Your cat's belly looks bloated or bigger than usual? Be careful, this condition may be a symptom of various types of disease, regardless of whether the swelling occurs overnight or gradually. Remember, abdominal swelling in cats, like any chronology, should be taken seriously and immediately consulted a doctor. To get an accurate diagnosis, you first need to do self-observation, consult your doctor's observations, and consider various potential diseases that your cat may experience.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Considering the Possibilities
Step 1. Identify symptoms of malnutrition
In general, a malnourished cat's stomach will appear bloated, with a very small percentage of fat and muscle. Malnutrition is common in cats who:
- Eats food other than cat food (generally, the same food the owner eats).
- Forced to go on a vegan or vegetarian diet.
- Having a deficiency of vitamin E, copper, zinc, and potassium.
- Eat foods that contain high amounts of vegetable oil.
Step 2. Identify the possibility of the cat being overweight
Generally, for every kg of body weight, cats need about 30 calories per day. If the intake that enters the cat's body exceeds this dose, he will most likely become obese.
- Consult the cat's weight and nutritional information listed on the food packaging to the doctor.
- If you wish, try to refer to the chart listed on the following page to eliminate or confirm the possibility of obesity in cats:
Step 3. Identify the symptoms of Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)
FIP is a very fatal health disorder caused by a viral infection, and is common in areas with dense cat populations. Apart from abdominal swelling, diarrhea is another symptom that commonly accompanies FIP.
- FIP can be diagnosed through blood tests aimed at testing levels of liver enzymes, bilirubin, and globulins.
- Wet FIP can also be diagnosed by taking a sample of abdominal fluid.
Step 4. Identify potential infections, viruses, or parasites
In fact, the possibility of diseases that may cause a cat's abdomen to swell is very wide. Although most cases are minor, there are also types of disorders that can seriously affect the cat's health. Try to identify the symptoms:
- Pyometra, which is an infection of the female cat's reproductive system. Some of the symptoms of pyometra are excessive fatigue, loss of appetite, or increased frequency of urination.
- Intestinal worms. Watch out if you find a rice-like object in your cat's feces or around the anus.
Step 5. Identify possible growth of cancer cells or tumors
Cancer or tumors are one of the most common causes of abdominal swelling in cats. If you suspect your cat has it, get him checked out by a doctor immediately. Some of the symptoms of a tumor or cancer to watch out for are abnormal skin growth and/or loss of appetite.
Step 6. Recognize the symptoms of digestive or metabolic disorders in cats
Metabolic and digestive disorders (such as diabetes and colitis or inflammation of the colon) are among the most common causes of abdominal swelling. Some of the symptoms that commonly accompany this condition are changes in appetite, weight changes, and/or decreased energy levels.
If you suspect your cat has a digestive or metabolic disorder, try asking your doctor for a blood test to confirm or rule out the suspicion
Part 2 of 2: Consult a Veterinarian
Step 1. Describe the timeline of the cat's health problems
Give a complete picture of when abdominal swelling occurred and what the chronology is like. Remember, this is important information your doctor needs to more accurately diagnose cat problems. Tell me if:
- Swelling occurs overnight or gradually over a few days.
- Swelling has been present for several weeks or months.
Step 2. Discuss the cat's diet with the doctor
Most likely, the cat's appetite is closely related to the swelling that occurs in his abdomen. In other words, an infection in the cat's abdomen or other digestive tract will greatly affect changes in appetite. Therefore, tell your doctor if your cat:
- Eat smaller portions than usual.
- Eat larger portions than usual.
- No appetite.
- Vomiting after eating.
- Started eating new foods recently.
Step 3. Allow the doctor to do a blood test
Blood tests are essential to accurately diagnose the cause of abdominal swelling in cats. Without a blood test, the doctor will not get basic information regarding the cat's immune system etc. Specifically, blood tests will:
Provides information regarding the cat's immune system. If your cat has an infection, such as pyometra, the white blood cell count will increase
Step 4. Ask the doctor to do an examination and give a diagnosis
Take the cat to an internal medicine specialist for a biopsy and endoscopy. Most likely, the doctor will perform a variety of tests before giving an accurate final diagnosis. Some of the types of examinations that may be performed include:
- X-rays. X-ray examinations help doctors detect the presence of cells that may develop into cancer or infected organs.
- Ultrasound. Ultrasound examination can provide various important information needed by doctors, as well as being able to eliminate or confirm the possibility of cancer. In addition, through an ultrasound examination, the doctor will also determine whether or not there is a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity or in the surrounding area.
- Biopsy. If the doctor finds cells that are infected or at risk of developing into cancer in the cat's abdomen, a biopsy is likely to be done.
