Bloat is much more prevalent in large, deep-chested dogs. Some dogs including the Great Dane, St Bernard, Weimaraner, Irish Setter and German Shepherd are genetically predisposed to bloat. An awareness of the symptoms of this potentially fatal condition may help to save your dog’s life. If you suspect bloat, then prompt veterinary treatment is essential, no matter what time of the day or night.
What is bloat?
Bloat is also known as gastric dilatation. The stomach fills with air and puts pressure on the internal organs and diaphragm. This makes breathing difficult, compresses the large veins in the abdomen and prevents blood from returning to the heart. The stomach gas is similar to the composition of normal room air suggesting that the dilatation occurs as a result of swallowing air. All dogs, and people for that matter, swallow air, but normally we burp to release this air and it is not problematic. Scientists have not yet determined why dogs that develop bloat do not release this swallowed gas. Studies are ongoing.
Complications
Volvulus (or torsion as it is also known) may then occur. The air-filled stomach can easily rotate and block its blood supply. When this happens, the stomach begins to die and the entire vascular system is disrupted causing a very rapid deterioration in the dog’s condition.
Symptoms of Bloat
Swollen, distended abdomen
Vomiting and retching (usually unproductive with nothing brought up)
Restlessness
Shallow breathing
Abdominal pain (dogs may vocalise and adopt an unusual stance if they are uncomfortable)
Shock Symptoms (likely to be evident if volvulus/torsion occurs)
Pale mucous membranes
Weak pulse
Rapid heart rate
Collapse
Risk Factors:
Genetic predisposition – Large, deep-chested breeds are more likely to suffer from bloat.
Age – Dogs over the age of 7 have a greater risk of bloat.
Gender – Male dogs are twice as likely to suffer from bloat (neutering is not thought to have an effect on the risk).
Temperament – Stress, fear and anxiety may all increase the risk of bloat.
Frequency of Feeding – Dogs fed only once a day are more at risk than those fed small, more frequent meals.
Initial Treatment
Immediate veterinary intervention is essential. It is best to call the surgery and let them know you are on the way. A home-visit is not recommended as surgical intervention may well be necessary. Initial treatment is likely to include blood tests (to establish the degree of shock), intravenous fluids, antibiotics and analgesic drugs. The stomach is decompressed either by passing a stomach tube or inserting a large needle into the stomach and releasing the gas.
Radiographs, Cardiovascular Monitoring, Surgery
Once the gas had been released and the dog is stable, x-rays will be taken to establish whether torsion has occurred. Some dogs with torsion develop a bleeding disorder called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), in which small clots start to develop within the dog's blood vessels. Heparin (an anti-coagulant) may be given to prevent or treat this. The heart rate will require close monitoring, since some dogs with torsion may develop irregular heart rhythms. This is a common cause of death in dogs with bloat. In the event of torsion, surgical intervention will be necessary to assess the condition of the stomach and other intestinal organs. If parts of the stomach or spleen have been irreversibly damaged, they are removed. In such a case, the chances for recovery are very poor, and euthanasia may be necessary. All being well, the stomach is repositioned and sutured in such a way that will help to prevent it from twisting again. This surgery is called gastropexy, and if not performed, a very high percentage of dogs will develop the condition again. Gastropexy is not a guarantee that bloat will never occur again however. Following surgery, the dog will be hospitalised and carefully monitored for infection, heart abnormalities, DIC, stomach ulceration or perforation, and damage to the pancreas or liver. Special nutritional management will be necessary.
Helping to Prevent Bloat
Bloat has many possible causes, sometimes a combination of causes, and sometimes arises for reasons unknown even if all possible precautionary measures are taken and regardless of what has been fed. For this reason, whilst it is hoped that these suggestions may help to prevent your dog from suffering from this condition, the nature of bloat is such that feeding Arden Grange and following the advice below cannot be taken as a guarantee that your dog will never be affected.
Feed little and often – avoiding large meals may help to reduce gas build-up; choosing a high quality, energy dense feed such the Arden Grange recipes means that portions will be smaller. This is beneficial as the stomach will not be overloaded, and the gut given less work to do.
Slow down the rate of feeding – special dishes are now available (www.brake-fast.net); alternatively a large ball or Kong secured in the centre of the feed bowl may help if your dog is a fast eater.
Avoid strenuous exercise before and after a meal (some schools of thought now do advocate a light walk on the lead to help to dispel gas after a meal).
Take care not to soak feed for prolonged periods (especially in hot weather) as the grain ingredients may ferment; we advise soaking for no longer than 20 minutes (15 in warmer weather).
Make sure your dog’s pet food is properly stored in an air-tight container, and in a cool, dark place. Open bags that are exposed to heat and moisture may ferment. Mycotoxin growth is also a risk. Dogs have also been known to help themselves from open packs of food. Gorging is one of the greatest risks of bloat.
Avoid feeding fruit and vegetables in dogs with a tendency to bloat because these can be gas producing in some dogs.
Avoid adding large volumes of carbohydrate ingredients such as pasta, potato, rice or vegetables, especially if they are not fresh. These ingredients give the gut more work to do. A small amount of egg, fish or meat is the best addition to your dog’s diet if you want to treat him once or twice a week.
As well as ensuring that the main diet is highly digestible and free from potentially provocative ingredients, watch what treats and training rewards are given. Particularly avoid any containing artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives, wheat gluten and soya. Many dogs are allergic or intolerant to these ingredients and they can hinder the immune system and digestion in sensitive animals.
Pigs’ ears and rawhide chews are frequently enjoyed by many dogs but are derived from indigestible pork and beef products that can make some dogs gassy as well as hinder the digestion.
Feed complete pet foods lightly soaked or with added water to help to prevent the natural thirst that occurs after a dry meal. Large volumes of dry pet food can ferment and produce gas in the stomach, especially if a large volume of water has then been ingested on top of it. Good quality pet foods such as Arden Grange are designed to not swell up in the stomach, but less high quality brands that contain very high levels of cereals are best avoided. Adding some of the Arden Grange Partners canned food is another way of increasing the moisture content of a dry meal. Water must never be withheld, so these methods are a sensible way to help discourage heavy thirst after feeding.
Don’t introduce new foods that are unfamiliar to your dog suddenly. His digestion will need time to adapt to the new nutrient balance, ingredients and portion size.
Never dramatically increase the feeding volume. The stomach needs time to increase in size to cope with the new larger volume of food. If you want your dog to gain weight and condition, the safest way to increase the calorie intake is to increase the frequency of feeding rather than the meal sizes.
Choose a commercial complete feed with added prebiotics - all of the Arden Grange recipes contain the prebiotics FOS and MOS.
Make sure your chosen diet is suiting your dog’s digestion. Signs that a certain food may not be optimal include itchiness (especially feet and ears), loose stools and/or wind.
There is a website which claims that any dog food diet with fat in the first 4 ingredients can increase the risk of bloat. Whilst pet food ingredients are listed in order of inclusion; the energy density of the food, the proportion of fat in relation to the other nutrients, the amount of fat ingested in grams per day and the quality and digestibility of the fat source are far more critical! The site itself advocates diets with high levels of meat, so they are contradicting themselves because it's virtually impossible to create a commercial complete pet food with low fat and high protein if high levels of meat are included. On a positive note, this site has given Arden Grange the best reviews of any of the British products listed, and we are the only UK manufacturer to achieve a 4 star rating for some of our products.
The pure filtered chicken oil and salmon oil used in the Arden Grange recipes is widely considered the best quality fat source for dogs (and cats), who are able to digest this far better than lower quality blends, beef tallow and fats/oils derived from vegetables.
As breeders of German Shepherds, we are very aware of the risks as there is a higher incidence of bloat in this breed. We are always happy to offer advice concerning the selection of the right recipe for your individual dog regardless of breed.
