[Samba]

My vet just spayed his female German Shepherd. He did a gastropexy at the spay.

 

[3K9Mom]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but first, dogs that eat raw can -- and do -- bloat. We've seen it here on this forum.

And dogs with pexies can bloat. They won't experience torsion. But they can still bloat, which is excruciatingly painful. Also a bloated stomach can cut off blood supply to vital organs inside. We still have to be prepared.

 

[goatdude]

So it seems that if your dog is predisposed to bloat there is very little that can be done to prevent it? What has been proven to decrease the possibilities of bloat?

 

[GSDLoverII]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but first, dogs that eat raw can -- and do -- bloat. We've seen it here on this forum.


That is absolutely right!
Just went through 1 bloat w/torsion.
Got there in time to save the stomach.
Spleen removed, stomach tacked.
About a week ago, I gave Kaiser a greenie.
Put on a leather glove and held it so that he didn't GULP it down.
Last piece he didn't even chew, just swallowed it, even though it wasn't even THAT big.
Sure Enough, 15 minutes later, he started will all the bloat symptoms.
THIS IS LIKE 3 WEEKS AFTER HE BLOATED AND TORSIONED AND GOT HIS STOMACH TACKED DOWN!
GAVE him 3 GAS X and waited 15 minutes and it went away.
I was in Miami visiting my mom and was this close to going to her vet.
HE HAD A GREENIE THE DAY HE BLOATED TOO.
ANIA'S DOG BLOATED FROM A CHICKEN BONE.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but first, dogs that eat raw can -- and do -- bloat. We've seen it here on this forum.
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/health-issues/107711-gretchen-bloated-20-stomach-removed.html

NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER GREENIE AS LONG AS HE LIVES!
THAT IS A FACT, EITHER WILL MY OTHER 2.

Our other 2 GSD's just got gastropexys 2 weeks ago.
Now all 3 have their stomach's tacked, but they can SILL BLOAT w/o the torsion.
It can still be deadly because
"And dogs with pexies can bloat. They won't experience torsion. But they can still bloat, which is excruciatingly painful. Also a bloated stomach can cut off blood supply to vital organs inside. We still have to be prepared."
As 3K9Mom said.

 

[JudynRich]

The info is helpful. I guess I will have Gas X everywhere. Neither dog has ever experienced any signs of bloat -they are both still young-but Mia is so big and very barrel chested. Bella will probably stay under 50 pounds, Mia is about 70 pounds.

 

[ken k]

i dont know is its been mentioned in this thread but on super hot days, its best to give them ice chips instead of water

 

[GSDLoverII]

I saw this out there on the web.
Truth is, nobody really knows what causes bloat.


Ice Causes Bloat?

 

[Cassidy's Mom]

Truth is, nobody really knows what causes bloat.

Yep, that's the scary thing about it.

 

[Zisso]

I am always grateful for threads like this. They are very educational. I knock on wood as I say this, but I have not been faced with my dogs bloating yet. I know it is a possibility every day. I feed them their kibble in ground level dishes, their raw in their crates. After they eat, they are confined indoors for a bit so they can rest and digest. I have Gas X on hand just in case & have two vet numbers, our normal vet and the E vet numbers memorized, and programmed in my phone. They are both no more than 10 minutes from our house.

 

[LisaT]

I saw this out there on the web.
Truth is, nobody really knows what causes bloat.

Ice Causes Bloat?

Small world, the author of that is on three lists that I am on. He's credible.

 

[ken k]

I saw this out there on the web.
Truth is, nobody really knows what causes bloat.


Ice Causes Bloat?

aint that the truth, food dish to high, food dish too low, too much water, ice chips, I had to put my last GSD down due to bloat, he was 10, and was not in the best of health to begin with, his started by lunging and jumping at the dog next door, talking to a breeder, she mentioned that there also looking into stress causing bloat, I`ve had the GSD all my life, 30, 40 years ago there was no such thing as bloat in the GSD that i can remember, I guess this is going to be one of life's mystery`s, I wish someone would figure it out, so i dont have to worrie so much

 

[GSDLoverII]

aint that the truth, food dish to high, food dish too low, too much water, ice chips, I had to put my last GSD down due to bloat, he was 10, and was not in the best of health to begin with, his started by lunging and jumping at the dog next door, talking to a breeder, she mentioned that there also looking into stress causing bloat, I`ve had the GSD all my life, 30, 40 years ago there was no such thing as bloat in the GSD that i can remember, I guess this is going to be one of life's mystery`s, I wish someone would figure it out, so i dont have to worrie so much

Even the Perdue Bloat Study isn't conclusive.
Like you said, raised bowls, or not?
Withhold water before and after a meal, or not?
I know what you mean about worrying.
3 gastropexys and I still have to worry about it!

 

[Zisso]

So here is a question for you all.
Zisso loves Ice...in the winter when the water buckets freeze over he will break the ice to eat it. In the summer, if I drop an ice cube, he usually gets it before I can and I can't get it back(he will run from me if he has ice & try to get it) so the Q is...is giving ice a big no no when they are over heated, or at all times? I mean, I always thought that some things in moderation are okay. It seems like ice in moderation might still be okay. I know that when trying to cool a dog off we have to careful and do it slowly, just as we would with humans, but really...No ice ever?

 

[ken k]

Even the Perdue Bloat Study isn't conclusive.
Like you said, raised bowls, or not?
Withhold water before and after a meal, or not?
I know what you mean about worrying.
3 gastropexys and I still have to worry about it!

3? oh my, the only thing I do that I think i`m protecting them, is their feed once a day, in the evening, and have water, and about an hour later off to bed, and on real hot days there water intake is monitored

 

[kensbuns1]

Madison gets a piece of ice after her walks. It keeps her from gulping to much water. I am no expert so I say do what you feel is comfortable for you. I just lost a dog to Bloat and honestly as far as I know there were no real reason for it other than him drinking a bunch of water. I dont think any one really knows what causes it. It is just the luck of the draw. The er Vet says if it is gonna happen its gonna happen there was nothing we could have done to prevent it.

 

[3K9Mom]

Zisso, I let my kids eat snow and they break off the ice in their pool during the winter, run around with the pieces then lie down and chomp down some. I don't feed them ice in the summer, but that's because a sudden cool down of a hot body is reckless anyhow. Not because of bloat issues.

Is ice more dangerous than raw but less dangerous than kibble? I don't think anyone can answer any of that. I think it's genetics, stress (which is all about genetics) and age (which ties back to genetics in large part).

I can wave a rabbit's foot over my dog's bowl every night before he eats. If he doesn't bloat, does that mean it worked? If I feed him raw, and he doesn't bloat, I might think that means raw doesn't cause bloat. Is there cause and effect for either? Or are both superstitious thinking? I think the Purdue study has some useful information, but the methods are questionable. So I pay attention to them (I don't need to use a raised feeder -- none of my dogs have neck issues -- so I don't). But is there cause and effect? I don't know.

For me, honestly, it's just easier to say I have no gosh darn idea. They like to play in snow. If they take a big mouthful and swallow it, I don't freak out. My stressing about what they eat constantly or whether they should rest one hour or two would cause them stress, and stress DOES seem to have causative effect toward bloat.

So, I let my kids live and enjoy themselves. I don't take stupid risks. But I learned last year that when a life is cut short abruptly, I found a lot of solace in knowing that my dog lived every single day to his fullest. He played hard. He ran fast. He rolled in snow and chased snowballs. Did any of these contribute to his death? I'm certain that they did not. But he packed as much living as any dog could into his exuberant little life.

We can drive ourselves and our dogs crazy. Or we can do what's reasonable and let them live happy full lives. I manage the risk by making sure that I know how to respond to bloat. If I can't prevent it, then I can respond swiftly and efficiently. For me, that's a KNOWN in a vast sea of unknowns. That's how I choose to live with it.

 

[roxy84]

3? oh my, the only thing I do that I think i`m protecting them, is their feed once a day, in the evening, and have water, and about an hour later off to bed, and on real hot days there water intake is monitored

ive always worried more about feeding larger meals at one sitting as ive seen "evidence" implicating large meals as a culprit with bloat. i feel better feeding at least 2x per day to reduce the meal size. who knows?

i agree with the above post regarding stress (and i think that poster is pretty sharp). it is the one thing that i seek to keep at a low level in my effort to prevent bloat.

 

[hunnefeld1]

I just had to bring my GSD into the animal hospital last night after he threw up alot. After they took x-rays I got the horrible news. My GSD's stomach twisted. They had to put him into surgery last night. The vet and surgeon said the only real preventative thing they can do is tack the stomach down, and they told me that's not even 100% preventive. They also told me feed the dog less but more frequently, watch how much and how fast he drinks water, and no exercise or playing for at least 1 hour after eating (this will allow the food to settle). This has to be the worst thing my dog has and will ever go though. My advice is just watch how much he eats drinks and DO NOT exersize or play with him for at least an hour.

 

[brutus_]

Help with Bloat

Hi,

I'm new to the forum and found many intresting information, since last saturday my GSD hasn't been well.

He's been restless, can't move, not eating, just drinking water and he's been breathing very heavily ... first of all i thought it was cause of the amount of fireworks there has been in the past few days. (since he was a puppy he was always scared of the fireworks)

I took him to the Vet on an emergency call and he found a bloated stomach with water.

He gave the dog the following medication Lasilix 40mg 3 times daily.

Today is the second day of medication and i can't seem to see him get any better.


Any suggestions? I really can't handle my GSD being in such shape since he's been a great companion.

Anyone can suggest what can help to get him better? maybe a position to put him in so maybe he can take better breats? Should i feed him?


I'm so new to this! Please help.

Much appreciated.

Keith

Malta:help:

 

[sondraham]

My GSD of 8yrs was rushed to ER to find out he had bloat, He had the GDV surgery and now he has an aspirated lung which caused an ammonia. Does anyone have some advice on some additional herbs or natural remedies I can give him because he is on allot of meds.