Canine Bloat -- Gastric Dilitation and Volvulus (GDV)

Hi, my name is Blackjack! I am a very well loved and pampered 9 year old Rottweiler boy, and I have a story to
tell. I can't type very well, so my mommy is helping me tell you about something that happened to me that was
very scary. She is still a little shaky, and I'm still a little sore, so we will start slowly from the beginning...

September 1st, 2009 was a very normal day in my life, and it was Mommy's birthday. She wanted to spend the
day at home with Daddy and I, and they had a cookout. I spent my day watching Mommy and Daddy cook outside,
and welcomed the visitors that Mommy had with my nub wagging. It really wasn't that unusual at all, I knew
everyone and they gave me the attention I asked for. When everyone went home, I went to the family room to
watch TV with Mommy and Daddy, and asked for my dinner around 5pm. I played a little bit in the house, but not a
lot of exercise. Daddy went to sleep and Mommy stayed up to use the computer, and I had a bit of a tummy ache.
Mommy didn't notice, because I didn't tell her, since I have had lots of tummy aches before and they went away. I
laid on the couch and watched Mommy, and then I got tired and went to the bedroom to get some rest with
Daddy.

When Mommy came to bed, I really didn't feel good. She heard me trying to throw up, and nothing would
come out! I knew by this time that I was in trouble, and Mommy got worried when she let me outside when I
asked. She noticed that I couldn't throw anything up but a little foam, and it worried her when I laid down out in
the yard and didn't want to come back in, since I always come right back when I'm called. She felt my tummy and
it was swollen, and it really hurt but I wasn't crying at all. I wanted it to go away, and I wanted Mommy to stop
feeling my tummy, but she knew something was wrong.

Mommy woke Daddy up right away, and said we had to go right now. She really sounded worried and used
a word I haven't heard before--bloat. Now I know what that word means, but the vet used a really big word when
we got to the animal emergency clinic, gastric dilatation and volvulus. It was a word so big it made Mommy and
Daddy upset, and they took me right away for an x-ray.

The next time I saw Mommy and Daddy, they were so upset! They came in to kiss me, and by that time I was
very sleepy because they had given me some medicine. They were shaving me, and I was scared! There were
needles in my legs, and people holding me down. I think I saw tears in Mommy and Daddy's eyes. The vet
seemed to be in a hurry.

When I woke up, things were a bit hazy, and I had a sore tummy and a patch on my skin. Mommy and Daddy
told me I had surgery and I had to be quiet and get better. I heard them say that they had taken me to the vet
just in time, and I had made it. All I know is my new haircut wasn't very attractive, and I didn't feel very good. That
was the next morning at 7:30 AM. It was time to take me to my regular vet, and the car ride wasn't very fun.

Mommy and Daddy came to get me that afternoon at 6:00 PM, but they had bad news--I had to go back to the
animal emergency clinic to spend the night, because the vet thought it was important to watch me for the night.
I had eaten a little bit of food, and used the potty outside, but it wasn't enough for them. I tried to be brave, but
the vet had to give me some medicine to relax me. I slept pretty good, and I ate some more food and drank water
too, and when I woke up Mommy and Daddy were there. I was ready to go home!

The next day, Mommy was still very worried about me, but I ate and drank the little bits of food and water
that the vet said I could. The food was good, but it tasted kind of funny and different than what I'm used to.
They told Mommy and Daddy that they couldn't feed me too much or let me have a lot of water, so my tummy
could heal a little. My tummy was still sore, so I got some pain pills to take too, which made me sleepy.

Mommy says today is September 5th, but I am still a little hazy and I really don't know what that means
anyhow. I feel a little better, and Mommy is proud of me that I went outside and did "my business", whatever that
means.

Mommy and Daddy say I am very lucky, that we got to the vet in time. She said my brother (before I was born)
had bloat, and it didn't come out so good, so she knew all about it, and knew what to do right away. She would
like everyone to learn about bloat, so that their dogs can have a good chance at getting immediate care from a
vet.

I am going to get some rest now, so Mommy will finish my story. Keep your paws crossed for me, because
Mommy says that things can happen after my surgery too, and she is still worried that something might happen.

I wish I could make her feel better, I think I'll be okay.

Mom's perspective:

On September 1st 2009, we took our beloved best friend to the emergency animal clinic in Rockford, Illinois
at 11:45 PM, after noticing his attempts to vomit with no result, with the exception of a small amount of foam. He
was also acting out of the norm, laying down between attempts to vomit and not coming when called. I
suspected bloat due to a previous experience with another dog, a German Shepherd. I felt his stomach which
was very tight and hard, and immediately woke up my boyfriend to get the car ready and we immediately left to
transport him to the nearest emergency clinic. I knew, from education and experience, that bloat can be deadly
within 20 minutes of onset of symptoms, and I feared we were already too late.

When we arrived, they quickly got an x'ray revealing our worst fears, and suggested immediate surgery. They
had already inserted a catheter to relieve the gas pressure in Blackjack's stomach, however his stomach had
twisted and this needed to be corrected. We were not happy with the odds given at the time--50:50 chance of
survival.

We were told that there might be stomach, spleen, and intestinal damage within, and the only way to know is
during surgery. We went ahead with the surgery, as Blackjack is our best friend. We promised him the very best
and now it was time to keep our word.

I was a nervous wreck that morning, and actually went to a website to learn more about bloat, and the
outcome, and I admit it didn't help, it only made my anxiety increase. I found a website, Justanswer.com, and
asked a question-which was responded to promptly and with great compassion. At 3:00 AM, I was so concerned
that I called the Clinic to check on Blackjack.

We were told that thankfully no intestinal or stomach/spleen damage was done, and that surgery had been
completed, with the stomach secured into place to the abdominal wall to prevent recurrence. The odds were
looking better than we were previously told. It was necessary to pick him up to be transferred to his regular vet at
Bellwood animal hospital, and we picked him up in the morning to do so.

By 5:00 PM on September 2nd, we were told that he would need another night at the emergency clinic to be
monitored, and he didn't seem very happy with that decision. He had eaten a few bites of soft food, and had been
urinating well, and showed no signs of complication. We were told that complications could arise that would
require immediate and swift attention, so we decided that the vet could provide better care. It was better this way.

We didn't sleep.

The next morning was a beautiful day for us all. We were told that Blackjack was doing amazingly well, and he
had started eating and drinking and actually was giving kisses and love to the vet techs. We were told that he
could go home, but he couldn't play, run, or jump. No rolling over to be scratched or bouncing around for him! His
diet for the first 2-3 days would be 1/2 can of prescription dog food 4 times a day, and 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup of water
every few hours. He had a duragesic patch on for pain relief, which didn't seem effective enough, so we were
given tramadol for breakthrough pain. He had a bowel movement on September 3rd, and we never thought we
would be so happy just to see him poop-things were moving in the right direction after all!

Blackjack is now resting and recovering from his ordeal and we couldn't be happier that he has the chance to
share some additional time with us, and a chance to share a story with a good outcome.

Bloat is a life-threatening medical emergency that must be dealt with swiftly by both the dog''s owner, and the
veterinarian. Initially, dogs are only given a 50% chance of recovery from this condition. I have learned that 60% of
bloat cases occur between 6:00 PM and 12:00 AM, which makes it essential to know where the nearest
emergency animal clinic is located, and choose the best route there, before you have an emergency. It is
important to know your dog's behaviors and learn the signs and symptoms of bloat, as well as the possible
causes and breeds at risk. Nothing prepared us for this, there was nothing diet related or activity related that
was different or risky, and there was nothing that we can identify after the fact. It just happened. Provided are links
to learn more about bloat, the at-risk breeds, diets, and behavior that should be avoided. Activity after meals
should always be limited to prevent this from happening, but again--this was a normal day with no unusual
occurrences.

A note of thanks:

We would like to thank Buddy, our previous dog that had bloat, for teaching us about this condition, along with the resources at Rottweiler.net community for providing the education and reading material about canine bloat symptoms prior to actually facing this emergency again.

A special thank you to Dr. Taylor at the Animal Emergency Clinic for acting with compassion and care, and urgency while dealing with this emergency, and the Animal Emergency Clinic of Rockford, IL for simply being there.

Thank you to all the veterinary techs and support staff at the Animal Emergency Clinic, and to Bellwood Animal Hospital for their care and compassion during the aftercare. Dr. Mark and Dr. Beth, Dr. Ann and the techs and receptionists, they even called after closing to check on Blackjack. I would also like to add a thank you to Scott Nimmo BVMS, MRCVS on Justanswer.com for holding my hand via Internet during the very stressful time during my dog's surgery.

There have been many people involved in his care at this point, and will likely be many more before we feel comfortable with the outcome, I apologize if I have missed any of the names of the wonderful people who have been, and will be involved in his care.