Whether you know it as Dog Bloat, Canine Bloat, or its technical term, Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus, this digestive tract disorder is the second leading cause of untimely death among dogs and could kill your dog in as little as an hour. Still, is it quite surprising how many pet owners do not know anything about it.

Dog Bloat, or bloating in a dog takes place when the dog’s stomach fills with gas, food, or liquids and twists 180 to 360 degrees on it’s axis between the esophagus and duodenum or the entrance and exit parts of the stomach. Basically it’s a build up of gas in the stomach which isn’t able to be released causing the stomach to expand and and causing extreme pain to your pet.

In a very short time, this constriction will cause the stomach to become proscribed of nutrients and oxygen, causing the stomach tissue to die.

Dog Bloat symptoms are:

• HALLMARK SYMPTOM: (most commonly seen) – Dog making repeated attempts to vomit every 5-10 minutes with foam, mucous or nothing coming out (dry vomiting)
• unsuccessful attempts to defecate
• drastic change in behavior patterns
• significant anxiety or restlessness
• cold mouth membranes
• heavy salivating or drooling
• pale or off colored gums (dark red in the initial stage and white or blue in the later stage)
• abdominal swelling after meals
• show signs of abdominal pain or discomfort
• looking at or trying to lick their abdomen often
• heavy panting, shallow breathing, trouble breathing at all
• apparent weakness or sudden collapse
• refusal to lie down or sit still
• coughing, gagging, or choking behavior
• whining
• pacing
• weak pulse
• rapid heartbeat
• licking the air
• seeking for a hiding place
• curl up in a ball
• excessive water drinking
• attempt to eat small stones

Like plenty of other conditions which affect our dogs, the exact cause for dog bloat is still unknown. There are a handful of factors that will contribute significantly to a dog’s chances of getting bloat symptoms. These include:

• Stress
• Eating or drinking too fast
• Exercise or play immediately after eating
• A dog “rolling over” on it’s back with a full stomach
• Having a great deep chest (large breed dogs)
• Raised food bowls
• Hereditary Disposition

Smaller dogs, puppies, and less active dogs, while still susceptible to dog bloat, will not have as great a risk as larger more active dogs. Similarly, male dogs are much more likely to suffer from dog bloat symptoms than female dogs.

Here is a short list of dog breeds that have a higher risk factor for dog bloat symptoms:

• German Shepherd
• Labrador Retriever
• Great Dane
• Irish Wolfhound
• Standard Poodle
• Rottweiler
• Akita
• Doberman
• Bloodhound
• Great Pyrenees
• Irish Setter
• British Sheepdog
• Golden Retriever
• St. Bernard

Preventing and Curing Dog Bloat Symptoms

Because dog bloat symptoms are so severe, you must seek immediate medical attention for your pet if you have even the slightest thought that your pet has any of the dog bloat symptoms listed above. Especially if you see the Hallmark bloat symptom of repeated vomiting attempts.

If caught and diagnosed quick enough, your vet will start treatment by inserting a tube in through the stomach wall to relieve the build up of gas pressure in the dog’s stomach. If necessary, the vet may need to operate on your pet in order to untwist the stomach. Additional recovery treatments may be administered to your pet for dehydration, shock, fatigue, or other complications from the surgery.

Because there is a wide range of potential factors to canine bloat, you should check with your vet to assess the risk factors for your dog. There are potential surgerical prevention measures that involve “anchoring” the stomach in place to help prevent this problem in extremely high risk pets. This should be a last resort or considered for those pets who have survived a previous bloat distress in the past or are at extremely high risk.

The easiest preventive measures you can take most center on your pet’s eating and playing habits. Giving your pet smaller meals more often throughout the day will cause less weight in the stomach, less gas, and less likelihood to twist. Prevent your pets from rough-housing or playing after they eat. If your dog has a tendency to roll over at night, make there they have not eaten before bedtime and have also defecated before bedtime.

These are simple steps that you can take to help lower your pet’s risk of canine bloat.

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