Dog Bloat: Learn What’s Believed To Trigger And Prevent Bloat In Dogs
This Dog bloat article is two pages with symptoms and prevention on page 2. This topic has always scared the daylights out of me. It can happen so suddenly and with little warning. When you’re the owner of large dogs like I am, you can’t help to worry.
It is imperative that you get to know what’s normal for your dog – this is critical. This article isn’t meant to scare you to the point that you run your dog to the vet every time his belly has a little rumble or he decides to sleep in a different place. It is meant to make you more observant of what’s normal for your dog and what’s not!
DOG BLOAT IS A LIFE THREATENING CONDITION – IF YOU NOTICE YOUR DOG ACTING OUT OF THE ORDINARY AND DEMONSTRATING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING SYMPTOMS. GET YOUR DOG TO AN EMERGENCY VET NOW!
What Is Dog Bloat
Bloat is when a dog’s stomach fills with gas and prevents the dog from releasing it. The stomach stretches and can also completely twist or flip which is known as gastric torsion. If the dog’s stomach does twist or flip, you literally only have about 30 minutes to get your dog to the emergency room or he will most likely die.
There is no sugar coating this condition. One minute your dog is fine and the next minute he’s gone. You MUST FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE SYMPTOMS AND PRECAUTIONS of this deadly condition. It typically effects large dogs such as Great Danes, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Labrador Retrievers, Standard Poodles, Irish Wolf Hounds, Weimaraners and St. Bernards. These aren’t the only breeds, but this will give you an idea.
Once a dog experiences bloat, he has an 80% chance of a recurrence!
It was this worrying many years ago that led me to find out more about bloat and what I could do to prevent it.
Bloat and dog skin problems are probably the main reasons that I am so adamant about dog food, nutrition and what I call the “three core supplements” – Digestive Enzymes, Probiotics and Omega 3 Fatty Acids.
What Causes Dog Bloat
Earlier this year, I interviewed Linda Arndt aka “The Great Dane Lady” and dog bloat was a topic that I wanted to discuss with her.
Since Linda was a well known breeder of Great Danes and they top the list for dying of bloat; I wanted her input.
Believed To Contribute To Dog Bloat
- Poor diet (large quantities of kibble, oily and fatty foods are also believed to increase the risk)
- Feeding one large meal daily
- Family history
- Gulping food
- Yeast
- Stress – ANY KIND
- Over eating
- Drinking too much water after eating, or in a short period of time
- Excessive exercise right before or after eating
- Older dogs
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease aka IBD or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBD)
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
One of the reasons my dogs rest at least an hour before, and a hour after each meal………….2 X daily…friends used to think I was “extreme” now they do the same V B G smaller meals at least 2-3 times a day is much better, actually for people also l o l
Hi Eve:
That’s what I do with my dogs as well. Rest an hour before and after eating. Yep and I couldn’t agree more about the 2-3 smaller meals for both us and our dogs. Give Dillon a hug for me!
Janie
A bit confused on the ‘raised bowl’ issue in conjunction with the ‘slower pace bowl’. I found a great slower pace bowl but it is will not fit in a raised container and none of the raised bowls I’ve seen have the “slower pace/feed bowls”. How can I used a slower feeding bowl and still have it raised?
Hi Beverly:
I actually use a little bench for my dobie who eats like there is no tomorrow. I ran into the same problem with the brake-fast or slower pace bowls and the raised bowls. I ended up just using a little bench that I had in storage to raise it up. I put her the pantry an shut the door and she likes it this way. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open for any raised dog bowls that come with break-fast bowls.
Janie
Thanks so much for the reply Janie! Great idea.
You’re very welcome Beverly!
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