Just lost our baby. - Page 4

HI Poseidon:

I struggle with the same thing.  Last year Falon exhibited the same signs as you describe, however her stomach was not enlarged.  I called the er vet and they said that she was definately displaying signs of early bloat, so I rushed her in.  Her exray showed the stomach was increased in size, but no flip.  They treated her with meds and she was fine to go home the next day.  Molly just went thru the same but her stomach was huge.  Xrays showed her stomach was much larger than Falons, however stomach did not flip.  Vet thought that her potential for flipping was much stronger than Falon's.  Luckily they treated her with meds and she was also fine the next day. I keep wondering if I am the idiot who keeps rushing my dogs in with bad stomach aches, but then I keep thinking what if that one time I did not and they needed the surgery.

I think having pepsid around at all times is good.  I also try to limit exercise, feed several meals per day, etc., but both times it just came out of nowhere and both were late at night - around midnight when I realized what was happening.

Cheryl

Actually, heredity is a factor in that deep chested dogs are ALL predisposed to bloat....according to our vet-surgeon. Also what you feed, how you feed, how irritable your dog's digestive system is, parasites, etc. It is a 'perfect storm' situation, so that when you combine a few of the very common factors together, you have the problem. All our GSDs have deep chests, some more so than others. My vet also said that the younger the dog, the poorer they do once some necrosis of the GI system has occurred. He said that young dogs immune systems are not developed enough to fight a full blown sepsis, & that even if the necrotic bowel is removed, the pup would not survive. With bloat, as opposed to intersusseption, you can not create a surgical anastomy of the stomache, as can be done with the bowel, so gastric torsion is far more serious. A dog's GI tract is not attached to the wall of the perineum, so it can flop around in there under the best of circumstances. Gastroplexy &/or bowel plication stabilizes the stomache &/or bowel against the inner wall of the abdomen, a lot of stitching or stapling, & it's not a guarantee, but it offers some protection for those very deep chested dogs. Still, owners need to be vigilant for the signs & symptoms of gastric torsion or bowel intersusseption. We were lucky, we caught it in our girl in time.

 

So sorry for your loss. jackie harris

Thanks for the advice and caution about the early signs of bloat.  I will be more vigilant about her stomach and watch for any distension.  BTW is it common that the dogs eat grass to try and alleviate the discomfort?