Bloat / Gastric Dilatation Syndrome

Gastric Dilatation Syndrome (Bloat)

Gastric Dilatation Syndrome, also known as bloat or gastric torsion, is a very serious, life threatning condition.Bloat progresses very quickly, so recognizing the symptoms of bloat could save your dog's life.

Bloat causes a dog's stomach to dilate because of food and gas, which gets to a point where neither may be expelled. As the stomach starts to dilate and expand, the pressure begins to increase.

The stomach can become dilated enough to rotate in the abdomen, a condition called volvulus.

Increased pressure and size of the stomach may have several severe consequences.They include :-

rupture of the stomach wall, loss of blood flow to the lining of the stomach, reduced blood return to the heart from the abdomen and also pressure on the diaphragm, wich prevents the lungs from adequately expanding,leading to decreased ability to maintain normal breathing.

Respiration and cardiac output are diminished throughout the course of the disease, wich leads to poor oxygen delivery to many tissues (hypoxia). This in turn leads to cell death in the liver, kidneys, and other vital organs. Cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart beats) are commonly seen because of the hypoxia.

Causes

Several factors are considered to be associated with the disease, including:

• Dogs that have a deep chest.
  
• Age. older dogs are more likely to have bloat.
  
• Genetics (dogs who are related to other dogs who have had the condition).
  
• Dogs that are fed a single large meal once daily.
  
• Stress.Dogs with a fearful, nervous, aggressive or anxious disposition.
  
• Dogs that have previously had a spleen removed.
  
• Large or giant breed dogs.
  
• Sex. males are twice as likely to bloat as females .
  
• Dogs fed dry dog foods that list oils among the first four label ingredients (sunflower oil,etc)

Symptoms

Initial signs are often associated with abdominal pain.These include:-

• Drooling.
  
• Retching without producing anything except slimy saliva.This is the most common symptom, and can sometimes sound like a repeated cough.
  
• An anxious look or looking at the abdomen.
  
• Extreme agitation.
  
• Pacing, accompanied with the inability to sit or lay down comfortably.
  
• Standing and stretching, head and tail down with arched back.
  
• Distending abdomen.
  
• Dogs affected with bloat may begin to pant, are weak and collapse. Often they will also have elevated heart and respiratory rates, poor pulse quality and poor capillary refill times.

Treatment

Early detection of bloat is critical to survival.
Initial bloodwork that includes a complete blood count, serum chemistry, and a urinalysis is often required.
It allows the veterinarian to rule out certain diseases which may mimic the clinical signs of gastric dilatation.

Once admitted, stabilization of the dog is paramount and often begins with intravenous fluids and oxygen therapy.
Gastric decompression often follows, which includes the passing of a tube down the dog's esophagus into the stomach to release the air and fluid accumulation.
Where this is not possible, a needle or catheter may be placed into the stomach from outside the body to release air.

Surgery is usually recommended, depending on stability of the dog.Surgery involves full exploration of the abdomen and de-rotation of the stomach.
Removal of part of the stomach wall, or the spleen is occasionally performed. Once the stomach is returned to the normal position in the abdomen, it should be fixed to the body wall.

Helping to prevent bloat

• Avoid strenuous exercise one hour prior to feeding times.
  
• Avoid strenous exercise one to two hours after feeding.
  
• Do not make any sudden changes to diet; instead, gradually change diet over an extended period of time.
  
• Feed multiple small meals (2-3) per day rather than a single large meal.
  
• Avoid allowing your dog to gulp large quantities of water after exercising or when over-heated.Instead provide small amounts of water periodically, until the panting has stopped.
  
• Check to see if your dog's food swells in water, if it does, wet the food and allow it to absorb all the water before feeding.
  
• Do not use elevated food bowls.
  
• Do not feed your dog if he/she is panting.

Dogs as young as 10 months and as old as 14 years have been diagnosed with bloat.

Nearly all breeds of dog have been reported to have had bloat.Some breeds appear to be more commonly affected, including:

• Boxer
  
• German Shepherd Dog
  
• Gordon Setter
  
• Akita
  
• Bloodhound
  
• Great Dane
  
• Standard Poodle
  
• Weimaraner
  
• Irish Wolfhound
  
• St. Bernard
  
• Irish Setter
  
• Basset Hound

I just heard at the weekend of someone's puppy who died of this. Thanks for all the great info Lisa a very useful read.

Very well put together and informative. Thanks.

Very well put together and informative. Thanks.

thank you lisa

My lab cross died of this 2 years ago

Aww how awful, are you able to go into what happend, so long as it's not too upsetting for you.

emcdowall1985 wrote:My lab cross died of this 2 years ago

Oh, poor thing. RIP little doggie.

Do you know what caused it?

I lost my 7 yr old gsd to bloat I will never forget it so sad but quick took lest than an hour from him being a healthy dog to being put down

Caryll wrote:

emcdowall1985 wrote:My lab cross died of this 2 years ago

Oh, poor thing. RIP little doggie.

Do you know what caused it?

No not got a clue he was fine one minute and the next he was bloated. He died on the way to the vet he was 10 year old R.I.P Chief

Poor Chief. RIP, run free to Rainbow Bridge.