All About Bloat in Dogs and What to Do

 Bloat is a condition in which the dog is unable to expel gas from its stomach. The dog may attempt to belch or vomit but is unable to. Bloat in Dogs is a veterinary emergency. An estimated thirty-three percent of dogs with bloat died from the condition.

If a dog’s abdomen has become distended, it may be a sign of bloat. Dogs with bloat may pace, be restless, and have excessive salvation. Dogs with bloat may gag or attempt to pass stools.

There are two types of canine bloat. Gastric dilatation is when the stomach expands because of gas buildup. Gastric volvulus, also called torsion, occurs when the stomach rotates and flips and becomes twisted. With torsion, the esophagus and small intestine are twisted closed, so there’s no way for gas to pass out of the stomach.

Male dogs, dogs of large breeds, and older dogs are susceptible to bloat. Canine bloat may be caused by a dog exercising after eating a large volume of dry dog food. Many dogs develop bloat even

For the most part, animals will vent through the valve at the bottom of their stomach, but if this valve is blocked or if there is food in the way, the build-up of gas can be quite dangerous to your animal. Bloat is a condition that can happen very quickly and in some cases, when it is severe, it can be fatal within half an hour

When you want to make sure that you can recognize bloat in your animal, you will find that the most common symptom for you to look for is going to be a swollen belly. Is your dog trying to belch or is he even trying to throw up? Does he throw up and still look very uncomfortable? In some cases, your dog might wander around restlessly or even look nauseated. They will refuse food and they might also look as though they are short of breath. In some cases, your dog might shy away from being touched or they might simply look very listless. In severe cases, they might have an abnormal heart rate or they might even go into shock. 

If you suspect that your dog has bloat, you need to take him to the veterinarian immediately. In most cases of bloat, your veterinarian will simply treat your dog for shock and stabilize him. A physical exam and X-rays will help your veterinarian determine the cause of the problem, and you will find that in many cases, it can simply be cured through inserting a tube through your dog’s esophagus or by inserting a needle through the abdomen. 

In cases where the intestine has become twisted, the veterinarian might need to untwist or reposition the stomach so that material can move through it. Your veterinarian will also likely examine your dog to make sure that he or she does not have any damage from the bloat itself. The spleen will also likely be checked to make sure that it has no damage from the stomach twisting either. 

As you might imagine, having your pet develop bloat can be a very alarming and upsetting thing. One way to prevent bloat from happening is to make sure that your pet eats small, regularly spaced meals so that he will not stretch his stomach, and you will also find that presoaking the food in water for half hour can help prevent him from ingesting too much air. Also, try to make sure that your dog does not exercise too much after he eats because the weight will make the stomach swing like a pendulum; this can give it that deadly twist if they have not consumed large quantities of food or exercised

Treatment Of Bloat In Dogs

Canine bloat is potentially fatal. It is extremely important for the dog to be seen by the veterinarian as soon as possible. If a dog with bloat is not treated immediately, the dog can go into shock and cardiac arrest. If bloat is not treated promptly, a dog could die from this condition within hours.

When a dog with bloat is taken to the veterinarian, the veterinarian may insert a needle into the stomach to allow some gas to escape. Surgery is often necessary to thoroughly emptied the stomach and reposition the stomach if it is twisted.

If the dog’s stomach has twisted, the dog’s prognosis is less hopeful than if the dog’s stomach only filled with gas. Twisting of the stomach can cause the supply of blood to be interrupted to the stomach and spleen which can cause cell death. Cell death is permanent and decreases the dog’s prognosis.

If torsion was present, the veterinarian may suture the dog’s abdominal wall to prevent its recurrence. After the torsion has been surgically corrected, the dog is still at risk of infection and other potential complications.

The common suggestions for preventing bloat is to avoid feeding the dog a large amount of food at one time and restricting the dog’s physical activity immediately following eating. The dog should not be allowed to drink large quantities of water at one time.

Understanding bloat in animals can be an important part of keeping your dog safe, so remember this condition and what it can do!