Bloat
W
ith the recent Facebook post that told of one lady’s experience with her dog and the dangers of bloat, there have been many misconceptions about the topic. How does it happen? Why does it happen? How can it be prevented? The real question is, what is the reality of this condition that could potential threaten your dog’s life? The medical condition “Bloat” actually refers to, two different conditions that could potentially occur. The first is “volvulus,” which is when the stomach distends and then rotates on the long axis. The second is “gastric dilation,” where the stomach distends with gas and fluid. Gastric dilation can occur with or without volvulus. If volvulus does occur, it causes a gastric obstruction that will prevent the dog from being able to vomit or burp. If gas is unable to escape then it will begin to ferment within the dog’s stomach, eventually causing necrosis of the stomach wall. This can lead to a number of serious problems including bacterial septicemia, cardiac arrhythmias, peritonitis, shock, and even death. 20
Delmarva Unleashed Late Summer 2014
by Farin Phillips Bloat can occur in any dog, at any age. There does seem to be a correlation with Large-breed dogs that have deep chests. Those breeds include Great Dane, German Shepard, Labrador Retriever, Great Pyrenees, Boxer, Collie, and the Standard Poodle. Smaller dogs are rarely affected, with the exception of Dachshunds or others that are deep-chested. Now, the article that has been circulating claimed that the bloat was due to the dog drinking ice cold water. This can cause bloat, but it is not the only reason for it to occur. The dog may have just had a large meal; then may have drunk a large amount of water. Water of any temperature before or after a lot of activity can trigger bloat. The typical signs of bloat include salivation, retching, dry-heaving, and enlarged abdomen, restlessness, and pacing. The abdomen may also be tender to the touch. Unfortunately, not all cases of bloat will present with these “typical” symptoms. One early sign of bloat is that the abdomen may begin to feel tight, while your dog appears to be lethargic and uncomfortable. Early on it can be difficult to distinguish
