bloat

Hi my 7 year old female bloated, I caught it and she is okay today 2 weeks out. I had read on here about bloat and recognised the symptoms and reacted very fast and the vet operated quickly. My question is has anyone else had a dog survive and how long before they are back to normal? She is pretty uptight and growls more when she sees a dog or person. This is not her usual temperment. She is on strict crate rest and leash walks only, although I do have her out of the crate whenever I crate my 4.5 month old,(pics in critique section) I adopted this older dog a year ago and normally she is calm and aloof but not growlly. Thanks though for this forum and the info which has helped me so much with this and the new pup.

 

Re: bloat

Wow! Scary situation with bloating. Good for you for researching the condition, and being such a good parent!

I do not have any personal experience with bloat, so I might not be much help, but I did want to tell you good job, and I hope she is back to normal soon!

 

Re: bloat

Bloat kinda knocks them for a loop. In three months they're feeling pretty good, in six months better still.

 

Re: bloat

Our boy has never fully recovered, and it's probably been 4 years now. The vet used stitches that would absorbed, but they still haven't -- I can see them as they slowly come out of his abdominal area. I suspect that there is a chronic inflammatory process from these stitches all these years.

With all that being said, my dog is the only one I've met that has survived, but with such continuing problems.

Glad you caught it!

 

Re: bloat

I'm sorry your pup bloated but am happy you caught it in time.

I've had three dogs survive bloat and torsion. The first two guys had uneventful recoveries, no problems after they got back on their feet.

The third was different, his bloat was more like a symptom of other problems. Kelly had been having problems off and on with diarrhea prior to his bloating. He bloated on an empty stomach and had a "normal" recovery period. But, he continued having diarrhea, sometimes it was hemorrhagic diarrhea that sent him to the ER. A few months later he was finally diagnosed with SIBO which was eventually brought under control. Someone who works closely tracking GSD health problems said she suspects the SIBO caused the bloating. Kel, who had been very healthy up until this time, had one serious health issue after another, most were controlled but not eliminated. He had a liver problem that could never be tracked down as to what was causing it. He had gallbladder problems, several other issues including very severe arthritis in his elbows. IMHO they somehow were all realted except for the arthritis.

 

Re: bloat

I tried to edit the above post but time expired. I wanted to add:

I kept all three under house arrest (leash walks to potty only, quiet in the house) until they got their stitches out. Then I pretty much let them do what they wanted to after that.

Each of the three had different vets and different feeding protocals. Echo, who also lost his spleen, was on pain meds, antibiotics, lots of digestion meds and had to follow a very strict soft diet for a long time after his bloat surgery. JR had pain meds and antibiotics and had to eat a special I/D canned diet for a week or so. Kelly, who lost 1/3 of his stomach, also had pain meds and antibiotics. The vet said to continue feeding him his normal diet (kibble and canned food), but to feed him smaller meals more often and then to gradually get him back to eating two normal sized meals a day.

I've never had it happen with bloat, but have seen some of the Hooligans get "pissy" when they weren't feeling well. Hopefully your girl will get back to normal when she's back on her feet.

 

Re: bloat

I had a dog who swallowed a raw chicken leg whole, which became an obstruction on it's way to the stomach, which caused bloat and torsion. I caught it within minutes and he was rushed to a vet. He came through everything fine. Within a week he was acting normal. I kept him in crate or confined to the room I was in for probably 6 weeks. I was overly cautious.

What you might be experiencing is not directly a result of the bloat, but the anesthsia. Some animals never handle that well, and there are times subtle or drastic personality changes occur after the fact. We had that happen with a cat when she was spayed. Basically a nice cat prior to spaying. Upon recovery this cat became a minion of satan. She was never the same after the spay.

Also, it could be she is still not feeling up to par, and because of that feeling vulnerable so she is warning. Give her some time, monitor her.

 

Re: Help needed with bloat: a must read for GSD owners

My Golden Retriever bloated last year when she was 11 years old. She was very lucky, my vet said if I hadn't gotten her in so quickly she would not have made it... As soon as I noticed her symptoms I knew, I rushed her in to the emergency vet and told them "I think she bloated."

Her stomach, the start of her intestines and the start of her spleen were twisted and she had to have emergency surgery at the ER vet. The ER vet was not optimistic about her chances due to her age but she didn't know my dog...despite her age she is in very good shape, went on long walks daily... Thankfully she pulled through and had no ill effects from the GDV or surgery. In fact she recovered very quickly. She is 12 now and has some health problems but is still going strong.

 

Re: Help needed with bloat

Another opinion: bloat and potassium

http://www.weimaraner-scotland.com/GenInt/Bloat.htm

 

Re: Help needed with bloat

http://www.brake-fast.net


They now make them in metal for those of us who don't want plastic bowls.

 

Re: Help needed with bloat

The metal is covered in PTFE (Like Teflon) - Just an FYI

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytetrafluoroethylene

 

The metal is covered in PTFE (Like Teflon) - Just an FYI

Polytetrafluoroethylene - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Anything coated in PTFE does not enter my house ... So this would never be an option to me.

I have 3 parrots as well and if heated to high temperatures, PTFE emits toxic fumes that can kill birds in minutes. Also not good for humans.

 

Re: Help needed with bloat

Thank you for posting that. I am going to read through the entire thread to see other recommendations. I have heard chains or rocks?? Anything better you would recommend to put in my dog's food bowl? I don't want to put rocks in the dog bowl.

 

Re: Help needed with bloat

I don't think the Teflon thing is necessarily a bad thing, it seems most of the issues come with heating and no one will be heating the dog bowl

Did want to throw it out there though.

I think one large rock can work very well, kind of a home made Bundt pan

Another thing I have heard is to feed on a cookie sheet.

 

Re: Help needed with bloat

Barb, you just saved me $40. Thanks! I turned a small stainless steel dish over in Rudy's bowl and it has significantly slowed down his eating.
Now my paranoia is kicking in and I am thinking he is gulping in more air going after the food......

 

Stainless Slow Feed Bowl

Stainless steel and no teflon. Sounds like a winner!

I just ordered 3 of these in medium.

http://www.arcatapet.com/item.cfm?cat=14354

 

Re: Stainless Slow Feed Bowl

Durapet Slow Feed Dog Food Bowl - Medium (9.5" in diameter)- Stainless Steel.
Durapet Premium Bowls are made of high quality, heavy-duty stainless steel with a permanently molded rubber ring on the base that prevents the bowl from sliding across the floor and creating undesirable noise. The Slow Feed Bowl design features a dome in the center to make dogs eat around the obstruction, slowing their feeding. Eating more slowly improves your dog's digestion and nutrient absorption.

Dogs that are rapid eaters can tax their digestive systems, resulting in belching, vomiting, gassiness, and other signs of poor digestion. The Slow Feed bowl design will deter your dog from "wolfing down" meals and can improve your dog's ability to digest and assimilate nutrients from their food. These bowls can also help slow down too-rapid water drinking, which can help prevent vomiting in dogs that "over-drink" when excited or overheated, and after exercise.

Durapet stainless steel bowls are economical and long lasting, and they offer many advantages over plastic food dishes:
-More durable - can't be chewed up by your dog or puppy
-More hygienic - smooth surface is easy to clean and dishwasher safe - won't harbor bacteria like plastic can
-Safer for your dog - won't leach toxic plasticizers and colorants as some plastic dishes can
-Retains like-new finish (they're corrosion and rust resistant) and won't pit, flake or crack like plastic can
-More stability - rubber ring around base of bowl helps stabilize to prevent tipping, spilling and sliding on most surfaces

 

didnt see much in depth discussion of this procedu

i read through the whole bloat thread, but didnt see much in depth discussion of laparoscopic gastropexy. i read the following article initially because scott cox grew up in my small town:

http://www.michianafamilymagazine.com/Nov08Issue/KeepingYourDogSafeCox.html

i found the last comment interesting regarding happier dogs being less likely to bloat.

here is a more specific link to the procedure:

http://www.vetsurgerycentral.com/proph_gastropexy.htm

i understand it will not prevent bloat, but would prevent the stomach from twisting, which is the life threatening condition. unless there are some risks or side effects, i will seriously consider this. i will discuss this with my vet soon.

has anyone done the laparoscopic gastropexy, and if so, have anything negative to report about it?

 

Re: didnt see much in depth discussion of this procedu

When Eli is neutered and Aoibhe spayed I'm having both of them prophylactically gastropexied. Yes, it will add to the cost of the spay/neuter, however GDV surgery costs thousands and your pup can still die (as happened to my darling Shep).

 

Re: didnt see much in depth discussion of this procedu

ive already had my girl spayed. i wish i had known about this then. nevertheless, i may do this anyway.

 

Re: didnt see much in depth discussion of this procedu

At the time I had Davit spayed, I also had the gastropexy done. I had it done as a precaution since her dad had twisted.He was very lucky and survived. I talked at great length to our vet about it before I made the decision.One has to keep in mind that it won't prevent bloat but hopefully will stop a twist.I don't remember what the cost was, it was done when she was being spayed.I do remember that I didn't pass out when I paid the bill, and was surprised at how little was added to the bill for doing it.
Davit did not have any problems having it done.

 

Re: didnt see much in depth discussion of this procedu

I don't like creating openings (even laproscopic incisions) if I don't need to. Laproscopic surgery is not without its risks, so I would not, and did not have this surgery done on my male when he was neutered.

HOWEVER, when I have a female GSD (or other breed dog inclined toward bloat) and when I have her spayed, I absolutely would request gastroplexy. I've spoken with my vet about this. The surgeon will be in there anyhow. It takes very little extra time.

BUT, my vet says that few regular family vets really know how to do this procedure. And performed incorrectly, it could be useless, or could even be dangerous. She said that she wouldn't attempt it (nor would any of the other vets at my vet hospital) and would refer us to my favorite K9 surgeon. So, there would be extra expense involved.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. And I will have it done with my next female GSD. And if I have a male GSD that needs surgery in the stomach cavity, I'd "add this on." But I'm pretty cautious about scoping where a tiny nick on intestines or liver can kill a dog.

 

Re: Help needed with bloat

Kiefer,

I jsut started a thread on gastric torsion before I saw yours...

One thing I mentioned in my thread is that after doing the surgery, Maxx still had problems. Thousands of dollars and months of an uncomfortable pooch in a lot of pain and stress, they offered to do a $20 blood test to check to see if he had a certain bacteria that cause excess gas buildup. He tested positive for this strain and was put on a $14 bottle of antibiotics.

Cleared it right up and stopped the symptoms for about two years. Now I'm seeing it again...but have curbed it with even smaller meals, more times a day. Getting rid of the elevated food and water dishes. Avoiding stress/exercise before and after meals. Keeping Gas X on hand. Feeling his stomach throughout the day for rigidity.

I'm also waiting on a referral to an internist to try to get to the bottom of it.

As I told another poster, I will try and go through my notes and vet reports to see if I can find at least the name of the antibiotic if not the bacteria.

Best of luck to you guys and everyone else on here experiencing bloat issues.

 

Re: Help needed with bloat

I would love to know the name of the bacteria if you can find it.

 

Re: Help needed with bloat

I caved. I now have the Brake-fast bowl in metal. The company is now covering the bowl with powder coat enamel b/c of the teflon issue. I have one of these new ones.
I timed Rudy this morning. It took him 8 minutes to eat 1.5 cups of food.
I love this bowl.

 

Re: Help needed with bloat

M&J, where did you get one of the enamel coated metal bowls? I dislike teflon, largely b/c it scratches so easily exposing the aluminum underneath.