Bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus, is a life-threatening condition in dogs. The stomach greatly distends with air, then rotates on its long axis, trapping air, food, or fluid in the stomach.
Cases of simple bloat, in which the stomach expands but doesn't rotate, are not as serious. But rotation, or torsion, can cause dangerous complications. In either case, seek immediate medical attention.
Risk factors and detection
No one knows the exact cause of bloat. Possible risk factors include vigorous exercise before or after eating, stress, or eating or drinking too much at one time.
Giant- and large-breed, deep-chested dogs are at increased risk for bloat, including Great Danes, Doberman pinschers, German shepherds, Labrador retrievers, Rottweilers, Saint Bernards, Newfoundlands, Alaskan malamutes, Irish wolfhounds, Irish setters, Weimaraners, and Standard poodles. Bloat rarely occurs in medium- or small-breed dogs. It also typically affects middle-aged and older dogs.
Signs of bloat include:
- a swollen belly
- discomfort or restlessness
- drooling
- pale gums
- dry heaving
- depression
- panting or weakness
- collapse.
Even if you're not sure whether your dog is suffering from bloat, don't wait. Take your pet to the veterinarian immediately. Any delay can mean the difference between life and death.
Your veterinarian will examine your dog right away. A tight stomach that thumps like a drum usually indicates bloat. In advanced cases, your dog will have pale gums, an elevated heart rate, and weak pulse, indicating shock.
To relieve the gas buildup, the veterinarian will pass a long tube through your dog's mouth into the stomach. If the stomach is rotated, the tube can't get past the esophagus into the stomach. An abdominal X-ray will confirm the diagnosis by revealing a "double bubble" of air in the stomach—above and below the "twist."
Prevention and treatment
If you own one of the breeds listed above, watch for signs of bloat. Don't let your dog exercise one hour before or after eating, and stop him from drinking an excessive amount of water at one time. It's also a good idea to divide your dog's daily rations into two or three smaller meals. And soak dry food in water so it expands before entering the stomach.
If your dog has bloated in the past, discuss preventive surgery with your veterinarian. Without surgery, bloat recurs in about 70 percent of dogs.
Treatment depends on the severity of the bloat and whether the stomach is rotated. If an X-ray reveals only an air-distended stomach, a stomach tube can relieve the distention. However, a rotated stomach requires surgery.
Surgery for bloat
Surgery can be risky because pets in shock aren't good candidates for anesthesia. Before surgery, your dog will receive intravenous fluids to correct dehydration and intravenous antibiotics to fight infection.
The surgery involves opening the abdomen, untwisting the stomach, and then attaching it to the rib cage so it can't rotate again. This anchoring procedure is called a gastropexy. A rotated stomach often blocks blood vessels to the stomach and spleen, causing severe damage to both organs. If the damage is extensive, your veterinarian may remove the spleen and part of the stomach.
The more involved the surgery, the lower the survival rate. Serious complications can result from longer anesthesia and a badly damaged stomach and spleen. Bacterial infection, heart arrhythmias, and impaired blood circulation to other organs can all lead to death—during surgery or up to a week afterward.
Once your dog recovers from surgery, he'll undergo intensive care the next several days to ward off potential complications. Your dog will continue to receive intravenous fluids, antibiotics, and heart medications if the electrocardiogram indicates a heart arrhythmia.
Prognosis
If bloat sounds scary, it is. Unfortunately, only about 50 percent of dogs who experience gastric dilatation-volvulus survive. That's why it's so important to make prevention a priority.
