Peritonitis in Dog

Peritonitis refers to a great inflammation of the peritoneum. The infection starts in an abdominal organ (intestines or stomach) and dangerously spreads to the other surrounding organs by means of a peritoneal membrane. It is the great risk of abdominal wounds, as they can produce in an acute or chronic, diffuse or localized way. The development of "acute" cases is counted by hours or days, and the "chronic, by weeks or months. The causes are numerous and varied. There generally is an antecedent of some disease or lesion in which the abdomen was involved. The animal goes through a lot of pain. He is restless even before manifesting the pain in the abdomen. In the short term, the dog becomes even more restless, he looks to the side of it on film and, and his front legs remain separated and tend to shake. The temperature goes of 1 or 2° Celsius, the pulse is fast, small and weak. Generally there is retention of the feces and urine, which leads to other complications, like vomiting. The pressure on the sides of the abdomen is painful; the animal hardens the muscles of the abdomen like a wooden board and tends to moan. As the disease progresses, the big quantities of liquid can accumulate in the cavity leading to high to adropesia or ascitis. In more extreme cases, there is the existence of a loss of quality or even death. Every time you observe something abnormal, you should take the animal to the veterinarian as soon as possible.