Dog Bloat Do You Know How To Spot
This Common Dog Ailment?

Dog Bloat is an illness that millions of dogs suffer from each and every year. Unfortunately many owners are not familiar with bloat or its symptoms and many dogs die but the condition is treatable if caught early enough. However, as mentioned before, if it is left untreated then your dog will die a horrible and painful death. So what is bloat and how can you learn to recognize the signs?

Dog bloat causes too much gas build up in the stomach because the stomach essentially twists about 180 to 360 degrees from the esophagus down to the bottom of the stomach. This essentially cuts off the blood supply to that area and causes the tissue there to die.

This is why it is so important to learn to identify the symptoms early and diagnose the problem faster. It is also known that some dog breeds are more at risk than others and that bloat is the second leading cause of dog deaths running only behind cancer.

If you suspect at all that your dog may have bloat or doubt that your dog has bloat, you should not hesitate to get them to a veterinarian immediately. Waiting or hesitating on this decision could cost your dog their life to dog bloat.

It is also true that older dogs, underweight, anxiety ridden and dogs that are aggressive are often more prone to developing bloat. It also follows that a dog that eats too fast or is withheld food to only one meal a day will also be more likely to develop bloat. Some feel that you should spread their meals out to two to three smaller meals a day.

There is no need for them to pig out and eat it all in one setting when they can come back later and eat if they need to. I do want to point out that this does not work for all dogs and you may need to pick the bowl up if your dog overeats.

Some dog breeds are more prone to dog bloat than others. Often they are larger breeds such as German Shepherds, Bloodhound, Great Dane, Akita, St. Bernard, Golden Retriever, Irish Setter and Doberman. Although old age can be a factor it can also occur in pups but more likely to be found in an adult dog.

Once the remove the gas, the vet will operate on the stomach and untwist it. If the dog still exhibits signs of bloat after the surgery, secondary treatments will be tried. These include treating the dog for shock symptoms, re-hydrating them, allowing them to get plenty of rest and treating any other complications that may arise.

It is almost impossible to prevent bloat due to not truly knowing the exact cause. You can however utilize a few prevention methods. Do not overfeed your dog at one setting. If your dog tends to overeat, then break down the amount of food you give them into 2-3 settings per day.

Do not use elevated food bowls and it's suggested that you use enzymes supplements with your dog food for added digestion benefits. Don't allow them to take in large amounts of water directly after they eat. Always keep your vet's contact information handy and current just in case.

Unfortunately there is very little you can do to prevent bloat but you can be aware of the symptoms and know how to react should the unfortunate circumstances arise that your dog is a victim of bloat. Most importantly, remember not to hesitate to get treatment for your dog, as that is what will save their life.

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