Bloat in dogs is a very real, dangerous, and deadly condition for dogs. While it does affect some breeds more than others, all dogs can be at risk.
Please note, I’m Emma the GBGV, who plays a doctor on My GBGV Life from time to time, but I am not a real veterinarian. This post is written from my own knowledge and experiences. Please consult your own veterinarian to obtain the best information for you and your dog.
Mom’s first dog Trine was a hundred pound, Lab/Newfie mix. I’ll be honest, Mom was quite naive in 1994 when she brought Trine home from the shelter. She didn’t know about clipping nails, flea and tick treatment, how to train a dog, she had so many things to learn.
When they moved to Germany in 1997, it was the first time she had ever heard about bloat in dogs. That was the point where Mom started to be a bit more careful about feeding, drinking, and exercising Trine.
Years later when Mom moved to the North Sea Coast, she helped out her veterinarian friend, now and then, with emergencies. During this time, she helped with three cases of bloat, all three ended up being fatal. It was a real awakening for her! Ever since that time, she is very vigilant about doing her best to prevent bloat from happening to any of us.
Bailie’s dog mom, Chanel, recently passed away from bloat. We were shocked and saddened to get the news as she was only nine years old. We don’t know the circumstances of how it happened but it is a good reminder for my mom to stick to the rules which sometimes she bends. The photo was taken in 2015 when we visited some of Bailie’s family members on our way to Las Vegas.
What is bloat in dogs?
Bloat is a serious, often deadly condition that happens quickly. It happens when the stomach fills with air, causing pressure which slows or stops blood flow to the organs. In many cases, the stomach actually twists, which can also cause toxic hormones to be released from the pancreas. Once a dog has had bloat, it will be prone to having it again. If you suspect bloat you need to get to the veterinarian immediately. There is no firm timetable, but even an hour after bloat starts can be too long for the dog to survive. We know dogs who have survived, and dogs who have not. The chances are slightly better than 50/50 if you get to the veterinarian right away.
How does bloat happen?
There is no one sure cause for bloat. Breeds with deep narrow chests are at higher risk. Dogs who exercise right after eating, or drinking a lot are at higher risk. Feeding a dog one large meal a day increases risk. Hyperactive, nervous dogs are also at higher risk of having bloat. Multi dog families whose dogs are anxious at mealtime also have a higher risk. Males are twice as likely as females to have bloat.
What are the symptoms?
- The stomach area may begin to swell, and be tender when touched.
- Dogs often try to vomit, but are unable to.
- Gurgling noises coming from the stomach.
- Your dog becomes very nervous, and is not acting like normal.
- Excessive drooling, or slobbering.
- The dog may try to hide, but cannot get comfortable.
What can you do to reduce the risk?
Keep your dog calm for at least an hour after eating a meal, or drinking a large amount of water. From day one on as puppies, we are taught to go to our beds after a meal and nap. Puppies want to play, but if you insist on them napping, they eventually will.- Feed your dog in small portions of two to three meals a day rather than one large meal.
- If you feed your dog a high quality food, they will need less of the food, making portions smaller. Some of the inexpensive brands of food require more than double the amount of food per day, compared to a high quality food.
- A dog’s stomach can be tacked to the abdominal wall if the dog is at high risk for bloat, but that is not a 100% guarantee either. The dog still needs to follow the usual precautions.
- Dog’s whose family members have had bloat are also at higher risk, and one needs to be extra cautious.
- Remember, you are the caretaker for your pup. No matter how badly they may want to run or wrestle after a meal, remain vigilant with the resting rules. A quick romp is not worth dying over!
I’m a good girl who loves to have a nice nap after my meals. My sisters are great in the morning, but in the evening they seem to want to get wild after about half an hour. Mom will kennel them to keep them still if necessary. If you would like more information on bloat and your dog, consult with your veterinarian for the best advice.
Bloat is so scary but you provided some great information and hopefully everyone is paying attention.
It’s something you have to keep in mind every day.
Great information. Such a scary, scary thing.
It is a scary thing that we always have to keep in mind.
it is a nightmare and sadly it often ends the worst way… we learnt his lesson in 2016 and it’s still heartbreaking to remember this horrible night we lost Easy. but today a FB friend celebrates his 9th birthday and he was one of the rare survivors…. like a miracle, but we hope there is a cure once or a way to avoid bloat in the future…
We know survivors too, and it is wonderful. We remember Easy all the time and what a tragedy it was.
Great post Emma. Thanks for the guidance. We have always snoozed after breakfast. Mom thought we were all being lazy (her included –she usually has a cup of coffee while we snooze) and she eats dinner after we have had our dinner so we chill then too! But now she is grateful for our habits! Have a great day, your doodle friend Dash
Snoozing while digesting a not too large sized meal is a great defense. My sisters need to nap longer after dinner, but it may be a phase they are in. In the meantime, they get some nice kennel time.
This is really great information and advice. We try to stick to those rules around here too; but like your sisters, Luke always wants to get crazy after supper time! It’s good to be reminded why I should not let him do that; and what great advice to train that quiet behavior right from when they’re a puppy.
We don’t know why my sisters have suddenly decided to get wild so soon after dinner, but hopefully that will soon pass.
We never let the boys play or walk after eating. They are pretty good about resting after their meals. Bentley does often drink water after he eats but I try to put enough water in his food that it helps him from acting like a camel. LOL!
We don’t drink after we eat, usually it happens when we get up from our post meal nap.
Thank you for the wise words
Lost my first Elkhound, Stormy, to this. So glad you are letting folks know.
It is just terrible when it happens. Sorry to hear you lost a dog to it.
What about the divided bowl? Willy and Sister Tiki use The Company of Animals green finger bowl. It makes them take their time which is supposed to be better .
Slow feeders are helpful, but the food is still in the belly and dogs need to rest afterwards. Bailie was an inhaler of food, but she has also slowed using food balls, and slow feeders. Speed eaters tend to swallow food whole and not chew it which means it takes longer to break down. It is just something to always be mindful of. Bailie sends Tiki some huggles.
One of our first Labs had bloat. Fortunately, we took him to the vet fast. He had a big buildup of fluid in his stomach but it hadn’t totally flipped yet. She managed to straighten it out and drain the fluid with a long tube. He was fine…
We’ve been paranoid ever since but our vet actually tells us not to worry about exercise vs. eating times. We do follow the rules about 2 smaller meals per day and very high quality food. So far, it hasn’t happened again.
Thanks for this alert. Lots of humans don’t know about bloat and what a serious emergency it is.
It is so serious and scary. So happy your Lab survived. We have the small portions and rest because Mom would rather be safe than sorry. Many people really don’t know anything about it.
It’s good information to be aware of. Having big dogs myself, this is always in the back of my mind, and I keep information about bloat in Sampson’s medical record book.
Thanks for the reminder.
It’s good to always have it in you head.
What a wonderful post, we too have lost a few of our furiends to this scary condition!
Thank you. It is so sad to lose a dog from bloat, but sometimes it seems to just happen, other times it could have been prevented.
My previous Standard succumbed to bloat when he was 13, many years ago. It broke my heart especially since I had no clue about it (though the vet said there was nothing that could have been done to save him). Now many breeders (as well as some rescues) will preemptively do a gastro-plexy procedure since poodles have such a high incidence rate, especially upon neutering or spaying. Thanks for sharing those tips. They were a good reminder.
That is so sad. Sorry for you. It amazes us when older dogs have it happen because they tend to be so gentle about everything.
Good info! Thanks much for sharing! I believe Chanel was related to Sawyer, if I a, not mistaken. This is very sad. We will be very mindful.
We can’t remember who her parents were. It is a tragic thing, and hopefully by spreading the word, more dogs can avoid it.
Thank you very much for this important information that claims the life of many dogs.
It is just awful and so tragic too.