Content
- What is peritonitis in dogs
- Why does peritonitis happen in dogs
- Peritonitis symptoms
- Diagnosis
- Treatment of peritonitis in dogs
- Prevention of peritonitis
THE peritonitis in dogs it is a disease that can become very serious, always depending on the cause, and for this reason it has a reserved prognosis, that is, neither evolution nor outcome can be predicted.
For this reason, in this article, we want you to know a little more about this disease and to know how it can manifest itself in your dog and how it can be treated at a veterinary level.
Keep reading this PeritoAnimal article to know everything about peritonitis in dogs.
What is peritonitis in dogs
The peritoneum is a membrane that internally covers the abdominal cavity and at the same time the abdominal viscera. Its function is to protect and absorb liquids, which should not be present in this anatomical region.
When we talk about peritonitis we are referring to a inflammation of this membrane, which can happen in a generalized or localized way, obviously, the second option has a better prognosis.
Why does peritonitis happen in dogs
There are several factors that can develop peritonitis in our dog, a infection or obstruction of the gallbladder ducts:
- Cancer
- Gallstones
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Stenosis (narrowing of the gallbladder ducts)
- Caused by bacteria
- Due to trauma in the abdomen region
Peritonitis symptoms
The symptoms that a dog has when faced with a state of peritonitis are several and there is no reason to manifest them all, effectively there can be the manifestation of several symptoms but it may also be that peritonitis appears with only some of these symptoms, so it is important to be alert:
You more conventional symptoms of peritonitis are as follows:
- Lethargy
- Fever
- loss of appetite
- vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Ache
- abdominal augmentation
- Abdominal distension
In the presence of these symptoms, you should go to the veterinarian without delay. The diagnosis of peritonitis is usually not made through clinical manifestations, but through diagnostic tests, such as through a thorough exploration or an ultrasound to confirm that it is an inflammation of the peritoneum.
Diagnosis
The moment you suspect that your puppy may have peritonitis is very important. go to the veterinarian immediately.
The expert will perform to your pet an exhaustive physical examination in line with the symptoms detected and which may explain the causes. The profile for the complete diagnosis includes the standard exam, the biochemical profile, a complete blood count and a urine analysis.
In the biochemical profile, liver enzymes will be elevated and, in addition, bile will be present in the urine. X-rays and ultrasounds will allow you to visualize the liver and the leakage of bile.
All the tests together can show your veterinarian if it really is peritonitis.
Treatment of peritonitis in dogs
The treatment it will depend on the type of peritonitis and the severity. Generally, there are three basic guidelines in treatment: stabilize the dog's physiological constants, treat the infection if it exists, and finally locate and correct the cause.
In some cases surgical interventions may be necessary, for example when there is an accumulation of fluid and abdominal drainage is required. As already mentioned, the prognosis of peritonitis varies according to each animal and the causes of the disease.
Anyway, good veterinary care and strict home care will help your dog to overcome this disease.
Prevention of peritonitis
There is no prevention to prevent peritonitis. A regular visit to the veterinarian can help detect it early. Remember that, like any disease, the faster you find it, the faster you can act and the simpler treatment and recovery will be.
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.