Leelaa17 Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Hi guys, I tried to look for the search button to see if I could find something on bloat but I couldn't find the search button! Anyway, I have been getting increasingly worried about max or jenna getting bloat, for no reason I might add. Jenna eats so so slowly, its quite painful sometimes. So I'm not worried about her - plus she's a burper - burps allll the time! haha Max eats much quicker, but he doesn't gobble although he has before... I feed them twice a day, and I have just started feeding them a quarter of a large can of natures gift both in morning and night just to give it flavour. What scares me is when I feed them in the mornings. My dad normally feeds them in the mornings as when I leave for work its too early to let them outside so when dad gets up he lets them out and feeds them, but as he isn't here at the moment I am feeding them when I get up. I feed them right before I go to work, I watch them eat and then leave. I almost had a nervous breakdown the two days ago because max ate pretty quickly and then went and gulped down lots of water and I had to track down my neighbours' number just to get them to check on the dogs over the fence. they were fine of course, but I could never forgive myself if I left and one of them passed away because I didn't do something to prevent bloat. So there's the question - are there ways I can somehow lower the risk of max or jenna getting bloat? I've done a bit of research and seen some ideas but I want your opinion. Does anyone do anything to lower their dogs risk of getting bloat? Also, how quickly does bloat present itself in dogs? For example if I feed my dogs half an hour before I leave for work, would symptoms have already started? Any other advice would be much appreciated. thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 I was told to not feed kibble/feed kibble .. to not soak food/soak food..feed in an elevated bowl/don't elevate bowl .... I fed my boy (deerhound X) a kibble which didn't swell when wet, and raw, and bones, and fruit . I did have his bowl a bit elevated . I always rested him before & after feeding (at least an hour) I watched his water intake .. and at age 7 1/2 he died from bloat/torsion after stealing a few bits of kibble from another dog .. not even a meal ..and I didn't even think of him bloating after that little food.... but it wasn't long before I was on the phone to the vet... and a couple hours later, I had to send him over the bridge. There are folks here who are very experienced:) they will give you the up-to-date- info . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Arh yes, to soak not to soak, to raise not to raise, dry, raw the list is endless. To date there is no 100% guarantee on what causes it, however we can all speculate. We can even feed and raise two litter siblings the same and one may bloat and the other not. I feed raised, unsoaked but with some water in the bowls with meals. I also have a bloat kit for home and for away, plus the vets number on speed dial. The key is to know the signs and act early. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Good video showing a dog bloating - the dog is fine. This video shows a dog in the middle to late middle stages of bloat. This dog, Roscoe, was saved. He had just arrived in a new home. The weather was warm but not hot, actually quite pleasant as this video was being filmed. Neither the person who brought the dog to this foster home nor the foster home had ever seen bloat and had no idea of what they were seeing. As soon as they realized something was wrong, he was rushed to the emergency vet. Youtube Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leelaa17 Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 I was told to not feed kibble/feed kibble .. to not soak food/soak food..feed in an elevated bowl/don't elevate bowl .... I fed my boy (deerhound X) a kibble which didn't swell when wet, and raw, and bones, and fruit . I did have his bowl a bit elevated . I always rested him before & after feeding (at least an hour) I watched his water intake .. and at age 7 1/2 he died from bloat/torsion after stealing a few bits of kibble from another dog .. not even a meal ..and I didn't even think of him bloating after that little food.... but it wasn't long before I was on the phone to the vet... and a couple hours later, I had to send him over the bridge. There are folks here who are very experienced:) they will give you the up-to-date- info . Oh Perse I'm so sorry that you went through that. It seems like such a horrific thing to experience and it makes me sad that you had to go through that. especially after such a small amount of food. I guess the best thing for me to do is just feed them as early as I can as I can rest them for about an hour before leaving work and at night isn't a problem as I'm always watching them. Thank you for your advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Search button is in the top right hand corner, here is a list of Previous Threads on Bloat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leelaa17 Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Good video showing a dog bloating - the dog is fine. This video shows a dog in the middle to late middle stages of bloat. This dog, Roscoe, was saved. He had just arrived in a new home. The weather was warm but not hot, actually quite pleasant as this video was being filmed. Neither the person who brought the dog to this foster home nor the foster home had ever seen bloat and had no idea of what they were seeing. As soon as they realized something was wrong, he was rushed to the emergency vet. Youtube What a fantastic video! (educational-wise). The poor thing looked like he was so uncomfortable! I wanted to jump through the screen and help him! poor thing. So glad he was able to be saved. that's such a great outcome! I have researched the signs a few times and know what I am looking out for. I think I just need to feed my dogs early enough so I can watch them in the mornings for a while before I go to work. Therefore if anything happens after they eat I will notice and get them to the vet straight away. I guess one good thing about my anxiety of losing my dogs is even at the slightest change in behaviour that makes me think they are sick, or even a sore they have etc... I'm at the vet straight away because I'm so paranoid. So if anything weird starts happening with them I'll be going to the vet straight away. Thanks again for the video. It was excellent and gave me an idea on what bloat actually looks like! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leelaa17 Posted January 10, 2012 Author Share Posted January 10, 2012 Search button is in the top right hand corner, here is a list of Previous Threads on Bloat so it is thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantsapuppy Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 What a very informative video . Very happy to here that the dog was ok . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Time and recognition is of the essence with bloat/tortion. I always crated mine for at least an hour after feeding, fed twice daily and they had hard exercise, then cooled off for at least and hour before being fed. I had a bitch bloat and have surgery three times. Once for no known reason, once after eating whole dry lupins ( I know strange) and then having a massive drink and once after gorging herself on around 5 litres of food after she broke into the laundry at her breeders. Awful thing to go through Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackdogs Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Not foolproof, but maybe worth considering: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canine_gastropexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keira&Phoenix Posted January 10, 2012 Share Posted January 10, 2012 Sway - You mentioned you keep bloat kits...what exactly do you have in your bloat kit? Was just doing a bit of reading and seems adding things like Apple Cider Vinegar and Probiotics to your dogs diet is also recommended? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allerzeit Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I just wanted to say thankyou to SwaY for posting that link! Very educational, and a must see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OSoSwift Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 My dog had a gastroplexy and while it stops tortion it does not stop bloat. She had it twice after having the surgery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparkyTansy Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 the most recent studies found with dogs that were already predisposed to bloat (so size/deep chested and commonly bloating breeds): increased chance of bloat with elevated food bowl 60% increase chance of bloat if either parent has bloated increased chance of bloat if you restrict water intake before/after eating no increased chance by restricting exercise before feeding increased risk if feeding once a day increased risk by soaking kibble no findings were found regarding raw food/bones vs kibble The best way to ensure a dog doesn't torsion is the Gastropexy, however as OsoSwift says, it doesn't stop a dog from bloating... but it is easier to treat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsdog2 Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 (edited) I've already posted on this before so I won't repeat myself. The only thing I can add is since I lost my GSD last year I have fostered a Military Working Dog pup from RAAF Amberley. I asked the Liaison Officer what the Military do to avoid bloat and his answer was NO exercise one hour before and after feeding and, after trying other brands of dry food, they have found Eukanuba to have the best outcome (to avoid bloat). And last time I was at the base they had approx. 80 dogs (GSDs & Mals) so we're looking at a large number of 'at risk' dogs. As I said in the last thread, learn the symptoms and WATCH your dog after feeding!!! Edited January 11, 2012 by gsdog2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BJean Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 (edited) Hi guys, I tried to look for the search button to see if I could find something on bloat but I couldn't find the search button! Anyway, I have been getting increasingly worried about max or jenna getting bloat, for no reason I might add. Jenna eats so so slowly, its quite painful sometimes. So I'm not worried about her - plus she's a burper - burps allll the time! haha Max eats much quicker, but he doesn't gobble although he has before... I feed them twice a day, and I have just started feeding them a quarter of a large can of natures gift both in morning and night just to give it flavour. What scares me is when I feed them in the mornings. My dad normally feeds them in the mornings as when I leave for work its too early to let them outside so when dad gets up he lets them out and feeds them, but as he isn't here at the moment I am feeding them when I get up. I feed them right before I go to work, I watch them eat and then leave. I almost had a nervous breakdown the two days ago because max ate pretty quickly and then went and gulped down lots of water and I had to track down my neighbours' number just to get them to check on the dogs over the fence. they were fine of course, but I could never forgive myself if I left and one of them passed away because I didn't do something to prevent bloat. So there's the question - are there ways I can somehow lower the risk of max or jenna getting bloat? I've done a bit of research and seen some ideas but I want your opinion. Does anyone do anything to lower their dogs risk of getting bloat? If bloat is not in Max and Jenna genes ie: if Max and Jenna have no relatives or ancestors which have suffered from bloat then that is the best prevention. If Max and Jenna do have bloat in their familial history, then Max and Jenna are also likely to have a genetic predisposition for bloat. You can lower the risk of bloat occurring by managing environmental factors which can trigger bloat in the predisposed dog. IE: Overall holistic health of the dog through: Diet and Routine. And minimizing sudden changes or activities likely to increase stress or anxiety in Max and Jenna. Edited January 11, 2012 by lilli Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwaY Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 Sway - You mentioned you keep bloat kits...what exactly do you have in your bloat kit? Here you go Bloat Kit Some recommend a roll of vet wrap in the mouth to prevent the dog from biting the tube. I also have degas on hand, which can be purchased at a chemist or Coles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danois Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 The issue is that there is no way of knowing if doing any of the preventative things actually stop your dog getting bloat. All you know is that you have a dog which has never bloated. Even if you had done the complete opposite - exercised before meals, high stress, fed soaked etc etc etc, your dog may have never bloated. IMO if your dog is going to bloat then it will bloat regardless of the measures you have employed or adopted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xyz Posted January 11, 2012 Share Posted January 11, 2012 I would discuss gastropexy with your vet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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