Qustion about bloat - Page 1

I was reading different posts today about bloat. I have never seen a dog have this problem, I understand what it is but what are the things you should look for, or what are the signs of a dog with bloat? I would like to know in case this ever happens to me. Thanks, Dave

haha, I will again refer to my "Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook, 3rd edition". "Signs Of Bloat The classic signs of bloat are restlessness amd pacing, salivation, retching, unproductive attempts to vomit and enlargment of the abdomen. The dog may whine or groan when you press on his belly. Thumping the abdomen produces a hollow drum sound. Unfortunately, not all cases of bloat present with typical signs. In early bloat the dog may not appear distended, but the abdomen usually feels slightly tight. The dog appears lethargic, obviously uncomfortable, walks in a stiff-legged fashion, hangs his head, but may not look extremely anxious or distressed. Early on it is not possible to distinguish from volvolus. Late signs (those of impending shock) include pale gums and tongue, delayed capillary refill time, rapid heart rate, weak pulse, rapid labored breathing, weakness and collapse. If the dog is able to belch or vomit, quite likely the problem is not due to volvulus, but this can only be determined by veterinary examination." Yes I have no life. This book really does have a lot of good info though. Also, for those who dont know what volvulus is, it is where "the distended stomach rotates on its long axis"

Dave, I also was very concerned and asking the same thing you are. Recently, right before X-mas, my aunts boxer suddendly died from this. I was shocked to learn this because there was no real reason for this happening, it just randomly came upon him one day. He ( IKE ) was in his crate like usual that night which was where he and another boxer (SPIKE) had slept. She had said that the next morning Spike was very anxious and was crying to wake everyone up to get out of his crate. She had went to go let them out and noticed Ike had a abnormally large stomach. He seemed to be walking and acting fine so she thought nothing of it, she went to let the dogs outside and Ike just layed down in a part of the yard that he usually never goes to. She immediately knew something wasent right and took him over to the vet. I dont know the whole story but I believe she said the vets offered to do surgery but it was $5000+ and she dident have that much money at that time, because it was so unexpected. I do know even though she had to put him down :( , the bill was still $1200. After talking to her for a little while I was asking her questions about the symptoms(for my own dogs sake), and she said he just had a big stomach and layed down in the yard which wasent like him, because he was an active breed. I then asked her about excersise after eating and stuff that is believed to cause bloat and he had not done any of those things. What she did say that caught my attention, was her son(19) had disciplined him for getting into the trash the day before. My thinking is he either got cooked chicken bones or something else in the trash that had cut his intestines which inturned caused bloat, which then made his stomach flip. OR, he was stressed from the discipline that he recieved. I dont know "how much" he was disciplined, I dident ask beause she wasent even home at the time. Whatever it was that caused this is unknown, and most other bloat cases also have unknown causes. It is believed to happen in large breed, deep chested dogs such as greyhounds/boxers/GSDs/Great Danes/ Mastiffs and so on. I was concerned becuase I have a 50lb Lab/ greyhound/ Pitbull/ everything else mix and she has a deep chest as well. Hopefully one day they can find a true cause, or inexpensive treatment to help all those helpless dogs, that for no reason develpoe bloat.. R.I.P Ike :( Andrea

Sorry about your friends dog but come on $1200.00 to put the poor dog to sleep or 5000.00+ to due a surgery. WTF? Some vets just turn my stomach. It sounds like that vet was playing on her emotions and trying to cash in on that visit. I would like to know that vets name and location. What a sorry MF (the vet). If a vet ever pulled that on me I would go off on that sorry SOB.

Jenijenjen, I know I feel the same way. I was also schocked to learn it cost that much, and I also think that he played her. Some vets will do that because they know you will do anything for your dog no matter the cost. I personally dont have an extra 5 grand laying around either. When my dog got hit by a car, after all her treatment, x-rays, meds and emergency visit it still was under 1K(thank god she survived though). I wish I knew the name of that vet also. She lives in Sunrise, FL but thats ablut all I know. Andrea

I hope it was more like $120.00 to put the poor dog to sleep and $500.00 for the surgery. Jen

No, it is a very expensive surgery, usually only 2,000 but my vet in Galveston says if they make it thru the surgery, they usually die in a week or so....He doesnt push it, but gives people the choice....Ive had three shepherds, die.....all know causes.....one, Ceazar was in competition with Gator, at my place, in Tyler, as I was babysitting the Gal CO. Apprehension boy, and he was father to three of my litters, and it was late , midnight hour , in July , and the temperature was still 98*, ...Ceazar was doing a tremendous of returning the Kong, and he and Gator were hard, and high drive.....Gator was use to the grueling Police work, and Ceazar was just under two years old,...Upon me tiring out, I sat in a chair to rest, and Gator lay down on the concrete driveway,,,,,Ceazar went straight to a bucket of water and because I was almost asleep sitting up, I did not notice that he drank almost the whole bucket....and 1 hour later he was pacing, moaning, foaming at mouth, trying to vomit and couldnt.and he ws moaning and in bad pain...hard stomach,,,,By the time we got to the vet, it was put him down....not use to do anything.......to much water, to hot and he gulped it down.....second dog was in the kennel all day, inside, and he was older, like 8 and my guard dog, and when I let him out he had eaten a bowl of dry food, and out the door he went, to the water bowl......an hour later ,same thing,, moaning, trying to gag, vomit frothy substance, crying and laying on floor....to the emergency vet at 11:00pm and put him down.....not enough water in stomach when ate, and he drank water immed. after doing without all day, and the food expanded too fast,,, third one was a mystery,,,,she was not in my care , so I dont know the all day actions involved.....but she had her B title and ws a slim active, high drive , with ofa excel hips and she was 8 also.....all eating dry dog food.....most of the time, now I feed dry wetted with water or chicken broth, and feed twice a day, smaller amounts because mine have high food drive....eat the food, the bowl and the sack if u let them.....

I have had 3 dogs bloat on me and the only common factors were they were all over 10 years of age and they had been line bred on the same dogs and they all had empty stomachs. Dog #1 had been fed barf 8 hours earlier, had been out side all day with us, watching us work, that evening I jokingly told her she looked like she was pregnant. Didn't think about bloat until she started throwing up foam. Rushed her to the emergency Vet, who confirmed bloat with torrosion (twisted stomach), she was 11 1/2 with other health problems so we chose to put her down. Dog #2 had been outside barking excessively at our goats, we let him inside about 10 minuites later he wanted back out. he was out for another 5 minutes, went to check on him and noticed the big belly. Went straight to our vet, confirmed bloat with torrosion, had surgrey and the dog went home the next day. My vet said it was the fastest turn around he had ever saw on a bloat. Surgrey cost 1500.00, he survived another 2 years and died of cancer. He was 11 when he bloated and about a hour before normal feeding time of moistened kibble. Dog #3 had her teeth cleaned the day before, that morning she still wasn't feeling good so I left her out side thinking her stomach was upset from the cleaning process the day before. It was chilly that day about 38. Was gone for about an hour. When i came home she was in full blown bloat. Rushed her to our Vet, 10 minute drive. By the time I got her to the Vet her tounge was blue and she couln't walk had to be carried in. I had 3 Vets working on her and they managed to pull her out of the bloat. If I had waited 10 minutes longer, she would not have made it. No surgrey because luckily her stomach had not twisted. She was 10. About 3 months later same dog, I had given her a bath outside, water was chilly but it was a warm day. A few hours later i noticed her breathing heavy, looked her over and felt her stomach taunt, carried her to the emergency Vet, her stomach had twisted this time, had the surgrey and carried her home the next day. She is now 13 and still doing good for her age. All of the Vets agreed that the last 2 dogs survived and recovered quickly because I got them to the Vet as fast as I did. Norma

Thank you all for your comments.Hope my dogs never get this. Mose hang onto the Dog Owners Home Veterinary Handbook, 3rd edition" lot of good stuff in there.

LOL! Everyone should have that book!! I do, Mose you are not alone!!!!