What is a distended abdomen in dogs?

“Abdominal enlargement” is a general term that means a dog’s belly is larger or fuller than usual and bulges beyond the normal outline of the body (see picture). “Abdominal distention” is another term that has a similar meaning but often refers to more severe cases of abdominal enlargement.

Is bloat common in labs?

Any dog can suffer bloat but larger breeds with deep chests, such as great danes, St Bernards, weimaraners, German shepherds and Labradors are particularly susceptible. In breeds at risk a preventative gastropexy is sometimes recommended at a young age.

What does bloat look like in labs?

Bloat in dogs occurs when the stomach of the dog becomes dangerously distended and even rotated. It is potentially fatal, however there are things that you can do to help prevent it happening to your Labrador. Symptoms of bloat include hard stomach, retching, strange behavior, and more.

Does distended stomach go away?

A hard, swollen stomach will usually go away after you stop consuming whatever food or drink triggered it. However, sometimes the symptoms stick around and are a sign you need medical attention.

What kind of problems does a chocolate Labrador have?

Labs are prone to obesity and the problems that stem from obesity. The Chocolate Labrador, like other Labs, may suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia, which are developmental abnormalities in the joints. They are also more prone than other breeds to certain vision problems, such as progressive renal atrophy.

Which is more excitable a chocolate lab or a black lab?

A study from 2014 showed that chocolate Labs were more excitable than black Labs, and they fetched less. Additionally, brown Labs were more agitated when they were ignored, and had some separation anxiety. They also showed less fear of noise.

What does epistasis mean in a chocolate Labrador?

Epistasis simply means that genes at two different locations are interacting to affect a single trait – in this case, color. Big E, the dominant e allele, doesn’t interfere with the Bb genes at all. It actually nullifies the effect of a small e gene.

How is fluid drawn out of the abdomen?

They use an ultrasound scan to guide them. This can be uncomfortable but isn’t usually painful. They use a syringe to draw out some fluid to send to the laboratory. In the lab, they examine it under a microscope to look for cancer cells.