Anyone here have any experience with bloat in dogs? Gidget has never experienced it but Samoyeds are considered susceptible and I periodically research it, especially in the winter because she runs a lot more (bikejoring) when it's cold. A friend's big male Samoyed was stricken with bloat a couple of winters ago. They recognized the symptoms, rushed him to the vet and after treatment for the bloat, and torsion, his stomach was sewn to something so it is far less likely to twist in the future.

This morning Gidget raced her husky buddy for 4 miles, starting a little before 9:00a. She ate breakfast at 6:30a. She eats two meals a day.

I was surprised to read below that prone breeds should not drink water within an hour of eating. Not only does Gidget drink right after eating but she drinks water during bikejoring breaks, too.

So I'm going to be researching more about bloat and exercise and make sure I'm taking the appropriate precautions. Bloat, especially stomach torsion, is reputedly hideously painful. And lethal.

Bloat
by Sandra Wickwire, DVM

The thought of "bloat" should strike fear in any large breed dog owner. Medically referred to as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), this is a life-threatening disorder which requires emergency medical and surgical care. Early recognition and treatment are essential. Gastric dilatation refers to distention of the stomach with gas, usually swallowed air. Volvulus, which may or may not be present, is where the stomach rotates on its long axis. This results in complete obstruction of outflow of stomach contents, including gas. Severe distention of the stomach will impinge on the blood flow of major blood vessels in this area. Loss of blood flow to the stomach and spleen quickly leads to necrosis (tissue death) of these organs. Hypovolemic and endotoxic shock, which follows rapidly, will lead to death if not treated.

http://clubs.akc.org/aba/health/3c4e756c.jpg

Unfortunately the cause(s) of GDV is yet unknown. One known factor is the anatomic body type that is affected: large-breed, deep-chested dogs. It also usually occurs in middle-aged to older dogs. Swallowing excessive amounts of air (as with gulping food, difficulty breathing, or pain) or delayed emptying of the stomach may play a role. Overeating, exercise after eating, or a dry or cereal-based diet have all been suggested contributors but not proven. One study of 101 dogs with GDV showed an increased incidence in males, being underweight, eating one meal a day, eating rapidly, and having a fearful temperament. Dogs at a decreased risk were those with a "happy" temperament and received table scraps in addition to their diet of dry dog food. Stress was the only common factor that appeared to precipitate an episode of GDV.


* * * Warning Signs * * *

sudden onset of abdominal distention, i.e. looks "bloated"
non-productive retching (trying to vomit but doesn't)
increased salivation, restlessness, respiratory distress
depression, weakness, staggering
discolored (pale or brick red) mucus membranes (gums)
What do I do???
Don't panic - your dog needs you to function! Think of where the closest accessible veterinary facility is. If after hours, is there an emergency clinic in your area (info. to know ahead of time)? Go!!!
Decompressing (letting the air out of) the stomach may buy some time IF you have the equipment and expertise, or at least really good instructions and understanding. To pass a stomach tube, first measure the correct length by laying the tube along the side of the dogs neck. Align the rounded edge at the end of the dogs rib cage then mark the tube (a piece of white tape works well) where it would reach the opening of the dogs mouth. Use a roll of white medical tape (large enough not to swallow) placed sideways in the mouth (so you can see into the mouth through the hole) to hold the jaws open. After lubricating the stomach tube pass it through the tape roll and gently attempt to pass it down to the previously marked point. Do NOT use force, as this may lead to perforating the esophagus. In some cases it is not possible to pass a tube if the stomach is twisted as to block the opening.

What to Expect at the Vets
The veterinarian initially will treat for shock (IV fluids and steroid injection) and stabilize the dogs general condition. They will then attempt to decompress the stomach by tubing, or if unable they may use a large gauge needle to trocarize (puncture through the body wall) the stomach. Preventative antibiotics may be administered. If available, an ECG will be used to monitor for secondary cardiac arrhythmia's. X-rays will be taken to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate the position of the stomach. If the stomach is twisted then surgery is required to reposition and preferably suture it into place. Suturing the stomach in place will decrease the recurrence rate to 3-5% as opposed to 70-80%. Prognosis is based on surgical assessment of tissue damage and on postoperative recovery status.

Prevention
Since the exact reasons for bloat are uncertain effective preventative measures are also uncertain. Some suggestions include:
feed small frequent meals, 3-5 times a day
reduce the speed of eating (feed smaller amounts or place a large object in the bowel with the food)
limit water intake, i.e. do not let dog consume large quantities at once, and do not allow water until 1 hour after eating
immediate recognition and treatment

Owning a Newfoundland I have reseached bloat luckly never seen it
this is a great chart should be printed out and posted on the fridge
http://www.jersey.net/~mountaindog/berner1/bloatchart.pdf

hiker chick, ever hear of the evil franchise called Banfield? We had our three dogs there, took our Boston in with abdominal bloating, vet was convinced it was Cushing's right away. Of course, after a few hundred for the blood test, it was negative. We were sent home, nothing wrong with Tula.

We sought a second opinion. To our surprise, we ended with a doctor that had left Banfield a while ago and she had her initial diagonosis, but referred us to a cardiologist. That visit confirmed that the heart murmur is actually a heart tumor. That was in October of '06, with meds Tula's belly bloating is kept in check. She's doing fine and better than anyone expected (cardiovet said "months", she was surprised to see us a year later).

Anyway, I hope you dont have to deal with what we did, ever.

hiker chick, ever hear of the evil franchise called Banfield?

Anyway, I hope you dont have to deal with what we did, ever.

FUGuzzi -- I have not heard of Banfield. A vet chain?

What you went through was a nightmare. Hard enough to lose pups when they live a long life and die peacefully. I'm very sorry for the distress you all went through.

:-(

I
Our adult Newf had the stomach stitch done when she was spayed. I expect we'll have our new Newf pup done as well.

I had no idea some dogs are getting preemptive stomach stitching.

Makes sense. Wish I'd known when Gidget was spayed. :-|

Amazing that they still do not know what causes this horrendous condition.

I see references in some materials to having anti-gas meds on hand. Does Pepcid AC qualify, or is Pepcid just anti-acid?

Gidget used to suffer from acid reflux so I keep Pepcid on hand. Suppose I could go read the box. Ciao!

:-?

I keep Maalox on hand. It is FDA approved for treatment of large animals and small animals under veterinarian advice.

Pepcid is a different class of drug, and while it can be used for treatment of ulcers and gastric or esophogeal reflux, there are potential serious side effects that need to be carefully watched for if you are going to use it.

Didn't know that. Vet told me to use Pepcid a couple years ago for Gidget and no problems to-date.

:|

HC, I don't know about Pepcid, I found this:

http://www.smartpakcanine.com/ProductClass.aspx?productclassid=3993&cmPreserveSource=true&cmPreserveCategory=true

Bloat is a very serious and actually not uncommon for a large breed, giant breed, and 'big chested' dogs. The posts are all pretty much correct, and every dog owner should be aware of the signs of bloat - mainly because it's one of those time when you need to react, not sit and ponder about it.

Our rescue has a page that describes bloat a lot better than I could post here so...
NC Saint Bernard Rescue - Bloat (http://members.petfinder.org/%7ENC351/bloat.html)
Bloat - knowing the signs could save your saint's life

The technical name is Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) and it is prevalent in deep chested breeds, like the Saint Bernard. It is the second leading killer in dogs next to cancer. It is life threatening, comes on quickly, and requires immediate veterinary treatment, often emergency surgery, to save the dog. Call ahead and let them know you are bringing in a bloat case so they can be fully ready when you arrive.

What is it?

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 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.

Symptoms:

If you even suspect your saint may be bloating - get to an emergency vet immediately
Attempts to vomit (usually unsuccessful); may occur every 5-20 minutes
(One of the most common symptoms)
Doesn't act like usual self
(Perhaps the earliest warning sign & may be the only sign that almost always occurs)
Significant anxiety and restlessness
(One of the earliest warning signs and seems fairly typical)
"Hunched up" or "roached up" appearance
(This seems to occur fairly frequently)
Bloated abdomen that may feel tight (like a drum)
(Despite the term "bloat," many times this symptom never occurs or is not apparent)
Pale or off-color gums
(Dark red in early stages, white or blue in later stages)
Lack of normal gurgling and digestive sounds in the tummy
(Many dog owners report this after putting their ear to their dog's tummy)Other signs:
Gagging
Heavy salivating or drooling
Foamy mucous around the lips, or vomiting foamy mucous
Whining
Pacing
Licking the air
Seeking a hiding place
Looking at their side or other evidence of abdominal pain or discomfort
May refuse to lie down
May attempt to eat small stones and twigs
Drinking excessively
Heavy or rapid panting
Shallow breathing
Cold mouth membranes
Apparent weakness; unable to stand or has a spread-legged stance Especially in advanced stage
Accelerated heartbeat Heart rate increases as bloating progresses
Weak pulse
CollapseCan it be Prevented?

There is no way to fully prevent or predict GDV, although here is a list of suggestions shown helpful in some cases:
Feed 2 or 3 smaller meals daily (as opposed to 1 large meal).
Any changes in the diet should be made gradually, over a period of a week.
Vigorous exercise, excitement and stress should be avoided from 1 hour before to 2 hours after meals.
Excessive drinking should also be avoided.
Avoid feeding food that are known to cause flatulence (gas), e.g. soy, beans, peas, onions, beet pulp, etc.
Some veterinarians advocate the feeding of large pieces of fresh/raw fruits and vegetables (e.g. apples, oranges, carrots) 3 to 4 times a week for extra roughage.Over-the-counter anti-flatulent (Simethecone products, such as Gas X®) should be given just before or dogs go through stressful situations. It may also be handy when the dog appears to have a lot of gas. Simethecone works by breaking down the surface tensions of the small air bubbles in the stomach, thus causing bigger bubbles to form, which theoretically, are easier for the stomach to pass.

On dogs known to be highly susceptible to GDV (e.g. ones that have already bloated before) discuss the use of medicinal prevention (such as Metoclopramide Hydrochloride, or Reglan®) with your veterinarian. The medicine is widely used in human after abdominal surgery to combat painful intestinal flatulence. It chemically decompresses the stomach and intestines, thus forcing the gas out. Like all drugs, there are side effects, so the benefits and problems of long term use should be carefully weighed and discussed with your veterinarian.


(None of this information is designed to be a substitute for veterinary care!)

Thanks, bh. We're bikejoring again this morning but will wait until over two hours have elapsed since she had breakfast.

I wonder about water consumption, especially during exercise.

Obviously some is essential but I don't know whether it's wise to let Gidget drink all that she wants to. She gets pretty thirsty.

Addendum: she didn't drink much this morning. It was 37-degrees. Looked like snow, smelled like snow was in the air. Alas, not quite cold enough for snow. It was a fun run.

:-)

FUGuzzi -- I have not heard of Banfield. A vet chain?

What you went through was a nightmare. Hard enough to lose pups when they live a long life and die peacefully. I'm very sorry for the distress you all went through.


Banfield is a vet chain associated with and usually in the front of PetSmart stores...

It's not just big dogs. I have to watch the dachshunds since they are barrel chested.

Amy

Gidget was fine when this thread began in 2007.

Gidget nearly died a week ago ( Monday-Tuesday Oct 17-18, 2011) after she experience bloat and stomach torsion.

We were in a rented beach-front vacation home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina (Avon on Hatteras Island) -- 312 miles and six driving hours away from our home in Washington, D.C. It was nearing midnight on a beautiful, breezy October evening marred only by annoying illegal fireworks on the beach that had terrified all the dogs in the house for the better part of an hour. Gidget, normally fearful of thunder and other loud noises and even anxious when the car drives over rumble strips in the road, had been frightened by the fireworks to the point of panting vigorously.

While I had long known that exercising too near mealtimes could precipitate bloating, I had no idea that there is perhaps an even stronger correlation between panting from anxiety -- which draws gas into the stomach.

I was getting ready for bed when one of the people staying in the house said that Gidget was downstairs "trying" to vomit. Sure enough, when I got to the bottom of the stairs there was Gidget, unsuccessfully attempting to vomit. No bile, nothing. I had never before seen her do that.

This is what is known as “unproductive” vomiting. And it is a Big Red Flag -- an indicator that bloat and torsion of the stomach are occurring. I had Gas-X in her Dog First Aid kit and we got a pill down Gidget.

The nearest 24/7 emergency hospital was 121 miles away, near Norfolk, Virginia. I was so scared Gidget would die in my arms. As it was she was probably feeling unimaginable pain. We got her to the hospital about 2:30a. After x-rays they prepped for surgery. Gidget's prognosis is for full recovery. Her stomach folded (torsion). In addition to remedying that, the surgeon performed a "gastropexy" so that her stomach probably will not twist in the future.

Been fours years since this thread was begun. I had been careful about Gidget exercising too close to a meal. I'd no idea about the nexus between anxiety (panting) and bloat. Shortly after Gidget ate dinner, some jerks on the beach set off a fireworks for the better part of an hour that sounded like bombs. Scared Gidget and all the other dogs. Scared Gidget the most.

If you have a dog, know about bloat. And if you even suspect bloat is a possibility, start driving to an emergency vet. Time is extremely finite in a bloat situation.

I'm very fortunate Gidget is alive this week.

glad yer pup is doin good... now git a glass of red wine and you unwind

I have a Greyhound rescue. Oddly enough, the show Greyhounds are usually more prone to bloat. My dogs' Foster Mom rescues racing Greys, but also has show dogs'. She does lure coursing and hunting with the show dogs' and has very little problems with bloat. Her dogs' are active, and fine tuned...no fat couch potatoes. She feeds a raw diet and raises her own cattle and chickens. I wonder if being in shape makes a difference. I have a Greyt Vet who owns a Banfield Franchise and really is knowledgable about the breed. Samlur, my Greyhound, is a blood donor for them.

HC...... so glad the Gidg is OK. Continued good luck and good health!

Scary close call with the Gidg. Glad it worked out well for her. I have to admit to panicking during my first read of your post. I missed the second word in the second sentence.

Hope she keeps getting better.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts and good wishes. As of tonight it will have been one month since the surgery -- she's doing great!!

But for the shaved spots, you wouldn't know anything had happened to look at her. Her energy seems back to 100% but she'll take it easy for a couple more weeks. Keeping walks to around 2 miles, total, a day. No bikejoring or scootering. No running. No jumping or wrestling with other dogs.

Surgeon said 4-6 weeks for full recovery so in December I'll ease her back into bikejoring. She saw me get the scooter gear bag out of the closet the other day and she ran to the front door thinking we were going somewhere.

The surest sign that she feels well!

:-)


P.S. Highly recommend that all dog peops -- especially peops with bigger dogs -- keep Gas-X capsules (regular or extra strength) in your vehicle, at home and on your person if you're out with your dog. If you even suspect bloat is a remote possibility, give them a Gas-X.

And discuss bloat-torsion with your vet during your next visit. Ask them to explain it and show you on your dog where you would feel for tightness suggestive of a bloated stomach. Get to know how your dog's abdomen feels when they're well so you'll know when something's different.

Gidget and I are very lucky to be having a second chance.

Scary close call with the Gidg. Glad it worked out well for her. I have to admit to panicking during my first read of your post. I missed the second word in the second sentence.

Hope she keeps getting better.

I'm sorry to cause alarm, Boley, and thank you for your concern.

Made my heart jump just now to read that sentence without "nearly."


:-)

HC, so glad to hear Gidget is doing well!!! :-) Almost got a heart attack. I am not on EOC very often anymore, but just came back to check on the pups.

Glad to hear everything worked out for Gidget. And great advice for every dog owner.