Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus" ("GDV") act fast

[elfshimmer]

Bloat is a very serious health risk for many dogs, yet many dog owners know very little about it. According to the links below, it is the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer. It is frequently reported that deep-chested dogs, such as German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Dobermans are particularly at risk. This page provides links to information on bloat and summarizes some of the key points we found in the sites we researched. Although we have summarized information we found about possible symptoms, causes, methods of prevention, and breeds at risk, we cannot attest to the accuracy. Please consult with your veterinarian for medical information.

If you believe your dog is experiencing bloat, please get your dog to a veterinarian immediately! Bloat can kill in less than an hour, so time is of the essence. Call your vet to alert them you're on your way with a suspected bloat case. Better to be safe than sorry!

The technical name for bloat is "Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus" ("GDV"). Bloating of the stomach is often related to swallowed air (although food and fluid can also be present). It usually happens when there's an abnormal accumulation of air, fluid, and/or foam in the stomach ("gastric dilatation"). Stress can be a significant contributing factor also. Bloat can occur with or without "volvulus" (twisting). As the stomach swells, it may rotate 90° to 360°, twisting between its fixed attachments at the esophagus (food tube) and at the duodenum (the upper intestine). The twisting stomach traps air, food, and water in the stomach. The bloated stomach obstructs veins in the abdomen, leading to low blood pressure, shock, and damage to internal organs. The combined effect can quickly kill a dog.

Be prepared! Know in advance what you would do if your dog bloated.
bullet If your regular vet doesn't have 24-hour emergency service, know which nearby vet you would use. Keep the phone number handy.
bullet Always keep a product with simethicone on hand (e.g., Mylanta Gas (not regular Mylanta), Gas-X, etc.) in case your dog has gas. If you can reduce or slow the gas, you've probably bought yourself a little more time to get to a vet if your dog is bloating.

This information is not intended to replace advice or guidance from veterinarians or other pet care professionals. It is simply being shared as an aid to assist you with your own research on this very serious problem.

Symptoms

Typical symptoms often include some (but not necessarily all) of the following, according to the links below. Unfortunately, from the onset of the first symptoms you have very little time (sometimes minutes, sometimes hours) to get immediate medical attention for your dog. Know your dog and know when it's not acting right.
bullet Attempts to vomit (usually unsuccessful); may occur every 5-30 minutes
bullet This seems to be one of the most common symptoms & has been referred to as the "hallmark symptom"
bullet "Unsuccessful vomiting" means either nothing comes up or possibly just foam and/or mucous comes up
bullet Doesn't act like usual self
bullet Perhaps the earliest warning sign and may be the only sign that almost always occurs
bullet We've had several reports that dogs who bloated asked to go outside in the middle of the night. If this is combined with frequent attempts to vomit, and if your dog doesn't typically ask to go outside in the middle of the night, bloat is a very real possibility.
bullet Significant anxiety and restlessness
One of the earliest warning signs and seems fairly typical
bullet "Hunched up" or "roached up" appearance
This seems to occur fairly frequently
Lack of normal gurgling and digestive sounds in the tummy
Many dog owners report this after putting their ear to their dog's tummy.
If your dog shows any bloat symptoms, you may want to try this immediately.
Bloated abdomen that may feel tight (like a drum)
the term "bloat," many times this symptom never occurs or is not apparent
Pale or off-color gums
Dark red in early stages, white or blue in later stages
Coughing
Unproductive gagging
Heavy salivating or drooling
Foamy mucous around the lips, or vomiting foamy mucous
Unproductive attempts to defecate
Whining
Pacing
Licking the air
Seeking a hiding place
Looking at their side or other evidence of abdominal pain or discomfort
May refuse to lie down or even sit down
May stand spread-legged
May curl up in a ball or go into a praying or crouched position
May attempt to eat small stones and twigs
Drinking excessively
Heavy or rapid panting
Shallow breathing
Cold mouth membranes
Apparent weakness; unable to stand or has a spread-legged stance
Especially in advanced stage
Accelerated heartbeat
Heart rate increases as bloating progresses
Weak pulse
Collapse

[Caryll]

If you don't do anything else today - read this.

It's reading something like this on the internet months ago that made me get Dempsey to the vet quickly & probably saved his life.

[Jude]

I picked up a leaflet about GDV at a GSD training club where I was teaching/training about 10 years ago and it was purely because of that that I realised what was the matter with Sheba (at midnight on a Saturday) and rushed her to the vet. She was on the operating table within 30 minutes and had 360 degrees of rotation of her stomach and spleen. Apparently only about 20% of dogs that make it to surgery actually survive as many die of shock - Sheba was lucky and even survived a further episode 8 months later when she had to have further surgery (only 90 degrees rotation this time) and an "industrial strength colpopexy (fixing of the stomach to the abdominal wall and around a rib to prevent further rotation - the earlier one had "stretched"). Unfortunately one of the complications of this type of surgery is that if puts so much strain on the heart that dogs often suffer a heart murmur and associated heart failure (which is controllable with medication) afterwards. Sheba had a good four years before we finally had to make the decision at the age of 12.

I agree that this is probably the most important piece of information for GSD owners to be aware of.

I know a lady who lost both her GSDs to bloat, age 4. So sad.

Apart from the not feeding before exercise what else can be done to minimise the risk?

[Stuart]

I am always aware of this, and try to do everything I can to prevent it happening in the first place,.. the reason being that our nearest vet is over an hours drive away,..with no out of hours cover,...so my dogs wouldnt survive.

I try and make sure that all our dogs are settled and calm before feeding, I never feed if they have been tearing around, [ or out for a walk ],..and are panting heavy.

I always feed small amounts at least two meals a day, sometimes three,..they never get big meals at once

[Jude]

I agree Stuart, but in most cases of bloat/GDV there is no obvious cause and certainly in the case of Sheba - she never ate large meals and was always fed twice a day, she never ate her food quickly as she was a very picky eater, she was never exercised after food and was never fed soon after exercise. Sometimes it just happens and nobody knows why. Incidentally my vet also says that he sees no difference in the number of cases of GDV where dogs are fed a kibble-type diet and those who are raw fed.

[Caryll]

Originally Posted by Anni

I know a lady who lost both her GSDs to bloat, age 4. So sad.

Apart from the not feeding before exercise what else can be done to minimise the risk?

Apart from what's already been said, very little. I always feed 2 meals a day, I never walk the dogs within 2 hours either side of a meal, and preferably much longer. Some dogs are just more prone to it than others.

All you can do is be aware of the symptoms & have the emergency vet's number to hand as it's usually at night for some reason.

[max's mom]

Thanks to everyone for all this info, i had never heard of 'bloat' so would not have realised what was happening, i will pass all this on to friends with GSD's too! xx

[Eve]

my girl had this twise.. both time in the middle of the nite... she is a slow eater, fed two times a day and allways let her rest two hours before and after she has eaten... the vet said she has a sensitive tummy

[elfshimmer]

i just thought it may help . i didnt know myself. so now i bought raised bowls and i feed morning and evening / 2 hours after feeding