Bloat!

By Donna Sadlik - Reprinted from our Feb/March 2005 Newsletter

Just the word sends shivers through me.  I lost my wonderful Bailey (9 year old Golden Retriever) to bloat in March 1999.  It started in the middle of the night, which is not uncommon, I've learned.  Bailey woke me up about 3 AM. He was very uncomfortable, acting restless, belching, trying to vomit but with unsuccessful results.  The sides of his body were swollen and hard to the touch.  I tried not to panic and instead got out a vet book (bad idea).  I made the mistake of trying to diagnose what was happening to my dog instead of getting in the car immediately and heading to the allnight emergency vet clinic.  Don't make the mistake I made and think it will go away or be better in the morning if you give him a medication for gas.  Get in the car and GO, even if you are incorrect.  Better to be safe than sorry.  I eventually did get him to the vet a few hours later, who put a hose down his throat to empty the contents of his stomach, then "needled" him, yes inserted a needle into his stomach area through the skin to let the air out.  Of course the vet kept him, and we all kept our fingers crossed and I said a hundred prayers that day that he would be OK.  Unfortunately, I lost my boy early the following morning.  He died in a kennel at my vet, alone.  This was probably the most traumatic experience I've ever had with one of my dogs.  I was very distraught and feeling horribly guilty.  For months I could not even discuss this incident, but I feel now, with the passing of time, that I should share what I know about bloat with other dog owners, who may not be aware of what it is.

Bloat, which is usually accompanied by "torsion", is a life threatening condition that usually affects large dogs, including Golden Retrievers.  There no screening to see if your dog is prone to it, and vets still aren't sure what causes it.  Some of the research suggests that the ligaments that hold the stomach (lengthwise in dogs) relax, allowing the stomach to turn.  When this happens, the contents cannot pass from either end, the blood pumped by the heart backs up and the dog usually dies of cardiac arrest.

Here's how to possibly prevent or lessen your dog's chances to bloat:

1. Feed your dog two small meals a day rather than one large one.
2. Limit your dog's exercise after eating for about 1-2 hours and also let your dog cool down for an hour after exercise before eating.
3. Do not let your dog drink excessive amounts of water after exercising or when he or she is very hot.  Small amounts every few minutes are better.

If you notice that your dog's sides look swollen and feel hard, and he/she is trying to vomit unsuccessfully, acting restless, and not settling down, ACT IMMEDIATELY.  Don't wait like I did.  Get your dog to a vet immediately.  Now is a good time to learn where the closest "after hours" emergency vet clinic is located and plan the fastest route to get there.  If you have had a dog survive Bloat, there is a surgery that can be done to help prevent it from happening again.  The stomach is attached to the floating ribs to keep the stomach from turning again.  And don't believe the "old wives tale" that this just happens to dogs that inhale their food.  Bailey was a very slow, methodical eater, but he was the one who bloated.

Donna is a long time GRIN member and her knowledge about the breed is vast.  For further information about bloat, visit Pet Education.com.