bloat in german shepherds - Page 1

I just lost my 5 year old male to bloat, his grandmother was Kolett vom Posthorn a littermate to Kosi v. Posthorn who also is in Kway v. Posthorn pedigree. I believe there is an heriditary tendency an of course I cannot know which line it is coming from since this disease is not as yet being noted or kept track of. My dogs episode was related to surgery since he bloated 10 hours after surgery with no food 30 hours. I would appreciate any response to how much of this disease is occuring in the german shepherd. I had sheperds for 30 years and this was my first experience, just devasting.

I keep hearing rumors of this dog and that dog bloating but nobody ever comes forward and say they are dealing with it seems to be another of those topics in the hotbed where everyone will say it happens , or it only happens in amercian lines because of how deep the chest is, or iver heard well it has been unprooven to be genetic and hereditary. I am just as much curious and hope it can be discussed It is something that does concern me, I am so very sorry for your loss and thank you for trying to talk about it.

Johanna, I am sorry for your loss. I lost a dog years ago to gastric torsion and it was a very painful experience. I will tell you that bloat is common in not only GSDs in all GSD bloodlines, as well as in many other large breeds. I personally know of dogs from American, German and Czech bloodlines who have bloated. When it comes to disease processes, at the most fundamental level, all diseases are "genetic". Even where dogs who are injured, say who tear a cruciate ligament, often has some genetic predispostion to injury. It is the same as in humans. I am curious about where the dog was post surgery and why he had to have the initial surgery. If he was in a hospital, once would have thought this could be caught early and perhaps the dog saved..... Again, my condolences for your loss of your dog.