We all love our dogs and want to keep them safe, right? That’s why every responsible dog owner should know how to prevent bloat. Put simply, bloat is a disease that’s found in large or deep-chested breeds, but it can show up in any dog. Without knowing the signs, it can turn fatal within a matter of hours, making prevention key.
Let’s talk about ways to prevent bloat and how to keep an eye on any concerning symptoms.
What Is Bloat?
Bloat, also known as gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), is a life-threatening condition that quickly turns fatal if it goes untreated. To explain it simply, it’s when the stomach twists in on itself because of gas buildup. This leads to your dog getting a lack of blood flow to the stomach and other important organs. Without treatment, many dogs lose their lives.
GDV isn’t a common health concern with many breeds, but it’s not something to be overlooked, either. Thankfully, only 5.7% of dogs develop this condition in their lifetime. Yet, of those afflicted, there’s a high mortality rate, even with treatment.
Recognize the Symptoms of Bloat
Some dogs have hard, swollen stomachs after eating, but this usually isn’t cause for concern. Yet, if you notice this symptom in conjunction with the indicators below, you should stop what you’re doing and go to the vet:
- Excessive drooling
- Having a pale nose and gums
- Collapsing
- Restlessness
- Not being able to vomit
This condition will not go away on its own. It requires a veterinarian’s immediate attention to prevent the worst possible scenario.
What Breeds Are Susceptible to Bloat?
Any dog could develop bloat, but it’s most commonly found in the following breeds:
- Great Danes
- Saint Bernards
- Poodles (particularly the larger standard Poodles)
- Akitas
- Boxers
- Irish Setters
- German Shepherds
- Weimaraners
- Irish Wolfhounds
Many of these breeds have one thing in common: they’re large, tipping the scales at more than 60 pounds. Still, it’s important to know the signs of bloat and how to prevent it, as any breed could suffer from this problem.
Ways to Prevent Bloat
There are some techniques that can reduce the risk of your dog ever developing bloat. These include:
Monitoring Your Dog’s Eating Habits
If your dog is a fast eater, helping them slow down can prevent bloat.
Try feeding them smaller portions spread throughout the day, so they’re not eating a big amount all at once. For example, instead of two big meals in the morning and evening, try three smaller ones. You can also invest in a slow feeder bowl, as they are literally designed to help slow down your dogs’ eating habits.
Slowing Down Your Furry Friend’s Drinking
Nobody wants to (or should) deprive their dog of water. Yet, if your dog gulps down water at breakneck speed, you may want to help them slow down. Doggy water fountains are great for this. They limit how much water your dog can drink at once, and even cats prefer them over water bowls!
Reducing Your Dog’s Stress
Stress is closely related to bloat in dogs. If you notice that your dog gets really anxious, impatient, or suffers from separation anxiety, they could develop this condition.
To make a start, try teaching them to calm down before you hand over their food. This shows them the right behavior, encouraging them to relax. If you’ve got lots of dogs in your house, it might be worth feeding them in separate rooms, so nobody gets nervous from resource guarding.
Understanding the Causes of Bloat
Like any illness in humans and animals, finding the cause of the issue can often help you come up with the best path for treatment. The causes of bloating in dogs are still a bit of a mystery, but some theories suggest it’s largely due to anything from eating too quickly to genetics.
Some specific traits or behaviors may cause or heighten GDV. Some risk factors include:
- Having a deep chest. This is when the dog’s chest is oval-shaped, usually taller than it is wide.
- Being lean. Veterinarians aren’t exactly sure why this leads to bloat. But some theories include how the dog’s organs are positioned in the body.
- Eating food too quickly. The faster a dog eats, the more air goes into their body, leading to gas buildup.
- Having serious anxiety. A dog may hyperventilate when it’s nervous, which, again, brings excess air into the body and causes gas.
The older a dog gets, the more likely they are to experience bloat. Many dogs’ risk increases once they hit the seven-year mark.
Scheduling Preventive Gastropexy Surgery
Okay, okay. Surgery sounds a little extreme, but for many breeds, it’s a lifesaver. If your dog is a breed that may be more susceptible to bloating or has experienced the problem before, it may be worth asking your vet about a gastropexy surgery.
In simple terms, the vet sutures the stomach to the abdominal wall, ensuring that it stays in place. This prevents the dreaded “flipping” that often leads to death. The surgery is minimally invasive and can be done laparoscopically, but it’s not a 100% guarantee that GDV won’t occur. Of course, surgeries come with their own risks, but it may be worth it to save your dog.
Only You Can Prevent Bloat in Your Dog
We all know and understand how heartbreaking it is when a dog goes through something like bloat. As dogs get older and bigger, the risk increases of them developing bloat. Our aim is to keep you educated on dog diseases, guiding you in the right direction to keep them happy and healthy. If you do notice any symptoms in your dog, take them to the vet right away.
