Bloat
Bloat in dogs is a little different than with people and a lot more dangerous. If your vet says that your dog has bloat, it means that your dog's stomach is full of excess gas, fluid, or foam.
It can be caused by a number of things. Most often dogs get bloat because they swallow excess air.
It happens very rapidly and can be fatal in 30 minutes, when it's severe. If your dog's abdomen is distended and/or you notice nausea, vomiting, attempts to vomit, sudden weakness, or collapse, contact your vet immediately.
Often, when the stomach becomes enlarged (or dilated), it then twists somewhere between a quarter and a full turn. When an animal has gastric dilation and a twist in the stomach, the openings at the top and the bottom of the stomach twist, blocking all materials from entering or leaving. As the digestive process continues, the stomach will swell more and more. Twisted stomach is most often found in larger dogs that have eaten a large or abnormal meal.
The most obvious sign of bloat is a distended, swollen-looking belly, especially one that appears quickly.
Particularly with twisted stomachs, dogs will try to vomit or belch but aren't able to; they will retch and seem restless.
They may also become short of breath as their abdomens become compressed.
In severe cases, the pressure the stomach places on blood vessels can cause animals to collapse and can lead to rapid death.
If the stomach hasn't become twisted, sometimes the vet can simply decompress the stomach and no other treatment is necessary.
If the stomach has twisted, the dog will most likely need to be treated surgically. During surgery, a vet can untwist and reposition the stomach. Then the tissue of the stomach is examined to make sure it wasn't injured or deprived of blood when it swelled.
Because the causes of bloat aren't entirely clear, there is no known way to prevent it absolutely. It is thought that large breed dogs with broad, deep barrel chests are more likely to develop bloat than other breeds, but this is by no means proven.
Try to limit your dog's exercise immediately after meals. When animals run with a full stomach, the stomach swings like a pendulum and there is a greater chance of it twisting.
A good rule of thumb is don't feed for two hours before an energetic session, such as agility, and leave a sensible amount of time before feeding after activity as well.
