What to do if your dog gets bloat?
If you dog does come down with bloat the best way to increase
his or her survival is to get them to your veterinary or animal
emergency clinic as soon as possible. Bloat is a very serious issue
and the quicker you get your dog to the vet the better the chances
for survival. To help increase your dogs chances for survival, call
your vet ahead of time so that they can be prepared for your
arrival.
How is bloat treated?
Once the dog arrives to the hospital the vet will need to
examine the dog to access the severity of the condition. Blood test
and X-Rays will most likely be used to help diagnose your dog’s
condition. In most cases a mild
sedative will also be given to help relax the dog.
A procedure called gastric lavage will most
likely be administered to help decompress the dog's stomach.
Gastric lavage is a procedure where a tube
is passed down the throat into the dog's stomach to help relieve the
gas. Another method used to decompress the stomach is called
trochar. Trochar is procedure where an IV cathodor is placed
into the stomach through the skin wall. The needle is then
removed while leaving the cathodor in the dog. The belly of
the dog is then pressed to release the gasses.
In the event of severe cases, such a torsion,
surgery will be necessary to save the dog. With surgery the
stomach is untwisted, the dead tissue is removed and the stomach is
anchored to the to prevent reoccurrence. Unfortunately surgery
can be very expensive and the recovery times can be quite long.
What steps can you take to help prevent
bloat?
Although bloat is not 100 % preventable in large-chested dogs,
there are some preventative measures that can be taken to minimize
the risk. One recommendation is that instead of feeding larger dogs
once a day, it is recommend feeding them at least two to three small
meals a day. Also, while your dog eats you should also try to
discourage rapid eating. Another important recommendation is to
take into consideration that if you are going to change your dog’s
diet, you need to do it gradually over a week of time. Sudden
changes to the dog’s diet can make them more susceptible to bloat.
Other than the diet changes, vigorous exercise should be avoided one
hour prior and two hours after your dog eats.
Although these recommendations will not
guarantee that your dog does not get bloat, they will help decrease
the chances of them getting this disorder.
Tying it all together
In conclusion bloat is a major disorder that can be
life-threatening for your dog. If you suspect that you dog has
bloat then you should get them to a doctor as soon as possible.
Always consult with your vet over any medical issues related to your
pet. If you are in search of a good vet in your area you can
always check
1-800-PetMeds Veterinarian Directory
for more information on a vet near you.
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Dog Bloat (Cont.)
