Bloat

rosba1 · 01-18-2012, 02:31 PM

Hi, I haven't been in this forum for years, until recently where I've been reading posts from people who have had dogs with bloat. My beautiful GSD died of bloat just before xmas 2011, he was 2 and a half months away from turning 9yrs old. This is such a horrible thing to experience, fortunately I had got the vet out in time to puncture a whole in his side to let the air out, and of course drug him up. However, he died a few hours later. He was born with a delicate digestive system, but, had never bloated in all the years I had him ( I got him when he was 8 months old). I managed his tummy over the years, he certainly had his ups and downs, but never bloated. In fact I had never heard of dogs bloating before I got him. Also, did not know much about it after I got him. It seems to me that the professionals ie vets, breeders need to inform people about this condition right from the start. To make people aware of the possibility that it can happen especially in deep chested dogs. I'm still traumatised by this horrible experience, and can't believe he's gone.

Angelina03 · 01-18-2012, 02:53 PM

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I agree with you that we should be informed. I never heard of bloat either until I read a post on here after getting my GSD. My vet nor the breeder ever mentioned it either. It is a scary thing. We don't know what causes it nor how to prevent it. I actually worry about it almost every day now.
Again, I'm really sorry that you had to go through that...

ZAYDA · 01-18-2012, 02:56 PM

Sorry for your loss. I lost 2 GSD'S to bloat myself. Very devastating.

shilohsmom · 01-18-2012, 03:08 PM

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My little girl bloated about two years ago...maybe 3 years now (loosing track of time). Because of these boards I knew what to look for and was able to get her to the Vets in time. Even then, theres always the possibility they won't make it through the surgery. I got lucky, so many don't. I do wish there was more awareness of this awful condition.

Holmeshx2 · 01-18-2012, 03:31 PM

I am very sorry about your tragic loss.

However, I do not believe its the breeders job to educate the owners on bloat as the person should have researched their breed of choice before going to a breeder. With the vets this is a toss up. I don't believe most vets have the time to go over EVERYTHING with owners that can be wrong with a breed (again I believe owners need to educate themselves) however if you just go to any breed website it will list issues common with GSDs and bloat is one thing generally listed then you can go to the vet and ask them to elaborate on it or if you specifically ask a vet about a breed they should be able to say yeah they are prone to X, Y, and Z and then elaborate if you don't know about something but for someone to say hey I just bought a puppy and need to come in for an exam I think it's a little naive to think a vet has the time to go over a specific breed and everything that MIGHT go wrong with a breed with each owner that comes in plus do the exam and whatever else is needed.

Pattycakes · 01-18-2012, 04:07 PM

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your dog.

rosba1 · 01-18-2012, 09:32 PM

Thank you all for replying. It's a real tough one alright, since it happened I have done a lot of reading up on bloat, and should I get another shepherd (which I dearly want to in the future), I will be a lot more aware and informed on this problem. I'm just so thankful I was here when it happened, and that it never happened over the years of his life until then. I keep wishing I had that day over, and have been over and over it in my mind, seeing if there was any tell tales signs. It happened so suddenly. I miss him so much, and have never cried so much, days and days of crying. Oh how we love our pets, so different to humans.

Cheers

Rose

Angelina03 · 01-18-2012, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rosba1

Oh how we love our pets, so different to humans.

Cheers

Rose

Isn't that the truth!

rosba1 · 01-19-2012, 12:28 AM

Hi Holmeshx2

I take your point. Oddly enough, in the beginning when I first got my dog, I did quite a bit of research on GSDs pertaining to his particular issues, for some reason I overlooked bloat. I think because I had only associated that problem with farm animals and not dogs. Well now, I am certainly much more informed, and with firsthand experience on this god awful condition. I think one can be vigilant to a point, after that it's in the lap of the gods.

Also, I have noticed from reading other peoples experiences on this website, that the age of the dogs that have been affected by, or taken out by bloat, are around 8 and 9 years old.

Thanks again for your comments.

Cheers

Rose

RebelGSD · 01-19-2012, 12:36 PM

I think that letting the gas out does not solve the problem of torsion. Surgery is still necessary to untwist the intestines and remove the parts that we damaged during the bloat and torsion. After the bloat the intestines are tacked to prevent them from twisting again.

Dogs are in danger of dying even with surgery, because the tissues that are deprived of blood supply can release toxins that can cause the heart to stop.

A surgery, preventative gastropexy, can prevent the intestines from twisting,

My dog bloated at the age of 11 and we were lucky to save his life with emergency surgery.

01-18-2012, 02:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
rosba1 New Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 24	Bloat Hi, I haven't been in this forum for years, until recently where I've been reading posts from people who have had dogs with bloat. My beautiful GSD died of bloat just before xmas 2011, he was 2 and a half months away from turning 9yrs old. This is such a horrible thing to experience, fortunately I had got the vet out in time to puncture a whole in his side to let the air out, and of course drug him up. However, he died a few hours later. He was born with a delicate digestive system, but, had never bloated in all the years I had him ( I got him when he was 8 months old). I managed his tummy over the years, he certainly had his ups and downs, but never bloated. In fact I had never heard of dogs bloating before I got him. Also, did not know much about it after I got him. It seems to me that the professionals ie vets, breeders need to inform people about this condition right from the start. To make people aware of the possibility that it can happen especially in deep chested dogs. I'm still traumatised by this horrible experience, and can't believe he's gone.

01-18-2012, 02:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Angelina03 Master Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 626	I'm so very sorry for your loss. I agree with you that we should be informed. I never heard of bloat either until I read a post on here after getting my GSD. My vet nor the breeder ever mentioned it either. It is a scary thing. We don't know what causes it nor how to prevent it. I actually worry about it almost every day now. Again, I'm really sorry that you had to go through that... __________________ Angela_______________________________ Danny (husband) ~ Samantha (daughter) ~ Rocco (GSD) Lucky (cat) ~ Beauty (cat) ~ MuMu (cat)

01-18-2012, 03:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
shilohsmom Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 6,653	I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My little girl bloated about two years ago...maybe 3 years now (loosing track of time). Because of these boards I knew what to look for and was able to get her to the Vets in time. Even then, theres always the possibility they won't make it through the surgery. I got lucky, so many don't. I do wish there was more awareness of this awful condition. __________________ Rosa Mom to; Shiloh, 8.5 year old LCGSD Shoshona, 7.5 year old LCGSD Eli, 5 year old LCGSD Every dog deserves to have a human that thinks they are the greatest dog that ever lived!

01-18-2012, 03:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
Holmeshx2 Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ft. Bragg, NC Posts: 1,646	I am very sorry about your tragic loss. However, I do not believe its the breeders job to educate the owners on bloat as the person should have researched their breed of choice before going to a breeder. With the vets this is a toss up. I don't believe most vets have the time to go over EVERYTHING with owners that can be wrong with a breed (again I believe owners need to educate themselves) however if you just go to any breed website it will list issues common with GSDs and bloat is one thing generally listed then you can go to the vet and ask them to elaborate on it or if you specifically ask a vet about a breed they should be able to say yeah they are prone to X, Y, and Z and then elaborate if you don't know about something but for someone to say hey I just bought a puppy and need to come in for an exam I think it's a little naive to think a vet has the time to go over a specific breed and everything that MIGHT go wrong with a breed with each owner that comes in plus do the exam and whatever else is needed. __________________ Jinx vom Wildhaus

01-18-2012, 09:32 PM	#7 (permalink)
rosba1 New Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 24	Re: Bloat Thank you all for replying. It's a real tough one alright, since it happened I have done a lot of reading up on bloat, and should I get another shepherd (which I dearly want to in the future), I will be a lot more aware and informed on this problem. I'm just so thankful I was here when it happened, and that it never happened over the years of his life until then. I keep wishing I had that day over, and have been over and over it in my mind, seeing if there was any tell tales signs. It happened so suddenly. I miss him so much, and have never cried so much, days and days of crying. Oh how we love our pets, so different to humans. Cheers Rose

01-18-2012, 02:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
ZAYDA Master Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: KENOSHA WI. Posts: 707	Sorry for your loss. I lost 2 GSD'S to bloat myself. Very devastating.

01-18-2012, 04:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
Pattycakes Elite Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Tucson, Arizona Posts: 1,463	I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your dog.

01-19-2012, 12:28 AM	#9 (permalink)
rosba1 New Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: New Zealand Posts: 24	Hi Holmeshx2 I take your point. Oddly enough, in the beginning when I first got my dog, I did quite a bit of research on GSDs pertaining to his particular issues, for some reason I overlooked bloat. I think because I had only associated that problem with farm animals and not dogs. Well now, I am certainly much more informed, and with firsthand experience on this god awful condition. I think one can be vigilant to a point, after that it's in the lap of the gods. Also, I have noticed from reading other peoples experiences on this website, that the age of the dogs that have been affected by, or taken out by bloat, are around 8 and 9 years old. Thanks again for your comments. Cheers Rose

01-19-2012, 12:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
RebelGSD Crowned Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,706	I think that letting the gas out does not solve the problem of torsion. Surgery is still necessary to untwist the intestines and remove the parts that we damaged during the bloat and torsion. After the bloat the intestines are tacked to prevent them from twisting again. Dogs are in danger of dying even with surgery, because the tissues that are deprived of blood supply can release toxins that can cause the heart to stop. A surgery, preventative gastropexy, can prevent the intestines from twisting, My dog bloated at the age of 11 and we were lucky to save his life with emergency surgery.

Remove Advertisements Sponsored Links
German Shepherd Advertisement