Bloat and Gastric Torsion.

I get all our flea treatment, worm tablets, Sheba's joint tablets and any medication from viovet I would recommend them to anyone I've always had excellent service off them and in most case next day delivery if I ordered early enough, and one of the things I like most is the savings over vets prices enabling me to feed Sheba, Cody and Coco a better quality diet.

This week in there newsletter was this excellent article on Bloat and Gastric Torsion. Thank you very much Hannah Dyball for allowing me to share this post. I've got a few friends who have lost there Dogue De Bordeaux's lately to bloat  and it is horrible it's a good idea to know the signs and to act quickly and keep the phone number of the emergency vet on you at all times,  bloat is not just limited to large breed dogs even small deep chested dogs like Dachshund's etc are also at risk.

Cody likes it when I order off viovet because he gets a free house  LOL.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a condition all dog owners know about and fear. Otherwise known as bloat or gastric/stomach torsion, the condition onsets quickly and can be fatal if left untreated. While it can affect any dog, it is far more prevalent in deep-chested, large breed dogs.

So, what is GDV?
Full blown gastric dilatation-volvulus begins with bloat (dilatation) whereby the stomach swells with gas, fluid or food and develops into painful twisting and rotating of the stomach (volvulus), which is far more serious and difficult to treat. If bloat is detected early, the catastrophic effects of gastric dilatation-volvulus can be prevented.

Bloat may occur in all dogs to some extent after a meal, but most will typically belch or vomit to relieve the build-up. If the stomach is twisted, belching and vomiting becomes impossible and the gas is trapped rather than relieved. Several factors contribute to the occurrence of bloat and most of these are preventable.

Sometimes a dog will take in lots of air when eating (hence why encouraging slower eating is important - check out VioVet's range of slow feeders) or fermenting food in the stomach causes a build-up of gas. Bloat can also develop when a dog drinks lots of water or exercises immediately before or after eating. This causes the stomach to swell uncomfortably – in some cases, to such an extent that the stomach twists and rotates. When this happens, the dog is at high risk of deterioration and death. In fact, even with treatment, as many as 30% of dogs will die.

As the stomach rotates, the esophagus is closed off meaning there is nowhere for the gas to escape from. Loss of blood to the stomach, spleen and other organs can occur as the build-up of gas traps blood vessels. At this point, it is likely the dog will go into toxic shock and deteriorate quickly. Immediate veterinary help is essential if the dog is to be saved.

What are the signs my dog has GDV?
Because of the nature of the condition, early detection is paramount. Most dogs with bloat will display common signs of discomfort such as restlessness, lethargy, excessive salivation, panting and anxiety. If your dog is vomiting, it probably has bloat that has not yet progressed to stomach twisting or volvulus. If, on the other hand, your dog is retching or straining but not producing anything, the problem might be more serious.

Other signs to look out for include difficulty breathing, abdominal hardness and evidence of distended stomach. This might appear as protruding ribs or a peculiar fullness in the abdominal area. Try gently pressing the stomach to gauge your dog's reaction; if it is tender to touch and your dog shows visible signs of pain, take it straight along to the vet. If your dog's condition has already progressed to gastric torsion, the signs are likely to be more obvious and severe. Pale and/or cold lips are a sign your dog has probably gone into shock. Ideally, you should check this as soon as you start noticing symptoms and go from there.

If you have a large breed dog such as a Great Dane, Mastiff, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Boxer, Dobermann, Setter or St. Bernard, you should pay particular attention to the signs and symptoms as these breeds are most susceptible to GDV.

How do I prevent GDV?
Preventing bloat and gastric torsion in susceptible dogs is not always fail-safe. But luckily there are a number of things you can do to minimise your risk as much as possible.

First of all, bear in mind what you are feeding your dog. Most dogs who suffer from bloat eat large quantities of dry kibble. This absorbs water and swells. A simple test would be to fill a bowl with your dry kibble and submerge it in water.Leave the bowl overnight and have a look in the morning to see whether the water has been absorbed and how much the kibbles have grown.

Gauge yourself whether the amount the kibbles have swollen would cause an uncomfortable swelling in the gut. If you think it would, change onto something else. Bear in mind that cereal-based foods cause lots of fermentation - a leading cause of excessive gas. Try to avoid these where possible.

Also consider how much you are feeding your dog. Like horses and humans, dogs are better suited to eating small meals more regularly rather than one or two large meals a day. You don't want to overload the stomach or leave it so that your dog is starving hungry and wolfs down its food. Feeding small meals
regularly also helps absorb stomach acid in the gut and keeps the digestive processes ticking over. Encourage slow eating by placing a ball or toy in the food bowl or invest in a slow feeder - specially designed to extend the feeding process.

Avoid exercising your dog before and after eating. This is especially important after a meal as food is still being digested. Some experts suggest a window of 2 hours after food before exercise or any sort of activity can commence, therefore allowing food to be properly processed. It is also recommended that water is withheld for 30 minutes after feeding so as not to overload the stomach.

In short, be wary of what and how much you feed your dog throughout the day and pay particular notice to their behaviour after a large meal. Allow your dog to rest and relax until the food has been digested and keep water away for a short period. We know ourselves how exercising on a full stomach can cause indigestion and discomfort but for dogs the result can be much more serious. If you suspect your dog has bloat, take it along to the vet straight away. The sooner the condition is dealt with, the less likely it is to develop into gastric torsion.

If you have any comments, please share them with us :) Feel free to email me directly with any questions or suggestions for future blog posts: hannahd@viovet.co.uk

Please click on pic for bigger image.

Bloat in dogs (GDV)

I'm no medical expert and all information has either been gathered from the Internet, talking to friends or vets.

Bloat aka Gastric Dilation Volvulus (GDV) or Gastric Torsion is the second biggest killer after Cancer and has been known as the silent killer. Though a lot of people aren't even aware of it.

Bloat is a life threatening condition which requires urgent medical attention. It's a good idea to have the contact details of your vet and emergency vet readily to hand so you can get treatment as soon as possible.

Bloat can occur in any dog at any age, but typically occurs in middle-aged to older dogs. Male dogs also seem to be more prone to bloat probably because because they can be of stockier build.

Bloat mostly affects large deep chested breeds but can also affect small to medium sized deep chested dogs ie Dachshund and Standard Poodle.  Breeds commonly affected include the Great Dane, Dogue de Bordeaux, Rottweiler, Weimaraner, Saint Bernard, German Shepherd, Gordon Setter, Irish Setter, Doberman Pinscher, Old English Sheepdog, Labrador Retriever, Irish Wolfhound, Great Pyrenees, Boxer, Collie, Bloodhound, Standard Poodle, Chinese Shar-Pei, Bassett Hound, Dachshund and Pekingese.

Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus, is a serious, deadly medical condition that occurs for a number of reasons that aren't fully understood. Bloat happens when the stomach fills with air, putting dangerous pressure on the lungs and other organs. Pressure on the lungs makes it hard for the dog to breathe. The stomach, once filled with air, then folds over or rotates around itself, cutting off the supply of blood to the internal organs, and putting the dog's health in serious danger.

Causes of Bloat.

I don't think anyone knows for sure what causes Bloat but there are certain risk factors that can contribute to it ie Over eating, Drinking to much water, Stress and exercising to close to meal times.

Symptoms of Bloat.

It is very important to be aware of the signs of Bloat because if your dog shows any signs immediate medical attention is required bearing in mind dogs are very good at hiding signs of pain until it's to late.

    Distended abdomen
    Unsuccessful attempts to belch or vomit
    Retching without producing anything
    Weakness
    Excessive salivation
    Shortness of breath
    Cold body temperature
    Pale gums
    Rapid heartbeat
    Collapse
 

Recognizing Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs -- powered by ehow

What can be done to reduce the chances of Bloat.

1.   Rigorous exercise done either right before a meal or right after one. You should wait one hour before  feeding and one hour after eating or preferably two hours to be on the safe side before you let your dog run around.                     

2.  Excessive drinking should also be avoided, especially right before and straight after feeding time.                         

3. Dogs that are under stress may develop a predisposition to ingest air and be prone to bloat. The same applies to dog that are particularly anxious and fearful. Allowing the dog to lead a stress free and happy life, therefore, lowers the incidence of bloat. Stress can be brought on by visits to the vets, Dog shows, A new addition to the family, Boarding Kennels, Change of routine etc.

4. Avoid raised feeders. The issue of raised feeding bowls is still one of contention. Research and theories are ongoing regarding whether raised dog bowls and feeders really help bloat or may actually aggravate the condition. Via Dogs Today magazine's Think Tank we asked vet Alison Logan what her view is on the issue of dog bloat and raised feeders:

"Bloat is one of many conditions where advice varies with time, reflecting the results of ongoing research. Yes, raising the feeding bowl was advised at one time and current thinking is that it is best to feed from the ground once more. That advice may well change in the future, if it has not already. It may be a matter of by how much the feeding bowl is raised, so perhaps feeding off the lowest back-door step rather than raising it by twelve inches, for example? There are so many factors potentially at play in the development of bloat that the height of the feeding bowl may be insignificant or a relatively minor feature in comparison with another factor, which may not have even been identified yet."

5. Avoid over feeding instead of feeding one big meal split it up into two or three smaller meals, in multi dog households try and avoid feeding the dogs together split them up to avoid competition for food. In greedy dogs buy a slow feeder to avoid dogs gulping down food.

 

Eat better slow feeding dog bowl.

Drink better anti gulping dog water bowl.

Green dog slow feeder.

Please feel free to print off this infographic and keep it safe for reference, also keep the phone number of your local Taxi firm after making sure they accept dogs just in case your car's off the road for servicing, MOT etc or you don't drive.

There is now a preventive treatment for Bloat called Gastropexy how successful it is though I don't know.