Bloat is a very serious health risk for many dogs.
Recent research suggests its the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer. It is frequently reported that deep-chested dogs, such as German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Dobermans are particularly at risk.
If you believe your dog is experiencing bloat, please get your dog to a veterinarian immediately! Bloat can kill in less than an hour, so time is of the essence. Call your vet to alert them you're on your way with a suspected bloat case. Better to be safe than sorry!
The technical name for bloat is "Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus" ("GDV"). Bloating of the stomach is often related to swallowed air (although food and fluid can also be present). It usually happens when there's an abnormal accumulation of air, fluid, and/or foam in the stomach ("gastric dilatation"). Stress can be a significant contributing factor also. Bloat can occur with or without "volvulus" (twisting). As the stomach swells, it may rotate 90° to 360°, twisting between its fixed attachments at the esophagus (food tube) and at the duodenum (the upper intestine). The twisting stomach traps air, food, and water in the stomach. The bloated stomach obstructs veins in the abdomen, leading to low blood pressure, shock, and damage to internal organs. The combined effect can quickly kill a dog.
Be prepared! Know in advance what you would do if your dog bloated.
If your regular vet doesn't have 24-hour emergency service, know which nearby vet you would use. Keep the phone number handy.
Symptoms
Typical symptoms often include some (but not necessarily all) of the following:-
- Attempts to vomit (usually unsuccessful); may occur every 5-30 minutes. This seems to be one of the most common symptoms & has been referred to as the "hallmark symptom"
- "Unsuccessful vomiting" means either nothing comes up or possibly just foam and/or mucous comes up
- Some reports say that it can sound like a repeated cough
- Significant anxiety and restlessness
- "Hunched up" or "roached up" appearance
- Bloated abdomen that may feel tight (like a drum)
- Pale or off-color gums. Dark red in early stages, white or blue in later stages
- Heavy salivating or drooling
- Foamy mucous around the lips, or vomiting foamy mucous
- Unproductive attempts to defecate
- Looking at their side or other evidence of abdominal pain or discomfort
- May refuse to lie down or even sit down
- May stand spread-legged
- May curl up in a ball or go into a praying or crouched position
- Apparent weakness; unable to stand or has a spread-legged stance, especially in advanced stage
- Accelerated heart rate
Causes
It is difficult to determine why bloat affects some dogs and not others, but it is thought the following MAY have an effect:-
- Stress
- Activities that result in gulping air eg rapid eating
- Eating dry foods that contain citric acid as a preservative
- Eating dry foods that contain fat among the first four ingredients
- Insufficient pancreatic enzymes, such as Trypsin (a pancreatic enzyme present in meat)
- Dogs with untreated Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) and/or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) generally produce more gas and thus are at greater risk
- Dilution of gastric juices necessary for complete digestion by drinking too much water before or after eating
- Eating excess gas-producing foods (especially soybean products, brewer's yeast, and alfalfa)
- Drinking too much water too quickly (can cause gulping of air)
- Exercise before and especially after eating
- Heredity
- Build &Physical characteristics.Having a deep and narrow chest compared to other dogs of the same breed
Reducing risk of bloat
- Avoid highly stressful situations. If you can't avoid them, try to minimize the stress as much as possible.
- Do not exercise for at least an hour (longer if possible) before and especially after eating
- Do not permit rapid eating.
- Feed 2 or 3 meals daily, instead of just one
- Use a specially designed foodbowl to slow down eating
- Make meals a peaceful, stress-free time
- Feed a high-quality food
- Avoid excessive brewer's yeast, alfalfa, and soybean products
- Promote "friendly" bacteria in the intestine, e.g. from "probiotics" such as supplemental acidophilus. This is especially a concern when antibiotics are given since antibiotics tend to reduce levels of "friendly" bacteria. [Note: Probiotics should be given at least 2-4 hours apart from antibiotics so they won't be destroyed.]
- Don't permit excessive, rapid drinking
Breeds At Greatest Risk
Afghan Hound
Airedale Terrier
Akita
Alaskan Malamute
Basset Hound
Bernese Mountain Dog
Borzoi
Bouvier des Flandres
Boxer
Bullmastiff
Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Collie
Dachshund
Doberman Pinscher
English Springer Spaniel
Fila Brasileiro
Golden Retriever
Gordon Setter
Great Dane
German Shepherd
German Shorthaired Pointer
Great Pyrenees
Irish Setter
Irish Wolfhound
King Shepherd
Labrador Retriever
Miniature Poodle
Newfoundland
Old English Sheepdog
Pekinese
Rottweiler
Samoyed
Shiloh Shepherd
St. Bernard
Standard Poodle
Weimaraner
Wolfhound
Sighthouds
Bloodhounds
