Bloat (Gastric Dilation and Volvulus) in Dogs
Bloat is a serious and life-threatening disorder that occurs when a dog’s stomach becomes bloated because it’s full of food, foreign material, excess gas, fluid, or foam.
It can happen very quickly and should be addressed as an emergency. Bloating is more common in large breeds that have a genetically inherited weakness in the ligament that holds the stomach in the correct position. It is often brought on by a dog gorging on large quantities of food.
Sometimes bloat can be complicated by a deadly condition called gastric dilation/volvulus (GDV) or “stomach twisting.”
In bloat, gas stretches the stomach many times its normal size, causing serious stomach pain.
The distended stomach tends to rotate, thus twisting off not only its own blood supply but the only exit routes for the gas inside.
The spleen, which normally nestles along the greater curvature of the stomach, can twist as well, cutting off its circulation.
The distended stomach becomes so large that it compresses the large veins that run along the back returning the body's blood to the heart, creating circulatory shock.
This is extremely painful and rapidly life-threatening. A dog with a bloated, twisted stomach (more scientifically called gastric dilatation and volvulus, will die in pain in a matter of hours unless drastic steps are taken.
Risk
If your dog is older or has a family history of bloat, he may be at greater risk for this disorder.
Larger-breed dogs, those that eat dry food, and ones that perform vigorous exercise are also at risk. Dogs with “barrel chests,” including the Afghan hound, basset hound, boxer, chow, collie, golden retriever, Great Dane, Irish setter, Labrador retriever, standard poodle, St. Bernard, and Weimaraner—as well as dogs of mixed breed that include one or more of these breeds—are also at risk for bloat or GDV. Make sure to keep your dog’s food under wraps to prevent accidental gorging.
Signs
If your dog has bloat or GDV, you may notice that she suddenly has a distended, swollen belly.
Other signs of bloat and GDV include:
Retching and nonproductive vomiting (i.e., failure to bring up any material other than small amounts of fluid or foam)
Restlessness
Depression
Sudden weakness
Collapse
Pale mucous membranes
Cool extremities
The classic presentation of bloat is a sudden onset of abdominal distention, distress, anxiety and pain (panting, guarding the belly, anguished facial expression), and multiple attempts at vomiting that are frequently unproductive.
Not every dog will have a classic appearance and some dogs will not have obvious abdominal distention because of their body configuration. If you are not sure, it is best to err on the side of caution and rush your dog to the veterinarian immediately.
Emergency Treatment
Decompression
A stomach tube and stomach pump are generally used for this but sometime surgery is needed to achieve stomach decompression.
IV Fluids Must Be Given To Reverse The Shock
Intravenous catheters are placed and life-giving fluid solutions are rushed in to replace the blood that cannot get past the bloated stomach to return to the heart.
Heart Rhythm Is Assessed And Stabilized
A special and very dangerous rhythm problem, called a premature ventricular contraction, or "PVC," is associated with bloat and it must be ruled out.
Since this rhythm problem may not be evident until even the next day, continual EKG monitoring may be necessary. Disturbed heart rhythm at the beginning of treatment is associated with a 38% mortality rate.
Surgery
All bloated dogs, once stable, should have surgery. Without surgery, the damage done inside cannot be assessed or repaired, plus bloat may recur at any point, even within the next few hours.
Surgery involves untwisting the stomach ( it usually rotates clockwise when standing behind your dog.)
It is then sutured to the side of the abdomen ( gastropexy).
In general about 60-70% of dogs that have surgery survive- obviously this is based on how soon the dog makes it to the vet, severity of soft tissue injury, secondary damage due to shock, and heart arrhythmias.
Prevention
Smaller, more frequent meals Eliminating kibble to have less gas production Not feeding gas producing foods ( ie broccoli etc..) Delay exercise after eating Elevating food bowls may help, but studies are contradictory.. it makes sense to make it easier for your dog to eat, and consume less air Digestive enzymes may help decrease gas production Probiotics: beneficial bacteria can aid in digestion, lowering gas Prophylactic surgery.. consider this new recommendation:
The best method of preventing GDV and its complications is to educate pet owners about prophylactic gastropexy in predisposed large-, giant-, or deep-chested breeds. Prophylactic gastropexy can be performed as an elective procedure at the same time as a spay or neuter.
Benitez ME, Schmiedt CW, Radlinsky MG, Cornell KK. Efficacy of incisional gastropexy for prevention of GDV in dogs. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2013;49(3):185-189.
doi:10.5326/JAAHA-MS-5849
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