BLOAT symptoms and actions

[Sudilar]

Bloat

Phase 1

Symptoms:

1. Pacing, restlessness, panting and salivating.
2. Unproductive attempts to vomit (every 10-20 minutes).
3. Abdomen exhibits fullness and beginning to enlarge.

Actions:
Call Veterinarian to advise of bloat case enroute. Transport dog to Vet immediately.

Phase 2

Symptoms:

1. Very restless, whining, panting continuously, heavy salivating.
2. Unproductive attempts to vomit (every 2-3 minutes).
3. Dark red gums.
4. High heart rate (80 to 100 BPM).
5. Abdomen is enlarged and tight, emits hollow sound when thumped.

Actions:
Apply first aid if Vet care is more than 10 minutes away. Then transport dog to Vet immediately.

Phase 3 Death Imminent!!!

Symptoms:

1. Gums are white or blue.
2. Dog unable to stand or has a spread-legged, shaky stance.
3. Abdomen is very enlarged.
4. Extremely high heart rate (100 BPM or greater) and weak pulse.

Actions:
DEATH IS IMMINENT!! Apply first aid immediately. Transport dog to Vet as soon as possible (even while applying first aid, if possible).


Tip from one GSD bb member: for GSD size dog, give DiGel or GasX type pill, three if extremely bloated.

[lizbud]

Sue,

This is one topic that has always scared me to death.
I really like the larger breed dogs and as you know they
are the ones most likely to get bloat. Sometimes when
Buddy seemed restless, or uncomfortable, etc., I would
go and feel his stomach.(like you could tell by feeling).

One thing I would like to know in future is if giving first
aid involves giving pills and the stomach is already twisted
can the dog swallow the tablets? This to me is one really
scary subject, because it can kill a dog within hours. Liz.

[Sudilar]

This is scary stuff, Liz. I have the symptoms hanging on my fridge so that I am always aware of possible trouble. I don't exercise my dogs before or after they eat. I raised (then lowered) their feeding bowls. (Studies can't decide if they should be up or down!) Now the question is whether or not bloat is hereditary. I have heard of a few cases where everything was done right and it still happened. I would think that the DiGel would only work in Phase 1. It has to reach the stomach. It just happens so fast and sometimes by the time you notice, it is already too late. (In the case of the town's K-9). All we can do is watch them carefully, especially the breeds prone to bloat.

http://www.ualberta.ca/~dc8/szbloat.htm

[lizbud]

Sue,

Thanks for giving that excellent link. This is one piece
of information I will certainly print out and keep handy.
I had never thought of having a "kit" available . It makes
me nervous just reading the instructions, but, in an
emergency, we sometimes surprise ourselves with what
we can do when our dogs lives are at stake. Thanks so
much for the info. We never know when it could save a
precious life. Liz.

[anna_66]

Originally posted by lizbud
This to me is one really scary subject, because it can kill a dog within hours. Liz.

Not even hours Liz, it only took Keisha about 45 min to 1 hr before she died. This is one of the most horrifying experiences you could go through, I'm sure most of you know that my Keisha monster died from just this very thing.
Thanks Sue for putting the warning signs up, I would just like to add, that if for some reason your dog seems to get even a "little" bloated, on more than one occasion, please..please..see a vet asap. We knew nothing about this subject and had no idea what her "gassiness" was. We just gave her pepto the two previous times that she seemed gassy, and she was fine. It doesn't even matter what it is that they have eaten (with her it was just some rice).
This subject hits so close, it's hard for me to fight back the tears and emotions this brings up inside of me.

Just a question...did something happen to make you post this? Just wondering.
Anna

In loving memory of my monster girl Keisha

[Sudilar]

I posted it because of Chewy's incident. http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...threadid=14902

and someone had asked for the symptoms and actions.

Again, so very sorry about Keisha. My heart breaks for you.

This is horrible. My brother's horse also died of bloat a few years back. It is common in horses. It took less than an hour for it to take her even though the vet rushed to her aid quickly. It was too late.

[anna_66]

Oh goodness, I just read the link that you gave Sue, and I had no idea there was so much you could do, and avoid to keep them getting bloat. Even though it was extremely hard to read (the systems of 3rd stage is exactly what she went straight to, she couldn't even stand), I'm glad I have. Thank you ever so much for the link. Trying to read through my tears was hard, but I'm so glad that I did. I just can't thank you enough.

[Pam]

Sue thank you for posting this. Though I had heard of bloat I never really knew what it was. After reading the article I will re-think exercising Bella after dinner. That is when we often take her out back for her catch/fetch routine. Though she is not a large breed dog (45 lbs.) I am not taking any chances.

Anna I am so sorry to read about Keisha. What a horrible thing for you to have to go through and this thread probably has brought back some bad memories. My condolences to you.