Bloat In Dogs – Treatment And Prevention

What is Bloat in Dogs?

Bloat, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) complex, is a serious and life-threatening medical and surgical emergency.  It occurs when a dog’s stomach becomes bloated because it’s full of food, foreign material, excess gas, fluid, or foam. It can happen very quickly and should be addressed as an emergency. Bloating is more common in large breeds that have a genetically inherited weakness in the ligament that holds the stomach in the correct position. It is often brought on by a dog gorging on large quantities of food.

As the stomach fills with air, pressure builds, stopping blood from the hind legs and abdomen from returning to the heart. Blood pools at the back end of the body, reducing the working blood volume and sending the dog into shock.

If this isn’t enough, there is yet another scary thing that happens, and it is devastating to see. As the stomach flips, it drags the spleen and pancreas along with it, cutting off the blood flow. The oxygen-starved pancreas produces some very toxic hormones. One, in particular, targets the heart and stops it cold. In fact, a dog can go through successful treatment and seem to be out of danger, when suddenly the heart stops.

Sadly, there are situations where dogs who get treatment can die, and up to a third of dogs die despite surgery.  The longer a dog is bloated, the poorer prognosis they have.  This is why treatment should not be delayed in any circumstance.  Generally speaking, if they make it out of the hospital after surgery, they are usually okay.

What Are the Signs of Bloat in Dogs?  

• An enlargement of the dog’s abdomen (tight and/or swollen)
• Retching and non-productive vomiting (failure to bring up any material other than small amounts of fluid or foam)
• Depression
• Salivation
• Restlessness
• An affected dog will feel pain and might whine if you press on his belly
• Collapse
• Pale mucous membranes
• Cool extremities

Please review the Quick Reference Guide at this link for very important information on the stages and symptoms of bloat.

Without treatment, in only an hour or two, your dog will likely go into shock. The heart rate will rise and the pulse will get weaker, leading to death.

Because bloat and GDV are life-threatening conditions, call your veterinarian immediately if you see any of these signs. There is nothing that you can do to help your dog at home.

If you suspect that your dog may have bloat, rush him to his vet or to an emergency clinic as soon as possible.  It is a life-threatening emergency and cannot wait until the morning. If you are not unsure if your dog has bloat, you can they can always call an emergency clinic and ask if the signs your dog is showing are consistent with bloat

Why Do Dogs Bloat?

This question has perplexed veterinarians since they first identified the disease. It is known that air accumulates in the stomach (dilatation), and the stomach twists (the volvulus part). It is not known if the air builds up and causes the twist, or if the stomach twists and then the air builds up.

How is Bloat Treated?                         

Only your veterinarian can determine if your dog is suffering from bloat or GDV. To confirm the diagnosis, your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam and obtain x-rays.

Additionally, if a surgical or anesthetic procedure is necessary, your veterinarian will recommend pre-surgical blood work.

This may include:

• Urine tests to rule out urinary tract infection and to evaluate the ability of the kidneys to concentrate urine
• Chemistry tests to evaluate kidney, liver and pancreatic function as well as sugar levels
• A complete blood count to rule out blood-related conditions
• Electrolyte tests to ensure your dog isn’t dehydrated or suffering from an electrolyte imbalance
• Other specialized tests, such as lactate levels

When you bring your dog to your vet’s office or an emergency animal hospital, the doctor will establish an IV line to assist with blood pressure regulation and to administer medications to help combat shock and pain.

If your veterinarian determines that your dog has bloat, they may perform a procedure that decompresses the stomach by removing the gas through a tube or large needle. Depending on the cause and severity of the bloat, your veterinarian may administer intravenous fluid therapy and other treatments specific to your pet’s needs.

If it is determined that your dog’s stomach is twisted, immediate surgery to untwist and re-position the stomach will be necessary. Postoperative care will be required and your veterinarian will discuss the specific course of treatment for your dog.

How Can Bloat Be Prevented?  

While there are some factors you cannot change, such as the genetics and the build of your dog, there are some things you can do to lessen the risk of your dog getting bloat.

Risk of bloat is correlated to chest conformation. Dogs with a deep, narrow chest — very tall, rather than wide — suffer the most often from bloat. Great Danes, who have a high height-to-width ratio, are five-to-eight times more likely to bloat than dogs with a low height-to-width ratio.

In addition to Great Danes, large- or giant-breed dogs at greatest risk include St. Bernards, Weimaraners, Irish Setters and Gordon Setters, Standard Poodles, and Doberman Pinschers. Males are twice as likely to bloat as females. Neutering or spaying has no effect on risk.

Even though bloat happens more often in larger breeds, it has been reported in almost every breed.

If a dog has relatives (parents, siblings, or offspring) who have suffered from bloat, there is a higher chance he will develop bloat. These dogs should not be used for breeding.

Certain dietary ingredients have been blamed over the years, but the data is inconclusive. This is because most large-breed dogs are fed a cereal-based diet, so making a statement that those diets are to blame is difficult. However, we do know that foods containing soybean meal or having oils or fats in the first four ingredients increase the risk by fourfold.

Over the years, there have been studies that show that food bowls on the floor cause more cases of bloat, but a few years later this was debunked, and elevated food bowls are now known to be just as much of a risk. With these conflicting results, a solid recommendation can’t be made.

Dogs that are fed once a day are twice as likely to bloat as those fed two meals a day. Rate of eating is also a contributor, and fast eaters have five times the risk than dogs that are slow eaters. Using bowls with fingers (or center posts) or putting large rocks in the bowl slows dogs down physically, but it’s also important to address the anxiety that comes with feeding around other dogs, because that can be a risk factor. Stressed dogs and those that are hyperactive are more likely to bloat. Separating dogs at feeding times may help reduce anxiety and stress surrounding food. Unhappy or fearful dogs are twice as likely to bloat as those that are happy.

A recent trend is to perform a preventive surgical gastropexy on an at-risk dog. Often performed when a dog is sterilized, some veterinarians now do this procedure laparoscopically to reduce the invasiveness. Unfortunately, the hardest part is determining which dogs are at a high enough risk to warrant this surgery. It could be said that all the above-mentioned breeds should have this surgery performed, but it is difficult to determine if it is cost-effective.

If you suspect that your dog may be at risk of bloat and want to explore ways to prevent it, talk to your veterinarian about your options. Preventive surgery need not be the primary defense; less invasive approaches may be better for you and your dog.

While there are some factors you cannot change, such as the genetics and the build of your dog, there are some things you can do to lessen the risk of your dog getting bloat.

Talk to your veterinarian about which of them are right for your pet:

• Feed your dog smaller meals more frequently.  If your dog is one of the high risk breeds or has experienced bloating in the past, you want to feed him two or three smaller daily meals rather than one large one.
• Allow your dog smaller amounts of drinking water more frequently
• Try to limit brisk exercise before or right after your dog eats
• Do not feed an all dry food diet. Include wet foods or large meat chunks in the diet.
• For dry food, feed no more than one cup per thirty pounds of body weight per meal (divided between at least two meals).
• If your dog is a greedy eater and gulps his food, invest in a food dish that forces the dog to eat slower, such as the slow feeder or fun feeder.
• Keep your dog away from garbage or unknown food sources that may cause gas or other problems

• The type of food you feed your pet can also be a contributor.  Commercial pet food is loosely regulated, and the majority of kibble (dry food) on the market contains carbohydrates like corn, wheat, rice, soy and oatmeal.  Fermentable carbohydrates can be considered a side effect of feeding your dog an unhealthy diet.  Foods that are very high in fat, meaning foods that have a kind of fat as one of the first four ingredients, should be avoided at all costs. It is also likely that dog foods that contain citric acid as a preservative might be a cause of bloating and GDV.
• You should review all the ingredients in the food you feed your pet. Eliminating preservatives, emulsifiers, citric acid load, FD&C colors and any other additives that aren’t critical to your dog’s optimal health will reduce nutritional stress.

→ Remember: Call your veterinarian immediately if your pooch’s belly is distended or swollen!

If you have questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.