Health: Bloat

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Bloat--also called gastric torsion or gastric dilation volvulus--is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate action. When deep-chested or large-breed dogs play immediately after eating a large meal, they run the risk of literally twisting their stomachs. This will pinch closed the entrance and exit of the stomach (the gastroesophageal junction and the duodenum) and allow gas to build up inside the stomach with nowhere to go. The dog is unable to belch or vomit. Other problems, such as dehydration, circulatory shock, cardiac arrhythmias, and peritonitis, can accompany bloat.

There is no real first aid that can be performed on dogs with bloat. The only option is to immediately get the dog to the vet, who may be able to pass a rubber tube through the mouth into the stomach to relieve the pressure. While this may relieve the immediate danger, surgery may still be required to correct the problem.

Time is truly of the essence. Nearly 50 percent of dogs with bloat die from the condition.

Symptoms

• Pacing, retching, salivation, or attempts to vomit with no result
• Enlargement of the abdomen (the dog may whine when the belly is pressed)
• Tapping the abdomen produces a sound like a hollow drum
• Lethargy, walking with legs stiff or a hanging head
• Weak pulse and rapid, labored breathing, with pale gums and tongue (this is late-stage bloat, when shock can occur at any time)

When it's time to see a vet

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