Bloat

Bloat

What is it?

Bloating is a condition typically of large and giant breeds of dog (such as Axle the Great Dane pictured here) where the stomach dilates and/or twists. Normally, the stomach sits high in the abdomen and holds a small amount of gas, some mucous, and food being digested. In the bloated stomach, gas and/or food stretches the stomach to many times its normal size, and causes severe abdominal pain. For reasons that are not fully understood, this distended stomach has a tendency to rotate, cutting off its own blood supply, as well as exit routes for the gas inside. Along with being extremely painful, this condition is also rapidly life threatening.

Signs to look for:

• Drooling of saliva
• Frequent retching and attempts to vomit (sometimes they may regurgitate a pool of foamy saliva)
• Anxiousness, restlessness, pacing
• Depression and shock

If any of these signs are seen - please take your dog to your nearest veterinarian IMMEDIATELY!!

With rapid treatment and surgery, this condition can be managed. Without treatment, it is usually fatal.