Bloat is an Extremely Serious and Deadly Condition:
Bloat, it sounds innocuous, like, “Hey I feel bloated.” Yet bloat is the second largest killer of dogs right after cancer. I’m writing this post because a friend of mine lost his dog last week to bloat. It was a normal day and a very normal dog. Jeri (Jericho) was a border collie mix rescue that Colin adopted 6 months ago. He had some issues when he first got him, but Colin was dedicated to his training and care. We spent several training sessions with Jeri, and I have to say that the connection these two had was amazing. Jeri would run free along the beach and with a whistle would return. He was one of the nicest, most balanced dogs I’ve seen. Colin spent time and money on his care at the vet to get him into top shape and also fed him the best organic / diet.
Thursday night Colin and Jeri went for a run on the beach and enjoyed the day. They came home, a few hours later Colin fed Jeri and they were ready to turn in for the night. When Colin went to call Jeri to come in, Jeri wouldn’t respond, when Colin found him he had already started developing bloat, he was listless and his stomach was distended. Shortly thereafter Colin got Jeri into the car rushing him to the emergency vet, yet sadly Jeri died in the backseat of Colin’s car on the way.
See: online dog training
The sad part is that when bloat strikes, none of that matters. There are certain breeds that are more likely to get bloat and these include heavy chested thin waisted dogs such as Great Danes, St Bernards, Dobermans, Briards and the like, however Jeri was none of these, in fact his risk rank was low on the list.
Bloat or GDV (Gastric Dilatation -volvus occurs when the dog’s stomach fills up with air and puts pressure on surrounding organs including the heart as well as compressing the large veins in the abdomen. This prevents blood from returning to the heart. Furthermore, the stomach can flip onto itself (see illustration) and completely cut off blood. Immediatly the stomach can start to die and cause irreversible damage. 
There are numerous risk factors that you can take into account with bloat, but I would urge you to ignore them and take this serious no matter what breed you have, no matter what age and no matter what! Look for these warning signs:
- Distended (swollen) stomach
- Wretching, trying to throw up, and nothing comes out.
- Lethargy, trouble standing, wobbly
- Restlessness, discomfort
- Short, shallow breathing
- Profuse salivation
- Extreme discomfort
Here’s a video of a dog suffering from bloat. It is an extremely useful tool to watch and see the dogs behavior during this. This dog was saved.
Bloat is more common in dogs after they eat. Kibble (dry food) is more likely to cause bloat because the food expands in the stomach. Eating right after intense exercise or exercising (running, jumping, playing) right after eating can increase the chances of bloat.
For dogs that are at a higher risk of bloat, some breeders and vets recommend preventative surgery. This surgery tacks the dog’s stomach much the same way it would be done if the dog actually develops bloat. You should consult your vet as this is a serious surgery. If your dog develops signs of bloat, get your dog to your vet IMMEDIATELY. Don’t wait and see. Time is of the essence, the average dog only has a few (3-5) hours to live once they develop bloat.
Be aware that there are things you can do to minimize the chances of bloat, but it’s not preventable.
- Don’t feed your dog right after exercise or rough play
- Don’t exercise your dog right after he eats
- Consider RAW or home cooked food diets over kibble
- Be aware of dogs drinking excessive water after eating (in particular kibble)
- If in doubt, get your dog to the closest vet
**** Have an emergency 24 HOUR vet clinic nearby and know how to get there. There is no time to waste.
Click here for more information on bloat
I’m writing this article in honor of Jeri, who touched my life deeply and to my friend Colin for allowing me to share part of Jeri’s life with me.
