It is called peritonitis to the inflammation of the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity of the dog, thereby strongly irritating the area. Its consequences can be really terrible and painful for the animal, which is why its symptoms tend to manifest quickly. In this post we summarize the main data about this disease.
It is characterized, as we said before, by the inflammation of the peritoneum, the membrane that internally lines the canine's abdominal cavity and absorbs fluids that should not leak into the anatomical area. This inflammation can occur in a localized or generalized way, the latter being the most serious.
It can occur from various causes, such as gallstones, bacteria, trauma to the abdomen, cancer, pancreatitis, or stricture (narrowing of the gallbladder ducts). All this causes worrying symptoms, of which the most common are:
1. Fever.
2. Vomiting.
3. Diarrhea.
4. Abdominal bloating.
5. Abdominal pain.
6. Apathy.
7. Loss of appetite.
Before any of these signs we must go immediately to a veterinary clinic, where the expert will perform some tests to determine what the problem is. The first of these will be a thorough physical exam, followed by an X-ray and ultrasound to visualize the liver. A blood and urine test and a complete blood count will probably also be needed.
Treatment will depend on the type of peritonitis the animal suffers and its severity. In any case, it should cover three basic guidelines: stabilize physiological constants, treat the infection (if any), and find out the cause of the problem. Sometimes a surgical intervention; for example, when fluid has accumulated and abdominal drainage is required.
As to its prevention, the truth is that there is no way to avoid this disorder. However, frequent veterinary check-ups help us to detect the problem as soon as possible, which makes healing easier.