The late great Miss Marble, Jaci’s Golden.
Dog’s LOVE their food. So much so, that many of them inhale their meals, and many deep chest breeds are prone to Bloat (gastric volvulus). Maybe you’ve never heard of this before – if not, you really need to read on. It can save your dog’s life one day.
Do you remember the end of Marley and Me? Poor Marley died of bloat. What’s so sad is that with knowledge and action, it could have been prevented.
Bloat (gastric volvulus) is basically twisting of the stomach and has a mortality rate of 50%. According to Pet Web MD, the classic signs of bloat are restlessness and pacing, salivation, retching, unproductive attempts to vomit, and enlargement of the abdomen. The dog may whine or groan when you press on his belly. Thumping the abdomen produces a hollow sound.
Once a dog has bloated, you have a window of opportunity to save him or her. Time is extremely important. I’ve mentioned my late Golden Retriever Marble in previous blogs; she actually bloated twice in her life, and thank goodness I knew what to do (with the help of my neighbor Kristin who worked at an emergency vet clinic). The first time, Marble was just a baby, and I had given her a Greenies treat, which she gobbled in record speed. It was when they first came out and it was unknown that these dental treats caused bloat in young puppies. The next thing I knew her little puppy tummy grew round and hard and she was trying to vomit with no success. The second time she was 9, the pantry door wasn’t closed all the way and she got in and consumed 1/3 of a bag of dog food (again in record time). Also again, we caught it in time. Because of all the work I’ve done with dogs, I felt comfortable inducing vomiting, and if it’s done soon enough, it alleviates bloat and prevents the stomach from twisting.
If you suspect your dog is bloating, get him or her to the vet’s IMMEDIATELY. Watch for the signs and know what to do. Pet Web MD also says “that not all cases of bloat present with typical signs. In early bloat the dog may not appear distended, but the abdomen usually feels slightly tight. The dog appears lethargic, obviously uncomfortable, walks in a stiff-legged fashion, hangs his head, but may not look extremely anxious or distressed.
Late signs (those of impending shock) include pale gums and tongue, delayed capillary refill time, rapid heart rate, weak pulse, rapid and labored breathing, weakness, and collapse. If the dog is able to belch or vomit, quite likely the problem is not due to a volvulus, but this can only be determined by veterinary examination.â€
How to prevent bloat:
- Divide the day’s ration of food into three equal meals, spaced well apart.
- Do not feed your dog from a raised food bowl.
- Avoid feeding dry dog food that has fat among the first four ingredients listed on the label.
- Avoid foods that contain citric acid.
- Restrict access to water for one hour before and after meals.
- Never let your dog drink a large amount of water all at once.
- Avoid strenuous exercise on a full stomach.
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