Imagine this: you come home from work to find your usually lively Labrador lying still in the corner. He’s breathing fast, won’t get up, and when you touch his belly, he flinches and cries out. Alarmed, you rush him straight to the vets. Within minutes, the team are bustling around him, running tests and preparing for possible surgery. Amongst the commotion you hear the term ‘acute abdomen.’ 

It’s a phrase that sounds technical and frightening – and it is. But what does it actually mean, and how worried should you be if a vet tells you your dog has one? Let’s break it down. 

What does ‘acute abdomen’ mean? 

The word acute in medicine refers to something that comes on suddenly and often severely. It’s the opposite of chronic, which means long-term or ongoing. 

When vets talk about an acute abdomen, they’re not pointing to a single disease. Instead, they’re describing a clinical situation: a dog with sudden, severe abdominal pain. This pain may have many different underlying causes, some of which are immediately life-threatening. 

Think of an ‘acute abdomen’ as a red flag rather than a final diagnosis. It tells the vet: something serious is happening inside this dog’s belly, and we need to find out what, fast.  

Why is it so serious? 

The abdomen (or belly) is home to many of your dog’s vital organs: the stomach, intestines, spleen, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bladder, and more. Damage to any of these structures can quickly spiral into shock, internal bleeding, overwhelming infection, or organ failure. 

Because of this, an acute abdomen is always treated as an emergency. Even if the underlying cause turns out to be something manageable, the initial approach is cautious and urgent.  

How do vets diagnose an acute abdomen? 

Because so many conditions can cause similar signs, vets rely on a thorough clinical examination and a mixture of tests to determine the underlying cause and make a treatment plan – making a quick diagnosis and starting treatment is vital for the best outcome. Some of these conditions can be fatal within just a few hours so your vet will work with urgency. Your dog may undergo emergency blood tests and scans, be given pain relief, and sometimes need immediate surgery. 

Common causes of an acute abdomen in dogs: 

There are many possible culprits, but here are some of the more common conditions that may lead to an acute abdomen in your dog. 

1. Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) 

Perhaps the most feared abdominal emergency in dogs is a GDV, often simply called “bloat.” The dog’s stomach fills with gas, then twists on itself. This traps the gas inside, and with nowhere to go it causes great pain. The stomach is so stretched and full of gas that the pressure can cut off the blood flow to the stomach wall and sometimes the spleen too. The huge, swollen stomach also presses on major blood vessels, stopping blood returning to the heart. A GDV can kill a dog in a matter of hours as their circulation collapses, tissues die from lack of blood flow and toxins flood the bloodstream. 

Who’s at risk from a GDV?  

Typically, large, deep-chested breeds like Great Danes, German Shepherds, and Standard Poodles are especially vulnerable. Exercising your dog straight after feeding them a large meal also seems to be a risk factor for developing a GDV. 

Signs of a GDV 

A bloated (distended) abdomen, severe tummy pain, repeated unproductive retching (i.e. trying to vomit, but unable to bring anything up), restlessness, drooling, pale gums and collapse. 

Can it be treated? 

Treatment almost always requires emergency surgery to untwist, decompress and secure the stomach. However, dogs can be extremely unwell before they go in for surgery so the general anaesthetic is high risk and some don’t make it through. If they survive the surgery, they will need intensive care afterwards and can still sadly pass away in the hours or days after surgery too. 

2. A ruptured or twisted spleen 

The spleen is not an organ we think about often, but it plays an important role in filtering blood and supporting the immune system.  

Splenic rupture 

The spleen has a huge blood supply and is very delicate so it can easily rupture after trauma (e.g. after being hit by a car) or if it contains a fragile tumour. A bleed from just a small area can quickly lead to massive internal bleeding which is often fatal if not treated in time. 

Splenic torsion (twist) 

Sometimes the spleen twists around on itself, cutting off its own blood supply. Blood gets trapped inside causing the spleen to swell dangerously. As well as being incredibly painful, a splenic torsion can go on to cause shock and will be fatal if not treated.   

Can it be treated? 

The treatment for both situations is emergency surgery for removal (usually) of the entire spleen. As with a GDV, these dogs will be going under anaesthetic when already critically ill and some will not survive due to shock, blood loss or toxins in the bloodstream.  

3. Gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction from a foreign body 

Dogs are notorious for swallowing things they shouldn’t: socks, toys, corn-on-the-cob, bones, stones, to name a few! These objects can get stuck in the stomach or intestines and cause serious problems by blocking the normal flow through the guts. Vets call these objects ‘foreign bodies’. 

Why might they cause a problem? 

If the object is small enough to pass through, it will do just that—you may be none the wiser until an interesting object reveals itself in their poo! However, intestines are relatively narrow structures so these objects can get lodged in the guts. The foreign body will block the normal passage of food and gas, so this builds up in front of the blockage. As the pressure builds up, it causes great pain and may lead to pressure necrosis (when the pressure cuts off the blood supply to the affected part of the gut). The gut wall becomes weaker, starts to die and releases toxins into the blood stream. It may even burst, spilling food and millions of bacteria into the abdomen and triggering a severe infection called peritonitis. 

Can it be treated? 

Treatment usually means surgical removal of the blockage. This may be with open surgery (i.e. opening up the abdomen directly), but in some cases an endoscope can be used. Here, the endoscope is passed under general anaesthetic into the dog’s mouth and down their gullet into the stomach or first part of the small intestines. A camera looking through the scope shows the surgeon the insides of the guts so the foreign body can be identified and then, hopefully, grasped by a tiny ‘grabber’ on the tip of the endoscope. It can then be pulled carefully back up, exactly the same way it went down, avoiding painful and risky surgery for your dog. Endoscopic removal is not suitable for all foreign bodies; if they are too far down the guts, are too stuck, or cannot be grabbed easily (e.g. a stone), then open surgery will still be needed.  

4. Peritonitis 

Peritonitis (inflammation and infection of the abdominal lining) is a very serious condition. It can arise for a number of reasons; a perforated ulcer, a burst intestine (perhaps after a foreign body obstruction), a penetrating injury through the abdominal wall, or even complications from surgery. 

Why is it so dangerous?  

The abdominal cavity is normally sterile. When bacteria and digestive material spill into it, an infection is quick to develop. This infection can become widespread across the entire abdomen very fast, causing the immune system to be overwhelmed and leading to life-threatening septic shock. 

Can it be treated? 

Peritonitis can be treated medically with iv antibiotics, fluids, pain relief and supportive care. If severe though, emergency surgery may be needed to physically flush out the abdomen and place a drain before starting aggressive antibiotics and intensive care. Sadly, even then survival is not guaranteed. 

5. Acute pancreatitis 

The pancreas is a tiny little organ that sits near the stomach and small intestine. Despite its small size however, it has great importance. It helps digest food by releasing powerful enzymes into the guts, and is vital in controlling blood glucose levels by producing hormones such as insulin.  

What goes wrong in pancreatitis? 

Pancreatitis can be triggered by eating very fatty meals, or by certain medications, but sometimes there is no clear cause. Regardless, the pancreas becomes inflamed and damaged, so those digestive enzymes start leaking into the surrounding tissues. Instead of digesting food, they begin to damage the dog’s own organs.  

Pancreatitis can be acute (a sudden, serious flare-up) or chronic (more ongoing grumbling signs). The severe, acute form of pancreatitis can lead to an ‘acute abdomen’. This condition is in the minority as it does not usually require surgery.  

Acute pancreatitis can be incredibly painful, cause vomiting, inappetence, fever and sometimes organ failure and death. Treatment is usually supportive medicine -hospitalisation, pain relief, medication, intravenous fluids, and strict dietary management. 

Other Possible Causes: 

The conditions above are among the most dramatic, but many others can also lead to an acute abdomen e.g. 

  • Ruptured bladder (often after trauma) 
  • Uterine infection (pyometra) in unspayed females 
  • Abdominal abscesses or tumours 

What should you do as an owner? 

The most important message is this: don’t wait! If your dog suddenly shows signs of abdominal pain—crying when touched, bloating, repeated vomiting, collapse, or unexplained lethargy—seek veterinary attention immediately. Paying attention to those signs and acting quickly can make the difference between tragedy and a life saved. 

Even if the cause turns out to be something minor, it’s far safer to have your dog checked than to risk missing a life-threatening condition.