If you think your dog is experiencing bloat, seek help from your vet without delay.
As pet owners, we want the best for our furry friends, but what happens when they fall ill? One of the scariest conditions that can affect dogs is bloat, a serious and potentially life-threatening condition.
Also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), this condition happens when the stomach fills with gas, causing it to twist, obstructing blood flow to vital organs. Blood pools in the dog’s hindquarters and is unable to return to the heart. This means that the dog can go into shock.
Without prompt treatment, dog bloat can lead to death in as little as a few hours. But don’t worry; understanding the causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies can help keep your dog healthy and avoid bloat. In this article, we will delve into everything you need to know about bloat in dogs.
Why Do Dogs Bloat?
There is no one cause of bloat; it’s a complex syndrome with multiple factors at play.
Some factors that can increase the likelihood of bloat in dogs are genetics and breed susceptibility. Certain breeds with a deep and narrow chest — so that’s large and giant breed dogs — are more at risk. These include:
- Great Danes
- St. Bernards
- German shepherds
- Weimaraners
- Gordon setters
- Irish setters
- Doberman pinschers
- Standard poodles
If a dog has a relative who has experienced bloat, then they will be more susceptible to it too. When this is the case, the dog should not be used for breeding.
You should also know that males are more likely to suffer dog bloat than females, and neutering or spaying a dog makes no difference to their risk.
Another factor that may contribute to bloat includes diet, although it’s hard to pinpoint the triggers for bloat with certainty. It’s believed that high-grain diets and foods containing soybean or a high oil or fat content can increase the risk of bloat in dogs.
Eating too quickly can cause bloat as well. When dogs eat too fast, they tend to gulp down large amounts of air, increasing their risk of bloat. Other factors like stress and anxiety can also contribute to bloat in dogs.
Signs and Symptoms of Bloat
Bloat can progress rapidly, and it’s crucial to recognise the early signs and symptoms.
Some behavioural cues of discomfort or distress around meal times could include panting, excessive salivation, restlessness, or refusal to eat.
Physical indicators such as abdominal swelling, symptoms of abdominal pain, retching, and difficulty breathing may also indicate that your dog has bloat. If you press on your dog’s belly and they indicate that they feel discomfort, this can also be a sign.
In some cases, emergency symptoms indicating a medical emergency — such as pale gums, rapid heartbeat, and collapse — may occur.
How to Avoid Dog Bloat
Although bloat can be severe, there are steps pet owners can take to prevent the condition from occurring.
Dietary changes such as dividing meals into smaller portions have been shown to reduce the risk of bloat in dogs. You can use slow feeder bowls to prevent your dog from gulping down their food. It’s also known that dogs fed one meal a day are more vulnerable to bloat than those who have two meals, so make sure you divide up their daily food into two sittings.
It’s also important to offer your dog foods that are less likely to trigger bloat. Avoid cereal-based foods and those high in fat and soybean. Instead, choose a meat-based diet that can include raw meat and chews and treats made from dried animal parts like bones and fish skins.
If your dog is a fast eater, you should also consider looking at the anxiety at the root of this habit. Dogs who are stressed or hyperactive are more likely to bloat, so you could consider feeding them in a quiet space to reduce their anxiety at meal times and look at their overall lifestyle to understand which other areas are causing them stress.
Exercise routines can also help prevent bloating, but you must undertake physical activity in the right way. Do not exercise your dog immediately before or after mealtimes, as it can increase the risk of bloat. Instead, plan out your dog’s exercise routine so that they don’t clash with these times.
Other prevention strategies include managing stress and anxiety in dogs, including using training techniques like desensitisation. You may need to enlist the help of a dog behaviourist to help you do this.
Treating Bloat in Dogs
If you suspect your dog has bloat, it’s crucial to get them to a vet immediately. They will treat them for shock and, when they are stable, will perform emergency surgery. This involves deflating the stomach of air and putting it back in the right position. Damaged parts of the stomach may be removed.
Then to reduce the chances of bloat happening again, a procedure called gastropexy is carried out. Here the stomach is stitched onto the abdominal wall to hold it in place and prevent the twist that occurs in bloat.
Gastropexy may also be carried out on healthy dogs to prevent bloat. This is usually done when they are young and at the same time as their surgery for neutering or spaying. If you have a high-risk breed, it’s worth speaking to your vet about gastropexy to reduce the risk of bloat in later life.
Dogs that undergo surgery will require long-term management and prevention strategies to reduce the risk of bloat in the future. This may include changes in diet, regular exercise, and stress management.
Know More About Dog Bloat and Reduce the Risks
Bloat in dogs is a severe and life-threatening condition; however, you can take steps to reduce the risk of it occurring.
By understanding the causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies of bloat, you can help keep your furry friend healthy and happy.
It’s essential to recognise the early signs of bloating and act promptly to get your dog the appropriate treatment. By working with your vet, you can provide your dog with the care they need to live a full and healthy life.
For further reading and resources on bloat prevention and treatment strategies, be sure to consult your vet.
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