How to Reduce Your Dog's Risk of Bloat

Bloat, also called gastric torsion, is the most common cause of death among large and giant breed dogs. The hallmark sign is repeated retching as if the dog wants to throw up, but with little or no stomach contents being expelled. Your veterinarian may call this condition gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), and it is caused by excessive amounts of air in the stomach, although food and gas can contribute to the condition. Bloat should be considered a veterinary emergency, since it can kill a dog quickly.

The bloated stomach will twist on its anchors at either end (volvulus), trapping the contents inside and severely restricting blood flow to the stomach as well as other parts of the body. When caught in the early stages, a vet may be able to manipulate and untwist the stomach from the outside of the abdomen. The dog may also require treatment for shock. Severe cases require surgery to untwist the stomach and surgically anchor it in place. Left untreated, bloat will result in necrosis (cell death) of the stomach lining, organ damage and ultimately death.

The predisposition toward bloat varies between individual dogs, depending on their size and age, eating habits, and other contributing factors. Know these risk factors for bloat and adjust your dog's lifestyle accordingly to reduce his chances of falling victim to this life-threatening condition:

Breed. Great Danes, Bloodhounds, Irish Wolfhounds, Akitas, Boxers, standard Poodles, German Shepherds, and Irish Setters are among many dog breeds in the high-risk category. Note that these are characteristically lean dogs with chests that are deeper than they are wide. Most large or giant dogs with this body shape are predisposed to bloat. This is one risk factor that you can't change, but you can gain control over other risk factors

Eating habits. By nature, dogs tend to gobble down their food. Dogs who eat too quickly tend to swallow excessive amounts of air. Break your dog's one daily meal into two smaller ones to limit the amount of air he will swallow at each feeding. An exclusively dry food diet is also a risk factor, especially if any type of fat is listed as one of the first four ingredients. Feed your dog a combination of wet and dry foods, or dry chow and low-fat table scraps, to lower his risk of gastric torsion.

Exercise. Strenuous activity soon after eating can increase your dog's bloat risk. Don't exercise your dog too soon before or after he eats a meal or drinks a large quantity of water.

Elevated feeding dishes. Dogs swallow more air when they eat from elevated food dishes as opposed to dishes on the floor. Don't feed your dog from an elevated feeder unless your vet advises it for a medical condition.

Stress: Dogs who are nervous, timid, fearful and overly excitable, or those who are dealing with family lifestyle changes (such as moving to a new home, or another dog or human added to the family) have an increased risk for gastric torsion or bloat. A calm, secure, happy dog is less likely to suffer bloat.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Bloat or Gastric Torsion

Many dog owners aren't aware of the dangers of bloat, but the symptoms are easy to recognize. Gastric torsion is considered a medical emergency, so call your veterinarian immediately if your dog exhibits any of these symptoms:

Retching. A dog suffering gastric torsion will try to vomit repeatedly but will bring up little or no stomach contents, perhaps a bit of foam or bile.

Posture. The dog may "walk funny," hunched up from abdominal pain. He may refuse to sit down or lay down, pace restlessly, or lie on the floor in a "praying" position.

Distended stomach. The abdomen will be swollen and hard, and you will not be able to hear digestive sounds when you put your ear on the dog's stomach.

Less obvious symptoms include:
Looking for a hiding place
Attempting to defecate without results
Gagging or unproductive coughing
Heavy panting or shallow breathing
Cold or pale gums
Licking the air
Drinking large quantities of water
Eating rocks or twigs

This article is for information only, and not meant to replace the advice of your veterinarian.