What You Need To Know About Bloat In Dogs

Canine bloat is a very serious condition that results in more dog deaths than any other illness except for cancer. Large dogs are especially prone to bloat, and it is something every pet owner should be able to recognize.

What is bloat in dogs?

Bloat refers to a condition where gas builds up in a dog's stomach, unable to be released. Sometimes, this occurs along with the stomach twisting on its axis between the small intestine and the esophagus. This additional symptom is known as gastric dilatation volvulus, or GDV. When the stomach is twisted, blood flow is cut off from the organ, resulting in tissue death. When bloat occurs along with GDV, the situation is much more serious, and is a leading cause of death.

What are the symptoms of bloat?

When it comes to bloat, it is important to act quickly. To do this, you will need to be able to recognize the symptoms right away. Bloat typically occurs after a dog eats or drinks, especially after exercise. Other symptoms include restless or anxious behavior, a distended abdomen, unsuccessful attempts at vomiting, pale gums, whining or whimpering, excessive drool, and difficulty breathing.

If a dog is showing symptoms of bloat, it is crucial that you get the dog to a vet as quickly as possible. If GDV is occurring with the bloat, it may be only a matter of minutes before the tissues of the stomach begin to die from lack of a blood supply.

What are the causes of bloat?

The exact cause of bloat is unknown, but there seems to be a connection with exercise followed by gulping food or water down quickly. In addition, large breeds seem to be more prone to bloat, especially those with larger, barrel shaped chests, such as the Great Dane and Boxer breeds. However even small breed dogs have been known to get bloat. Elevated food dishes are also thought to be a factor, as well as stress.

How is bloat treated?

Unfortunately, bloat is only treatable if caught very quickly. If you are able to get your dog to a vet as soon as possible, they may be able to insert a tube into the stomach to release the trapped gas. If the vet is able to stabilize the dog, he or she can then operate if necessary to untwist the dog's stomach. Once out of surgery, the vet will likely have to treat for dehydration, shock, or any complications that occurred during the incident.

How can bloat be prevented?

It can be difficult to prevent bloat, as it is still not known exactly what causes it. However there are a few ways you can reduce your dog's risk of developing this dangerous condition. Avoid feeding your dog one large meal a day. Instead, feed 2-3 smaller meals. Avoid elevated bowls, and don't let your dog have unsupervised access to food or water immediately following exercise or vigorous play. Finally, always have your vets number and the number of an after hours clinic handy in case of emergency.

Bloat can be a very scary condition for dog owners. However with proper vigilance and a little preparation, you don't have to live in fear of this deadly condition.

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