Bloat is the 2nd leading killer of Great Danes after Cancer. Get educated, stay informed & be able to recognize the warning signs.
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Bloat is one of those things I hate talking about but needs to be addressed nonetheless… Bloat takes the lives of many dogs every year and while we do know what it is, the cause is not crystal clear. With that being said, it is important that, as a Great Dane owner, you know exactly what it is, what increases your dogs’ risk of being affected by it, symptoms to look out for, and ways you can prevent it.
What is “bloat”?
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) is the technical term for this condition. Other common names for this condition that you may see are bloat, stomach torsion, or twisted stomach. GDV (or bloating of the stomach) occurs when the stomach swells with swallowed air or gas, although it is not uncommon to see fluid (blood and/or water) and food.
A dogs’ stomach that is filled with an accumulation of air, fluid, and/or foam in the stomach (‘gastric dilation’), can become bloated. It is important that you know bloat can occur with or without the presence of “volvulus” (twisting). As the stomach begins to swell, it may rotate up to 360º, cutting off circulation to its main attachments: the esophagus (where food enters the stomach), and the duodenum (the part of the small intestine that attaches to the bottom of the stomach).
Loss of circulation to any major organs or blood vessels by the bloated and/or twisted stomach can cause major damage and even death to the organs themselves. Not only will the organs and tissues become necrotic (dead), it can also lead to low blood pressure and shock. These combined effects can kill a dog in less than an hour.
Bloat is a medical emergency and should be addressed as soon as possible – time is of the essence if you suspect GDV!
Depending on the case, your dog might just have a bad case of trapped gas. But on the other hand, your Veterinarian might have to perform emergency surgery to untwist the stomach. These procedures can run you an upwards of $1200 – $7500. However, even with medial attention, bloat is still known to kill 30% of affected canines.
5 Ways You Can Prevent Bloat
As mentioned above, there is no known cause of bloat, but Dane parents may be able to decrease the risk of it occurring by following these easy tips:
#1 LIMIT EXERCISE AN HOUR BEFORE EATING AND FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR AFTERWARDS
Remember how your mother always told you that you couldn’t go swimming for at least 45-minutes after eating your breakfast? Well, the same applies here! A hot, panting dog has an increased amount of air entering the stomach and a dog with a full tummy increases the risk of torsion.
#2 SLOW DOWN YOUR DOGS EATING
Fast eaters are 5-times more likely to develop bloat than dogs who slow down to enjoy their meals. The increased amount of air being inhaled with dogs who scarf their meals down are more susceptible to this life-threatening condition.
I am a huge fan of slow-feed bowls, however the plastic ones get really gross, really fast so I prefer my stainless steel bowls. With that being said, I found these awesome bowl inserts for less than $15 on Amazon! They come in multiple different sizes and you can cut them down to fit your dogs’ bowl! They’re equipped with 30 octopus suction cups on the bottom and you can pop them in the dishwasher for easy cleaning! You can find them here!
#3 FEED YOUR DOG 4-5 SMALLER MEALS A DAY
Along with slowing down the pace of your dog at meal times, you may want to consider feeding them smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day! Additionally, make sure you keep an eye on the intake of water your dog is getting as well! A full belly is more likely to twist and bloat!
#4 MIX WET AND DRY FOOD
Dry kibble is dehydrated and can sometimes be hard for our pets to digest. Not only can inhaling the individual kibbles cause your dog to choke, it is also not as easy for your dog to digest. Whether you mix wet food in with your dogs’ kibble or just add a cup of warm water or bone broth to it, it will help slow your dog down, and it will make it easier to pass through their digestive system!
#5 CONSIDER CANINE GASTROPEXY
Canine Gastropexey is a surgical procedure that is performed on dogs prone to bloat or stomach torsion. Stomach torsion is the medical term that explains the flipping of the stomach. If the stomach were to become twisted, it can trap gasses, fluids, and food in the stomach. This cuts off the circulation to the stomach and the spleen which can cause shock and death.
When your dog goes in for surgery, the surgeon is going to tack the stomach to the side of the abdominal wall so it cannot twist or shift. While it does not prevent bloat entirely, it is known to be extremely effective in the recurrence of bloat.
This procedure can be conducted laparoscopically and is usually done in conjunction with a dogs’ spay / neuter.
Symptoms of Bloat
There are 20 Signs Your Great Dane May be Suffering from Bloat or Gastric Torsion, but here SEVEN of the most common symptoms to look out for and be aware of.
- enlarged abdomen
- non-productive vomiting or vomiting of foam
- rapid, shallow breathing
- pale nose, mouth & gums
- excessive drooling
- pacing
- general anxiousness
Summary
Bloat is a medical emergency as it can be life-threatening in as little as half-an-hour.
While there isn’t one specific cause of bloat, there are things that you can do as a pet-owner to prevent it from happening like slowing your dog down during feeding, limiting their exercise before and after meals, and consulting your Veterinarian about the Canine Gastropexy.
I ran a poll in a Great Dane group I am in and 6% of voters said they have lost at least one dog to bloat, while 89% said they have never had this experience with their Great Danes. While that is wonderful news in hindsight, I would be curious to know how many people in the 89% are educated and prepared for the worst-case-scenario.
Do yourself and other Great Dane parents a favor by sharing this blog post to help spread the word!
