly - liver tumors
In the presence of liver tumors is another cause that may explain why our cat has a swollen, hard belly. This disorder is more common in older cats, who also have other symptoms that are usually nonspecific, ie, common to various diseases and usually manifest when the damage is already advanced.
In addition to abdominal distension, makes it look like the cat has a loose belly or large, we may notice anorexia, lethargy, weight loss, increased water intake and urination, or vomiting. It will be our veterinarian who arrives at the diagnosis. The prognosis is reserved and will depend on the type of tumor.
Cat with swollen belly due to hyperadrenocorticism
Although not very common, this disease could explain why a cat has a swollen, hard belly. hyperadrenocorticism or Cushing's syndrome it is caused by an excessive production of glucocorticoids caused by tumors or hyperplasia. Requires veterinary treatment and follow-up.
Other symptoms we can observe are lethargy, increased intake of food, water and urine in advanced stages, weakness, hair loss or, above all, extremely fragile skin.
Cat with swollen and hard belly
In addition to the causes already mentioned that explain why a cat can have a swollen and hard belly, it is also possible to observe this situation in cats. are in labor, due to the effect of contractions that aim to compress the uterus to facilitate the exit of the kittens. However, abdominal distension in cats also appears in the case of uterine pathologies, which may be associated with infections that will require veterinary treatment. To avoid these and other serious disorders, it is recommended to sterilization.
This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.