Here's a question every dog owner asks at least once during puppy care: what does a normal puppy belly look like?
Puppies have small bellies, so it's normal for puppies to appear big-bellied after eating a meal. As long as your puppy doesn't seem to be in pain and is behaving normally, there's no reason for concern.
It's a different matter if your pup's stomach swells up and doesn't deflate hours after the pup has fed.
It's even more concerning if the puppy is showing signs of discomfort and pain.
In such cases, he might be experiencing worms or other health conditions.
How Big Is Too Big? Determining Normal Puppy Belly Size
A puppy's belly should feel soft and squishy and offer no resistance when pressed. It shouldn't appear inflamed or show signs of purplish spots.
When you place your pup in an upright position, several of his ribs—as well as his anal glands—should be visible. If his anal glands aren't visible or fully developed, the pup might be suffering from anal sacs disease.
In addition, a pup's belly shouldn't show signs of distention, bumps, or unexplainable mass.
It should be smooth, slightly round, and clean.
When touched, the pup shouldn't show signs of discomfort or pain.
What Are the Signs of an Abnormal Belly In Puppies?
Clinical signs associated with abnormal or unhealthy puppy belly include:
- Abdomen is a visibly distended
- Abdomen is hard to the touch
- Abdomen sounds hollow when tapped
- Puppy shows signs of discomfort when the belly is touched
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
To check the status of your pup’s belly, place him on his back or on your lap with his belly visible. Then, gently press your hand or finger on his stomach.
If his belly feels hard, this might be a sign of Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV), worms, or inflammation.
Closely monitor your dog's reaction as you touch his belly. If he makes noises or appears to have trouble breathing when you apply gentle pressure, you might want to take him to the vet.
Run your fingers over the pup's belly and check for any odd bumps or knots that aren't outwardly visible.
Visible tumors and abscesses are sure signs of an abnormal or unhealthy belly. These cases require special treatment from a veterinarian.
6 Possible Reasons for Round or Distended Puppy Belly
Here are some possible reasons why a puppy may have a distended belly:
- Parasites
It's extremely common for puppies to have roundworms or hookworms, either passed through the mother's milk or during pregnancy.
This is why puppies are wormed as early in their lives as possible, most often at two, four, six, eight, and twelve weeks of age.
If left untreated, worms can lead to poor health and, in severe cases, death.
Puppies with worms have a pot-bellied appearance. Their stomachs will appear painfully bloated or distended.
Other signs of parasites include:
- Visible eggs or worms in feces
- Visible worms in fur or around the pup's rear
- Visible worms in vomit
- Diarrhea
- Increased appetite
- Weight loss
- Generalized weakness
If your puppy hasn't been wormed yet or has last had his deworming session over a month ago, it's time to take him to the vet for another deworming session.
- Overeating
Puppies have small bellies, so it's normal for them to appear round after they've drunk or eaten. Their bellies should return to their “normal” size after a few hours when the food in their bellies has been properly digested.
Since puppies have small bellies, you should feed your pups small meals throughout the day instead of two or three large meals.
This prevents them from having a too-big belly after feeding.
It also reduces the risk of bloating, vomiting, diarrhea, and obesity.
Follow this simple rule of thumb: for every two pounds of body weight, feed your pup about 20 grams of food per day.
- Bloat
Though bloat isn't much of a problem with humans, it can be deadly for dogs. It's a serious condition that can quickly become fatal if left untreated.
The good news is that bloat—also known as Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV)—rarely happens in puppies.
But this doesn't mean it should be dismissed entirely.
Though rare, it does occur in puppies too—especially those of the large or giant breed variety. This includes German Shepherds, Saint Bernards, Great Danes, and Poodles.
Here are some symptoms of bloat in puppies:
- Swollen, hard belly
- Dry heaving
- Abdominal pain
- Swallow breathing
- Restlessness
- Pale gums
- Rapid heartbeat
- Ascites (Fluid Buildup)
Ascites is a condition in which an excessive build-up of fluid occurs in the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs.
This build-up could be a sign that there's a problem with the pup's liver or heart.
It could also be caused by other severe cases, like ruptured bladder, hypoproteinaemia (reduced production of protein), and abdominal bleeding.
If left untreated, ascites can lead to life-threatening complications.
Puppies with ascites have swollen abdomens that make a hollow sound when tapped. The abdomen will likewise be hard and painful to the touch.
Here are some symptoms to watch out for:
- Difficulty breathing
- Excessive panting
- Weight gain, despite a decrease in appetite
- Vomiting
- Discomfort when the belly is touched
- Lethargy
- Peritonitis
Peritonitis occurs when a dog's inner stomach lining becomes infected or inflamed.
It's often caused by the ingestion of sharp objects, like bone fragments, wood splinters, and other foreign objects.
It can also be induced by abdominal tumors, gall bladder rupture, liver inflammation (hepatitis), and bloat.
Pups with peritonitis have distended bellies that hurt when touched, even gently.
Symptoms of this condition include:
- Unwillingness to lie down
- Visible signs of pain (whining, moaning, crying)
- Rapid breathing
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Black stools
- Reduced fecal output
- Enlarged Organs
Another possible reason for distended bellies in puppies is the enlargement of organs.
Enlarged organs are mostly caused by tumors, inflammatory bowel diseases, and abdominal injuries.
Symptoms include:
- Visible or palpable mass in the abdomen
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Diarrhea
- Swollen belly
- Behavioral changes
Paul has been creating content for the dog niche for many years. The information he shares comes his first hand experience growing up in dog lovers household and then owning multiple dog breeds of his own as an adult. Paul enjoys doing the hard research to collect, analyze and present our dogtemperament.com readers with the best answers to their questions.