October 15, 2009
Bloat
Bloat is a twisting of the stomach caused by a build up of gas inside the stomach cavity and is common in dogs with deep chests such as Great Danes and Weimaraners. It is an extremely serious condition and a dog suspected of having bloat should go immediately to a veterinarian. A dog with bloat can die within minutes, but generally will only live around two hours if he does not receive immediate treatment.
The signs of bloat are visible discomfort when it appears to be nothing wrong and a difficulty laying or sitting down. A descended belly may also be noticeable and the dog will hypersalivate. Another obvious symptom is a dog that appears nauseous. The dog may vomit frequently with little coming up.
Preventative measures for dogs susceptible to bloat are to feel small bite kibble, use raised food bowls (some say this causes bloat), and to disallow exercise for several hours after eating. Dogs should not have their water restricted before or after meals and should eat two or more meals per day. A fast first aid treatment for bloat is to give Pepsid but this should not replace immediately taking the dog to the veterinarian.
A veterinarian will be able to determine bloat with a physical exam as well as an X-Ray. Some treatments use only intravenous fluids but surgery is often suggested. Bloat has a high recurrence rate in non-surgical treatments, almost 80%. During surgery, the dogs stomach may be permanently attached to the wall of the stomach cavity to prevent it from twisting in the future. Surgery will also reveal any damage caused by bloat such as necrosis of the stomach tissue.
Breeds most susceptible to bloat are Great Danes, Weimaraners. St. Bernards, Gordon Setters, and Irish Setters.
没有评论:
发表评论