Swimming & Bloat??? - Page 1

I have a 3 yr old boy who LOVES to swim, and HAS to swim because of joint health. He will swim and GULP water at the same time. When he gets out of the water, his belly is extended, and you can tell he is uncomfortable. He will not sit or lie down until he has burped..... Is this dangerous? Should I be worried? I make sure NOT to feed him before swimming because he will vomit his food and some water right after swimming if he cannot burp. How do I stop him?

I call that "tanking" on water. It is not bloat imo--it is a belly full of water, but if not careful, that tummy full of water can turn into torsion. My Jack Russell Terrier loves to swim pool laps while gulping copious amounts of water. With him, I don't worry about bloat, but he does respond to a "get out of the pool" command and he takes enforced breaks periodically.

Back in 2002, my Am-bred SchH3 male torsioned after spending an excited period of time running around the pool and gulping water. It was caught quickly, and although he did require surgery to fix the twisted stomach, he lived for another 2 years after that (until he was 14).

What can you do? Try to avoid feeding him near pooltime and if he is drinking a lot of water, you'll have to keep him out of the pool for a little while until he vomits it up or pees it out.

Christine

Whats wrong with his joints?

If this is what he does in water I see no way for you to stop it,  I don't think it's all that dangerous but he doesn't need to be swallowing that much water.   I might worry about the water itself and what could be in the water.

Maybe consider a different therapy.

Mine take on some water but never like this, I think I would stop the swimming if it was causing problems.
Dogs can drown, and it doesn't take much water in the lungs to do so.

Perhaps if the water was only deep enough to give him some buoyancy yet not over his head, he would still gain some benefits from the motion and not actually be swimming.

P.S.
If he cramps up in deep water he could very well drown.

I would be very careful.  I don't even let my dogs drink large quantities of water after working especially on hot days.  I'll work my dog and give a small amount of water and then take the water away till the dog recovers.  What you are describing happened to male while on vacation in Florida a couple of years ago.  I worked him in some obedience it was like 85 degrees, then put him in the car (AC on) and gave a little water.  Worked my female, gave a little water.  Went back to the house and let him out in the yard.  He went to the pool and started gulping water.  I checked on him a few minutes later and his stomach was distended.  I called my in laws and asked for their after dinner mints, Tums or Gas X and called an Emergency vet.  I gave two Gas X pills, kept the dog quiet and rushed to the vet.  By the time I got to the vet he was fine.  I keep Tums or Gas X in every car and in my dog bag for situations like this.  I have done this a few times over the years.  There are no contra-indications to giving GAS X and if it relieves the gas and pressure it could make the difference if caught quickly.  

I do not like my dogs drinking my pool water or swimming in the pool that much.  Chlorine is a carcinogen and I don't like my dogs drinking the water with all of the chemicals.  Salt pools use a form of chlorine as well.   I would limit his time in the pool if he has done this more than once and I would watch him closely after swimming.

Jim

Two of my female pit bulls bite waves and completely fill their stomaches with water.  As long as you let them have free access to being able to pee, I've never had a problem.  

I do not like a dog drinking while they are swimming,  swimming does make them thirsty, but the tanking can be a problem.
Can he swim holding on to a tug or a water toy?  I am with Jim on the limiting water intake after training, small frequent portions is the way to go until they are re-hydrated.
Always,
Cee