Chewy's stumach is hard....

[Aspen and Misty]

You know how it goes a dogs ribs then something then His butt? Well in the inbetween where Chewy's stumach is, is hard. Like its filled with Air, really hard air. Yesterday he was as thin as bone and I was thinking I needed to feed him more but today I feel like I need to run him no stop and not feed him for a year to get ride of his gut. Does anyone know what this is? Do you think we need to call a vet?


Ash

[Cookiebaker]

I know that when Malone was a pup (I mean he still is, but when he was really small) he had worms and his belly was like distended. Is it possible that he has worms?? I hope that you figure out what's wrong! Keep us updated, please!! Meanwhile we'll be thinking about you!!

[Sudilar]

I can't tell by your description, but could it be bloat? This can be life-threatening. Read this:
http://www.ualberta.ca/~dc8/szbloat.htm

Good luck.

[Aspen and Misty]

I don't think it is bloat. But I don't know. I am calling my vet on my way to school tomrrow so I can find out what is wrong with him. I am so worried, I'm not goign ot be able to sleep all night.

It also can not be works as he has been de-wormed.

[Karen]

Does Chewy seem uncomfortable?

[Aspen and Misty]

Very uncomfortable. He moves aroudn alot. hates to walk. Has this look in his eyes that explains it all, you can tell he is in pain. He also mopes around, and for a 5 month old puppy like Chewy that si extremly Un-comon. I am going to be wakeing up every 2 hours tonight to check on him and if he gets any worse, even a ltitle, I am waking up my mom and we are takeing him to the vet. For right now he seems ok. But the werid thing is, his stomach just grew. Like I went to sleep for a couple of hours woke up played with him and then I left him alone for liek a half hour and I came back and he was huge. I don't know what to do, I wanna take him to the vet but my mom says no. I am calling otmrrow morning from school and talkign to them about it. I hope there is somethign they can do, and I hope that its not seriouse.

The only question I have is Chewy's crate is kept on a shelf (with a wall side) and it fell off of the shelf today (I know, I am a bad momie :( ) coudl that have anything to do with it? he also seems to be haveing a little bit of trouble breathing. Like he sighs alot and when he lays on his side he breaths faster then usual. My poor Chewy baby, I feel so bad. :(

Ash

[Aspen and Misty]

PS: Chewy farts and burps alot. he has also thrwon up once today and his stumach does this tign where it soundslike barrels are being rolled dow na hill.

[Karen]

Call an emergency vet now! It could be bloat, which could be fatal. Tell your parents this, too.

[Aspen and Misty]

The only thing is Chewy is such a small dog and so young. Can bloat effect a dog that young? And a small dog? Also its in his stomach not his chest.

[Karen]

I think that bloat CAN happen to any size dog, it is just more likely to happen to big dogs, because of their body structure. It often happens to puppies, and sometimes to adult dogs. A friend of mine lost her adult dog to it, very quickly. It IS the stomache area that bloat happens. Look at the page that Sudilar linked too - scroll down and you'll see (not the one with the A - further down - where it happens.

PLEASE! Tell your mom! At least ask to call the vet! I don't want to scare you, but I don't want you to lose Chewy, either! We can't tell anything over the Internet, but a vet can help you over the phone or in person.

[Aspen and Misty]

IF chewy has bloat, will he make it till morning? or is it more of a now or never type of thing?

[Karen]

If he has bloat, he might die before morning. PLEASE have your mom call an emergency vet.

[Aspen and Misty]

My mom is refusing to call an emergency vet :mad: :mad: . She never listens to me! I told her this was seriouse and she was like no its not. I even told her that I would hate her forever if he did die and she was like fine with me and went back to bed :mad: . O how I wish we could pick our parents. ::sigh:: I just wish she cared a little bit more about me and Chewy.


Well anyway I am wakeing up every 2 hours to check on him and if he is even just a little bit worse I am takeing him to the vet, even if I have to walk/carry him the whole way there! Chewy acctaully is acting like he is feeling better. His stomach has gone down some and he is bounding around the house like a little puppy again, LOL, crazy Chewy :rolleyes: . He doesn't have the look in his eyes and he went poo 3 times! Which is good. He still is passing gass though. I am calling the vet from school and makeing him an apointment then I am calling my sister and she will be takeing him over. So, let pray he makes it through the night.

[Karen]

If he "went poo three times" then it wasn't bloat, and he'll probably be just fine. Probably just got kinda "plugged up" but his body managed to take care of itself. Passing gas is a good thing - that's probably what was making his tummy feel hard. Good boy, Chewy!

[Cookiebaker]

Is Chewy OK then? I was so worried about him, hoping & praying that he didn't have bloat & that he made it through the night OK. Keep us posted, please!!!!

[DoggiesAreTheBest]

Sorry I missed this threat. How is Chewy doing? I was terrified at first thinking it may be bloat! But if he is going to the bathroom and is gassy, it is a good sign. I would still call the vet and explain what is going on. He/she will be able to give you better advice.

Feel Better Chewy boy!

[Sudilar]

Poor Chewy!! I'm glad he is better. I just got back to this thread.

Just a warning to everyone: even if you suspect that it could be bloat, please, please contact your vet immediately!! Two weeks ago, a friend of the family lost their 2 yr. old Dogue de Bordeaux from bloat. Our town's K-9 officer was also lost to bloat a few years back. This is a LIFE-THREATENING situation. I have the symptoms hanging on my fridge, just so we are always aware of them. GSDs have a high incidence of bloat.

So glad Chewy is ok.

[Cookiebaker]

I read the start of this thread early this morning, and am now scared because it is so serious, and DOES happen. Should I be concerned that Malone eats too fast?? He usually does a literal 15 second vacuum job on his bowl. Should I try to slow him down and how??

[turner]

Chewy is ok then? That was scary!!! Please keep us updated on Chewy!

[Aspen and Misty]

Chewy says Hee hee I had you all worried :p :rolleyes: . He is doing better, still slugish. Well I kneew he was ok last nigth when I said Chewy do you need to go to the bet? And he looked at me for like 10 seconds and then bruped in my face. Ewww. LOL. He is so skinny again!!!! I think it was the gum or the onions he ate :rolleyes: . My sister will never be able to watch him again. I woke up every 2 hours and took him otu and everytiem he had to go number 2. So he is all better now. His tummy is still a little larger then normal. He was my fat Chewy for a day :D . No more treats for him for a couple of days! He is sleeping on the floor beside me as I type this. I was so worried when I came home today. I yeleed Chewy really loud and he didn't come. I almost started to cry...I knew he was dead, but then here he come still a little fat obviouse sleeping still into the kitchen and woke up as soon as he saw he and made me feel like the best thing in the world, just like he always does :D .

Thank you everone for your concern adn expesially thankyou to Karen for putting up with me and all my silly questions. I am so gratefull that I have you all to be there when my Chewy is sick.

Again thank you,
Ash

[Cookiebaker]

Oh good!!! I have waited all day to hear what happened, and I'm sure you are sooo relieved that he is back to your old Chewy. I hope you have a much better evening/night tonight and get lots of sleep to make up for all those times you were up in the night last night!!! :)

[lv4dogs]

I hope everything is still progressing. I just read this and I thought it was bloat too then I continued to read and found out it is improving. Those are the signs of bloat and it is life threating in a short time. By the sounds of it he probably ate something that did not agree with him and he probably ate a lot of it! Keep a good eye on him!

[tatsxxx11]

Thank goodness Chewey is ok!!! And like Sue, I strongly suggest everyone familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of bloat, a TRUE life threatening emergency. The mortality rate is less than 20%! Dogs with deep chests, most large breeds in general, are very prone to bloat. My girls really "wolf" down their food. I put a large stone in their elevated bowls to slow them down and feed them 2 times a day. And I don't allow them any strenuous exercise or flat out running for 1 hr. after eating. This is one :) You really had me worried!

[Sudilar]

Originally posted by Aspen and Misty
I think it was the gum or the onions he ate

Aren't onions toxic to dogs??

[Aspen and Misty]

I don't know..O gee! DOn't scare me like that! Nwo I wont be able to sleep knowing my dog is going to die again. O gee I'm the worst motehr in the world.

Ash

[Karen]

Onions are toxic to dogs, and can make them sick, though it requires a quantity to be fatal, depending on the dog. Keep onions away from him. Little slivers are okay now and then, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Slow Malone down, if you want, by putting a large rock or something in his dish, but that's not the real problem. Owners of Great Danes and other large deep-chested dogs are always told NOT to let the dog exercize hard or play right before or right after eating - not for an hour or so after eating. A normal-paced walk is okay, that helps digest the food, but no running right after eating.

[ChrisAK]

I'm so glad to hear that everything is fine. I've been extremely busy with a very very short notice move. Although anticipated, they only gave DH less than a week to get packed. I will be following behind hopefully soon.

One other thing to watch out for and it does happen very rapidly is TORTION.

If you have a dog breed that is very deep chested or has a barrel chest this not uncommon. It can be fatal if not diagnosed quickly and can be hereditary (still being studied).

TORTION: is where the stomach twists and cuts off the blood supply to the rest of the digestive system. Once the blood flow is cut off, the rest of the surrounding tissue dies. It can come on very suddenly.

My breeder/rescuer girlfriend just had a 2 year female just pass away overnight from this. She was fine, not showing any symptoms of ailments, and had just gotten a thorough physical from the Specialist Vet with no problems (she was going to breed her this cycle).

What she did not know was the dog's grandfather had tortioned 2xs and died from the second event. The owner never entered this critical data in the pedigree or in the records, so when breeding occurred no one was aware of the potential hazard.

Since this happened, any pedigree associated with this particular stud has been notified.

One thing I like to tell everyone who asks about dogs, is always do your research, especially if you get one from a breeder (reputable or not). It's your money and some of the prices are steep.

[lovemymaltese]

hope that your feeling better Chewy.

[anna_66]

Oh Chewy, you had me soooo scared! I'm glad to hear your feeling better today:D.
Just to let you know...my Keisha monster died from this. If he gets "gassy" any more maybe your vet should check him out. Keisha just started off being "gassy" (happened 2 or 3 times).
And one day....it took her life. This is very serious. If your mother knows nothing about it maybe you should tell her to read up on it, even read my story about Keisha on my website, this is nothing to "not worry" about, I know first hand.