Bloat in GSDs - Page 2

My point was that this vet may not be up on the latest and perhaps did not address the spleen while in the initial surgery and another opinion and research would perhaps be called for to see if the dog has some other issue missed by this vet and also point out that wetting the food if it contains citric acid would significantly increase the chances of bloat which her vet apparently did not say.

We'll, I just read the study and it concurs with my own experience and other studies I have read. Therefore, It must be good information. ;)

I don't feed raw; I do feed at least 1 1/2 hours before any exercise. I soak the food in warm water before feeding it and rarely add anything other than fish oil. We walk about 2 -3 miles twice a day and play ball for 1/2 hour or so. She's in training for her CD, so we work on that too and some advanced rally stuff.  I haven't withheld her quantity of water after the exercise, but I think I will start to do that today and start feeding her a little earlier in the afternoon so I can hold off the ball chasing for 2 hours after the food. I've fed twice a day for years since I lost a 5 year old to bloat.

IMO GAS X is a must in the first aid kit. Pepcid AC is good too.

Blitzen, I have used Gas-X since the mid 90's. Unfortunately, after my dog bloated. I can tell you for a fact it has made a difference on several occasions. It is in my K-9 first aid / trauma kit, my glove box of all my cars and my house. It can make a difference and there are no contraindications. So it can't hurt

Here's another opinion on canine bloat.

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/on_my_soap_box_purdue_bloat_study.htm 

Linda has some great info on her site. It's also good that she reminds everyone that statistics can be interpreted so many ways!

I try to think of the way a dog would eat naturally- the quantity, the content, would they eat it up high or on the ground, would they have access to water simultaneously, etc. ? Then I try to recreate that best I can. 

I have had a scare with Caleb and turned to the Great Dane site for advice- turned out the little sneak wasn't bloating, he had literally eaten half a bag of food without my knowledge (he was sneaking into a cabinet that was supposed to be "locked") and it was food, not air. I saw his abdomen expanding, panicked, though he seemed fine. I tapped it, and it was solid- no drum sound, no attempts to puke, but a sheepishness that made me look around and then I found the food that had been torn into. I was relieved of course, but eating that much kibble isn't good either, so I went ahead and did the Phazyme trick since he did have gas already. I have used it a few times since then, because, as Jim said, it's harmless and could very well save a dog or buy some time in a real emergency. 

This has been a big issue to me lately, something I worry a lot about, as Caleb is getting into that age range (8) and has several other factors (very large, deep chested, highly active, somewhat aggressive, though not at all easily stressed) that make me nervous. I think carrying Phazyme and erring on the side of caution are good ideas. If he gets any kibble, it's a grain-free, potato-free kibble combined with pure canned meat or The Honest Kitchen. I typically try to feed just raw at night, since most dogs bloat in the middle of the night, it seems. Also, that's the most logical time to miss the signs and find them too late. 

I sure hope this poor little guy continues on the road to recovery and the OP can find out what's triggering this. 

I agree, you should also be aware of the possibility of mesenteric torsion.  Its too late to fix the neutering issue, but 9 months was too early.  Second, did they tack the stomach? If so and the spleen still twisted, I hope they removed it this time. Too bad we are hearing about this post surgery.  I would have recomended the vet do both a stomach tack and an intestine tacking on this particular dog.  I would also say, no more kibble, but if you must feed, do grain free soaked for at least 30 minutes before feeding (it should have absorbed to the max by then). 

Hi all

Thanks so much for your replies - unfortunately I'm in a different time zone so I'm only just reading them now...plus I'm only working half days this week because I am paranoid about my boy.

The vet did staple his stomach the first op and those staples held - it was the spleen that then twisted the second time.  Noone has mentioned the mesenteric torsion so I'll check with the vet when he calls me back this afternoon (I've got three separate vets currently on call for Beau at the one practice).  The spleen wasn't removed in the second operation so I'll talk to the vet about that as well.  When I'm not at work Beau's now with me 100% of the time - I've been watching the way he sleeps and breathes and it seems normal. However, when it's hot and he's not confined thanks to surgery, he does tend to dunk most of his head in his water bucket and splash it about (which is very cute but now a bit of a concern).   Unfortunately there's no doggy day care anywhere near where I live or work so he will be unsupervised while I'm at work - I don't know what else I can do about that.   I'm definitely changing his diet to no dry kibble at all - just quality canned food (Hills, Royal Canin, boiled chicken etc) and marrow bones for his teeth (are marrow bones ok?  I've always fed them to my dogs and never had a problem...yet....).

I hadn't heard about the neutering issue before - I actually took him to a different vet for that as they are almost next door to where I work and I couldn't get the time off to take him out closer to where I live.   Bugga, I wish I knew that this was too early, but I've always been told 6 months is the age and the vets haven't dissuaded me. 

What's Gas-X - is it available in Australia?  Sounds like something I should definitely have with me and Beau at all times.

Gas-X is an antacid for indigestion.  I'm sure they have a similar product in Australia. 

Jim

Oh right, yes, they do.  I'll check out the chemist this avo for a good brand.  As I've never had to take it myself...how is it administered to our four-pawed friends?  Tip down the throat as a liquid or crush and mix with food? 

Thanks Jim.