Bloat - Page 2

Navid,

Many of us here who will read this will know exactly how you feel, having experienced bloat and having experienced loosing our dog, despite our best efforts. Clearly you did all you possibly could do and multiple times over. I know it will not help you, but I would venture to guess that this particular dog, and perhaps his bloodlines, has some irregularity that allows him to bloat over and over. At the very least, if possible, let the breeder know what happened.

Time will never take away your hurt or your love for this dog. But it will make your pain more tolerable. In the meantime, grieve in your own way and in your own time. Eventually, get a new dog and he/she will help you learn to love again. Your old pal will always be in your heart however, no matter what, and no matter how many new pals you make throughout your life.

I am sorry for your loss.

I understand your pain and you have my condolences. I lost my 2 1/2 year old Sch3 about two months ago to bloat. Took precautions to avoid it but found him gone one morning. Tore me up. I really likes that dog and we were pals.

After a lot of research since then, I've changed my dogs' diets. Feed twice and wet it  until it is totally swollen prior to feeding.  I put a tablespoon each of straight yogurt and apple cider vinegar in their food to help digestion. I feed my dogs one at a time and make sure they belch before I leave them. No water 1 1/2 hours before or after feeding.

I also keep GasX with me. Research revealed a major factor in bloat is gas in a dog and the GasX will  relieve it and should be given at the first sign of gas discomfort.

How are you able to get the GasX down their throat when they are in such a state of distress?  I like the idea of adding yogurt to their food.  It works in humans, it goes to reason it works with dogs!

I also have a thirsty dog.  She's been like that from day 1, so we know it's not a illness.  We feed her once a day, in the morning, 1can of AvoDerm Lamb & Rice + 1 cup of dry kibble mixed in to keep her stools firm and easy to pass.  That's all she eats until she gets home, where we have a dispenary feeder on the porch her and the other dog can munch on if they get hungry.  No activity for at least a half hour after eating.  Since she's fed at 9am every morning, she stays in her pen until around noon for playtime and potty.  She's also pretty deep-chested, so any information people post about bloat is always helpful in ways to prevent our girl from getting it, as well as emergency treatments until we can get her to a vet.

My heartfelt condolences reading the above tragedies to bloat.

Despite having read much on the topic, this has made me realised some important preparations other than the preventative measures of bloat and recognising of the signs and symptoms is to get hold of “simethicone” an anti-gas medication in liquid drops, and an emergency number for the nearest veterinary surgery.  I have been procrastinating long enough.

Sudden causes of death is always difficult and sharing your grief and experiences is one way to highlight the seriousness of bloat.  I thank you for that.

Picture of her a couple of months after surgery.   I had left my plate on top of the couch to go to the bahroom!  This old girl was not supposed to be able to get up on the couch!    God bless the old girl!  Of course I let her finish what she started!   LOL

This is such a sad, sad story.

My first German Shepherd was very tall and had a very wide deep chest.  Several times there were remarks like "Did he come with a halter, bridle and saddle?"

For many years I rode horses and heard horror stories about this happening to horses and all the rules about cooling them down before feeding,  Horses do not vomit and neither do many large dogs.

I knew that this was something he might be in danger of.  I fed him kibble for the first 5 years.  He had nooooooo problem hurling up his kibble.  Sometimes he would throw up the next day after eating his dry kibble and it would look totally undigested, just soaked and puffed up.  It did not appear to have digested at all.  I always wondered if those incidents were a warning.  He had food allergies and I switched him to raw food in 1999.  He ate nothing but raw whole pieces of chicken.  After a couple of months, I don't recall him ever barfing again. He lived to be 13.

There are several Great Dane websites that are all about bloat and torsion.  There is a strong feeling among many of them that raw diet is part of the solution.

Many disagree and I really have no idea if that makes a difference.

Are there any raw fed dogs out there that have bloatted?

Please share your experiences, we all really want to know what if anything we can do to avoid what amounts to a family trajedy and a financial disaster of epic proportions.

It seems that there are.If you reread the posts you will see that at least one dog was raw fed or so it appears reading it.I wonder if infact it could be what i posted Mar 2007 in this same thread,could it be air pockets in the kibble contributing to it?Could it be genetic or a fast eater that gorges the food?I wish I had these answers but I dont.Hopefully the scientists will make progress in figuring out what the hell causes this .Good luck

I'm still feeling the pain for the loss of my Dino.  Thank you all for your support, and messages.

My hope is that someone, anyone will read these posts and hopeful save their dog when this invisible tsunami hits.  I have a link for the last poster on factors contributing to it (bloat). http://www.pedigreedatabase.com/gsd/bulletins_read/39311.html  and another good link with photos and xrays http://www.thepetcenter.com/sur/bloat.html

Scientists have tried to decades to learn about how bloat occurs by setting up bloating conditions in the laboratory with laboratory dogs... and consistently have failed in producing the spontaneous bloating that occurs with canine house pets.  The usual history is of a dog of a large breed that has recently eaten a meal of dry dog food and then exercises or engages in some physical activity.  On occasion, though, there is no history of physical activity and the dogs is suddenly seen trying to retch and vomit unsuccessfully.  The dog paces, becomes uncomfortable, attempts to pass stool and repeatedly makes retching, gagging noises.  Salivation is common.  At this stage it is impossible to determine what type of bloat is occurring. 

So, here is a summary - Scientists have tried to find out what causes bloat in dogs in laboratory settings, and have pretty much come up with some ideas, but no silver bullet - yet.  #1) Deep-chested dogs between the ages of 4-7 are more susceptible than younger dogs (see a list of dogs in the link above by ranking). #2) Dogs who eat dry kibble food and eat fast, and take in a lot of air.  #3) Scientists have found that activity a couple of hours before and after eating may also play a role in dog bloat.  #4) Dogs who drink a lot of water before or after feeding.

Taking these things into consideration will give you a great chance to save your pets life, should they bloat.  It's like having your emergency check list that will make the difference between life or death, and also keeping down your costs. 

Like I said in my earlier post, I spent over $15k on Dino in 2008, and the last time did me in.  Dino also had an "a-typical" anatomy, which made his situation unique, and his internal organs made him have chronic stomach and intestinal issues.  He was cursed right out of the gate.  I'm glad I got him though, because I can't imagine the financial hardship it could have caused another family, and ultimately the emotional and physical hardship it would have caused Dino.  God made it so he would be part of our family.  Love him always and look forward to seeing him in heaven some day.