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Bloat, Why it is Important
Bloat is a medical and surgical emergency where you should take your dog to the vet immediately There might be only one or two hours to safely save their life. It is “also known as gastric-volvulus (GDV) complex”.
Bloat can occur when a dog drinks large amounts of water very quickly. in humans and as well as dogs air also enters the stomach. In humans we relieve the air and pressure by burping. Unfortunately this does not occur with dogs so the “air pressure Bills, stopping blood from the hind legs and Edmond from returning to the heart. Blood pools at the back end of the body, reducing the working blood volume and sending the dog into shock.”
Air is lighter than the stomach contents and rises to the top which intern can flip the stomach. The spleen and pancreas are attached to the stomach and are also flipped as well cutting off blood flow to these organs. The pancreas is in charge of producing hormones for the dog and when the stomach, pancreas, spleen flip; the pancreas releases toxic hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones will stop their heart.
Some of the signs to look out for if you suspect your dog has bloat include:
- Salvation
- Restlessness
- Retching
- There might be pain and whimpering upon pressing lightly on their belly.
If you take your dog to the vet and suspect bloat, your vet will treat your dog for shock and keep your dog stable. Once they are stable surgery is required to deflate the stomach, remove the air and return the stomach, Spleen, pancreas to its correct position. if your dogs bloat was severe enough the stomach wall might be damaged, your veterinarian will remove the damage section of stomach wall and suture it together. The last step during their surgery is to prevent any future bloat from occurring because 90% of dogs that are affected could possibly get it again.
Larger dogs where have a deep, narrow chest and are tall suffer the most from bloat. Some common breeds include Great Dane’s, St. Bernard’s, Weimaraner’s, Irish Setter’s, Gordon Setter’s, Standard Poodles‘, and Doberman Pincher’s. “Male dogs are twice as likely to bloat as females.“ neutering or spaying has no effect on the risk.
It is important to note that some food ingredients can cause a 4x more risk of your dog getting bloat. If your dogs food has soybean meal, having oils, or fats in the first four ingredients increases their risk.
How to Prevent Bloat
Dogs that eat quickly or gulp water excessively are five times more at risk of attracting bloat. Some ways to prevent your dog from attracting bloat is to slow and their eating habits using slow feeder bowl’s and feeding them once per day. This is why at K9 Sprinter we remind our clients to limit your dogs intake of water at least 20 minutes after their exercise and slowly give your dog their water instead of allowing them gulp their water.
*Always consult your veterinarian for additional information about your specific dog and take your dog immediately to your veterinarian if you suspect your dog of having bloat.
Kennel Club, A. (2021, September 21). Bloat (or GDV) in dogs. American kennel club. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/bloat-in-dogs/
Bloat, Why it is Important
Bloat is a medical and surgical emergency where you should take your dog to the vet immediately There might be only one or two hours to safely save their life. It is “also known as gastric-volvulus (GDV) complex”.
Bloat can occur when a dog drinks large amounts of water very quickly. in humans and as well as dogs air also enters the stomach. In humans we relieve the air and pressure by burping. Unfortunately this does not occur with dogs so the “air pressure Bills, stopping blood from the hind legs and Edmond from returning to the heart. Blood pools at the back end of the body, reducing the working blood volume and sending the dog into shock.”
Air is lighter than the stomach contents and rises to the top which intern can flip the stomach. The spleen and pancreas are attached to the stomach and are also flipped as well cutting off blood flow to these organs. The pancreas is in charge of producing hormones for the dog and when the stomach, pancreas, spleen flip; the pancreas releases toxic hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones will stop their heart.
Some of the signs to look out for if you suspect your dog has bloat include:
- Salvation
- Restlessness
- Retching
- There might be pain and whimpering upon pressing lightly on their belly.
If you take your dog to the vet and suspect bloat, your vet will treat your dog for shock and keep your dog stable. Once they are stable surgery is required to deflate the stomach, remove the air and return the stomach, Spleen, pancreas to its correct position. if your dogs bloat was severe enough the stomach wall might be damaged, your veterinarian will remove the damage section of stomach wall and suture it together. The last step during their surgery is to prevent any future bloat from occurring because 90% of dogs that are affected could possibly get it again.
Larger dogs where have a deep, narrow chest and are tall suffer the most from bloat. Some common breeds include Great Dane’s, St. Bernard’s, Weimaraner’s, Irish Setter’s, Gordon Setter’s, Standard Poodles‘, and Doberman Pincher’s. “Male dogs are twice as likely to bloat as females.“ neutering or spaying has no effect on the risk.
It is important to note that some food ingredients can cause a 4x more risk of your dog getting bloat. If your dogs food has soybean meal, having oils, or fats in the first four ingredients increases their risk.
How to Prevent Bloat
Dogs that eat quickly or gulp water excessively are five times more at risk of attracting bloat. Some ways to prevent your dog from attracting bloat is to slow and their eating habits using slow feeder bowl’s and feeding them once per day. This is why at K9 Sprinter we remind our clients to limit your dogs intake of water at least 20 minutes after their exercise and slowly give your dog their water instead of allowing them gulp their water.
*Always consult your veterinarian for additional information about your specific dog and take your dog immediately to your veterinarian if you suspect your dog of having bloat.
Kennel Club, A. (2021, September 21). Bloat (or GDV) in dogs. American kennel club. Retrieved August 8, 2022, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/bloat-in-dogs/
Recent Posts
- Understanding Dog Food Labels: The Ultimate Guide to Raw Feeding vs. Kibble
- Debunking Dog Training Myths: The Truth About Breeds, Age, and Tools
- The Benefits of Adopting a Rescue Dog: Giving a Second Chance at Life
- The Ultimate Guide to Managing Dog Allergies
- The Science of Canine Sleep: Understanding Your Dog’s Sleep Patterns and Needs