German Shepherd Dog Forums - View Single Post - Bloat

**JeanKBBMMMAAN** · 03-15-2013, 11:30 AM

What Are Signs and Symptoms? Remember, not all of these can or will happen at the same time—these are things to be looking for:

• Abdominal distention (swollen belly) makes it obvious—this does not always happen, or happen right away
• Nonproductive vomiting (animal appears to be vomiting, but nothing comes up) and retching. Sometimes white foamy liquid or mucous will come out. This seems to be one of the most common symptoms & has been referred to as the "hallmark symptom"
• Some reports say that it can sound like a repeated cough
• Restlessness and/or anxiety, whining
• Not acting like themselves
• Asking to go outside in the middle of the night. If this is combined with frequent attempts to vomit, and if your dog doesn't typically ask to go outside in the middle of the night, bloat is a very real possibility.
• Abdominal pain and/or discomfort
• "Hunched up" or "roached up" appearance (also a sign of pancreatitis—another medical emergency)
• Lack of normal gurgling and digestive sounds in the stomach. Many dog owners report this after putting their ear to their dog's stomach. If your dog shows any bloat symptoms, you may want to try this immediately
• Pale or off-color gums: Dark red in early stages, white or blue in later stages
• Rapid shallow breathing and/or panting
• A lot of drooling may indicate severe pain
• Digging bedding
• Licking bedding
• Unable to get comfortable
• Drum like thumping noise when you hit their sides
• Coughing
• Foamy mucous around the lips, or vomiting foamy mucous
• Pacing
• Unproductive attempts to defecate
• Licking the air
• Seeking a hiding place
• Looking at their side or other evidence of abdominal pain or discomfort
• May refuse to lie down or even sit down
• May stand spread-legged
• May curl up in a ball or go into a praying or crouched position
• May attempt to eat small stones and twigs
• Drinking excessively
• Heavy or rapid panting
• Shallow breathing
• Cold mouth membranes
• Apparent weakness; unable to stand or has a spread-legged stance especially in advanced stage
• Accelerated heartbeat: heart rate increases as bloating progresses
• Weak pulse
• Collapse

If the dog's condition continues to deteriorate, especially if volvulus has occurred, the dog may go into shock and become pale, have a weak pulse, a rapid heart rate, and eventually collapse.

A dog with gastric dilatation without volvulus can show all of these signs, but the more severe signs are likely to occur in dogs with both dilatation and volvulus.

03-15-2013, 11:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
JeanKBBMMMAAN The Rescues Rule Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 22,786	What Are Signs and Symptoms? Remember, not all of these can or will happen at the same time—these are things to be looking for: • Abdominal distention (swollen belly) makes it obvious—this does not always happen, or happen right away • Nonproductive vomiting (animal appears to be vomiting, but nothing comes up) and retching. Sometimes white foamy liquid or mucous will come out. This seems to be one of the most common symptoms & has been referred to as the "hallmark symptom" • Some reports say that it can sound like a repeated cough • Restlessness and/or anxiety, whining • Not acting like themselves • Asking to go outside in the middle of the night. If this is combined with frequent attempts to vomit, and if your dog doesn't typically ask to go outside in the middle of the night, bloat is a very real possibility. • Abdominal pain and/or discomfort • "Hunched up" or "roached up" appearance (also a sign of pancreatitis—another medical emergency) • Lack of normal gurgling and digestive sounds in the stomach. Many dog owners report this after putting their ear to their dog's stomach. If your dog shows any bloat symptoms, you may want to try this immediately • Pale or off-color gums: Dark red in early stages, white or blue in later stages • Rapid shallow breathing and/or panting • A lot of drooling may indicate severe pain • Digging bedding • Licking bedding • Unable to get comfortable • Drum like thumping noise when you hit their sides • Coughing • Foamy mucous around the lips, or vomiting foamy mucous • Pacing • Unproductive attempts to defecate • Licking the air • Seeking a hiding place • Looking at their side or other evidence of abdominal pain or discomfort • May refuse to lie down or even sit down • May stand spread-legged • May curl up in a ball or go into a praying or crouched position • May attempt to eat small stones and twigs • Drinking excessively • Heavy or rapid panting • Shallow breathing • Cold mouth membranes • Apparent weakness; unable to stand or has a spread-legged stance especially in advanced stage • Accelerated heartbeat: heart rate increases as bloating progresses • Weak pulse • Collapse If the dog's condition continues to deteriorate, especially if volvulus has occurred, the dog may go into shock and become pale, have a weak pulse, a rapid heart rate, and eventually collapse. A dog with gastric dilatation without volvulus can show all of these signs, but the more severe signs are likely to occur in dogs with both dilatation and volvulus.