Canine Bloat: What Is Bloat in Dogs?

Bloat is when a dog’s stomach fills rapidly with gas, food, or fluid, causing it to expand. The gas can build up from swallowed air or from fermentation of food in the stomach, and the swollen stomach cannot empty normally.

Most dogs can just “burp” up any extra stomach gas, but sometimes this doesn’t happen, and the stomach can unfortunately inflate like a balloon. As the stomach swells it may move over to one side of their abdomen (stomach) and further block off the exit route for gases – making the problem worse.

When a dog’s abdomen looks or feels distended, there is a serious danger that the stomach may twist. This twisting is called gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV)—a severe form of bloat in dogs—and it becomes life-threatening very quickly. Recognizing the signs of bloat in dogs and seeking immediate veterinary care  is critical.

Are Any Breeds Particularly at Risk of Bloat?

Yes. Large breed, deep chested dogs, suffer more than most. Some example breeds are:

• German Shepherds
• Irish Setters
• Great Danes
• Akitas

Although smaller breeds like Airedale Terriers and Greyhounds can also be affected. Other risk factors include dogs that are anxious or very stressed and also dogs that have previously suffered from bloat. If a close relative of your dog has had bloat treatment, then your dog is at increased risk.

What Are the Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs?

• Restlessness with retching and drooling may appear first. The dog may attempt to vomit, producing only small amounts of foamy saliva.
• Firm, distended abdomen, though not always obvious. Affected dogs may stare at their sides or display other signs of abdominal discomfort.
• Coughing may occur and can range from a mild, intermittent tickle to persistent bouts that interrupt sleep or daily activities.
• Excessive water intake may also be noted, although this symptom is not always present.

Even if the condition is in its early stages, symptoms may progress quickly, and the dog may have trouble breathing and eventually will collapse. If untreated, dogs that develop a twist in the stomach will die.

Despite the condition being more common in middle aged to older dogs, canine bloat in puppies can still occur. For puppies it's recommended to avoid one large meal per day, and instead split this into two, or three, smaller meals.

What Should I Do if I Think My Dog Has Bloat?

If you think your dog has bloat, call your vet or emergency service immediately. In some cases, bloat can kill in less than an hour. Your vet will want to see your dog immediately but do call ahead, so they can be prepared with the equipment and staff they’ll need to deal with them as quickly as possible.

Dogs with bloat shouldn’t be left to “wait and see” and “dog bloated stomach home remedies” shouldn’t be used. For true bloat, the consequences of not seeking immediate veterinary care are too severe to risk delay.

How Is Canine Bloat Treated?

Treating bloat often needs medical and surgical interventions. Affected animals are in shock and require intravenous fluids (a drip) and other drugs to support them. Blood tests and monitoring will be needed before, during and after to assess the extent of shock and other complications.

To treat the bloat itself a tube is passed into the stomach to let some gas escape and reduce pressure on the internal organs. Your dog may need to be sedated or anaesthetised to pass the tube. Sometimes a tube can’t be passed, or the tube can’t enter the stomach if the stomach has twisted. In these cases, it may be necessary to perform emergency surgery to empty the stomach.

Unfortunately, this condition is serious no matter how it’s managed. About 3 dogs in 20 won’t survive even with surgery. Until your vet operates and examines the patient’s stomach and internal organs, they won’t know whether organ damage has happened.

Even with surgery it can be hard to visually assess the extent of organ damage as blood flow may be disrupted to organs. Sometimes organs, or parts of organs, may have to be removed to save the patient’s life. Even with this surgery, the patient is still at risk of not surviving the procedure or the period after the surgery.

In nearly all cases a procedure to fix the stomach to the wall of the stomach (body wall) is performed, to try and prevent bloat from recurring. This procedure is called gastropexy. Once the stomach has been deflated a temporary tube may also be fitted between the stomach and the body wall (a gastrostomy tube) to allow any further gas to escape safely.

Dogs that undergo these procedures need a huge amount of veterinary and nursing care before, during and after surgery, accompanied with a potential round of pain medications to relieve their discomfort.

Is It Possible to Prevent Canine Bloat?

Many of the risk factors for bloat are hard to prevent. But some practical measures can help reduce the risk.

Feeding several small meals every day (instead of one large meal a day) can help reduce the risk. As swallowing of air is increased when dogs eat quickly, it can be helpful to separate dogs when eating so there’s less competition for food and eating may be less frantic. Special barrier bowls and mats may also help to slow eating down.

Exercise and excessive drinking should be restricted for an hour before and after eating. Dogs should be fed from the floor as feeding from raised food bowls may increase the risk of bloat.

Anxious dogs can be at higher risk of bloat, so it’s sensible to minimise stressful events. If these can’t be avoided, then make sure anyone caring for the dog is extra vigilant and knows the signs of bloat to look out for.

For breeds that are prone to bloat, it may be worth asking your vet if it would be beneficial to perform an elective gastropexy. Some owners opt to do this when their dog is undergoing spay or neuter surgery. Gastropexy is less risky to perform when the animal is healthy compared to an emergency situation. The risks vs benefits of this procedure should be weighed up with your vet.

It’s always better to be on the safe side when it comes to dog bloat, so ensure all people that care for your dog can recognise dog bloat symptoms and ensure that everyone has your vet’s contact details available. Don’t delay. Call your vet right away!

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