Dog bloat is a common condition that can be dangerous, even deadly. Dog who have it need treatment right away. Know the signs so you can recognize when your pup needs help.

I am writing this blog today with a heavy heart; and to bring awareness. My best friends 8 year old english mastiff died last night suddenly and quickly from bloat, with little to no warning. In his honour I am bringing awareness, RIP Mr. Guiness you will be missed my friend.

What Is Dog Bloat?

Bloat happens when a dog’s stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid, making it expand. The stomach puts pressure on other organs. It can cause dangerous problems, including:

No blood flow to his heart and stomach lining

A tear in the wall of his stomach

A harder time breathing

In some cases, the dog’s stomach will rotate or twist, a condition that vets call gastric dilatation volvulus. It traps blood in the stomach and blocks it from returning to the heart and other areas of the body. This can send your dog into shock.

Symptoms

Bloat usually comes on very quickly. At first, your dog may show signs that his stomach hurts. He may:

Act restless

Drool

Have a swollen stomach

Look anxious

Look at his stomach

Pace

Try to vomit, but nothing comes up

Stretch with his front half down and rear end up

As the condition gets worse, he may:

Collapse

Have pale gums

Have a rapid heartbeat

Be short of breath

Feel weak

If you think your pet has bloat, get him to a clinic right away. If dogs don’t get treatment in time, the condition can kill them.

Causes

Vets aren’t sure what causes bloat, but there are some things that raise a dog’s risk for it, including:

Eating from a raised food bowl

Having one large meal a day

Eating quickly

A lot of running or playing after he eats

Other dogs he’s related to have had bloat

Eating or drinking too much

Stress

Any dog can have bloat, but it’s much more common in deep chested, large breeds like Akitas, boxers, basset hounds, and German shepherds. Some are at higher risk then others including great Danes, Gordon setters, Irish setters, weimaraner and st. Bernard’s.

Treatment

The treatment a dog gets depends on how severe his condition is.

First, the vet may put a tube into your dog’s throat and down to his stomach to release the pressure that has built up. Sometimes, a twisted stomach can keep the tube from passing through. If that’s the case, the vet may put a large, hollow needle through his belly into his stomach and release the pressure that way.


If your dog is in shock, the vet will start giving him fluids through an IV immediately, usually with antibiotics.

The vet will take X-rays to see if his stomach is twisted. If it is, your dog will have emergency surgery to untwist it and put it back in its normal position. The vet also will fix the stomach in the right place to keep your dog from getting bloat again. She’ll also check to see if the condition damaged other parts of his body.

Prevention

Bloat can be scary, but there are ways you can keep it from happening to your dog:

Don’t use a raised bowl unless your vet says your dog needs one.

Don’t let him run or play a lot right before or after meals.

Feed him a few small meals throughout the day instead of one or two large ones.

Make sure he drinks a normal amount of water.

For predisposed breeds, your vet will sometimes tack the stomach when your dog gets spayed or neutered

If you think your pet has bloat, get him to a clinic right away. If dogs don’t get treatment in time, the condition can kill them.