PetMeds^® Blog

One of the more serious emergencies that can sometimes occur suddenly in our dogs and quickly become life threatening is the condition commonly known as dog bloat or medically known as Gastric Dilatation & Volvulus Syndrome (GDV). In this condition, a dog’s stomach can rapidly distend with gas and often acutely twist, cutting off blood supply to both the stomach and adjacent spleen. Circulatory and toxic shock can quickly develop leading to low blood pressure and bacterial sepsis or infection spreading into the blood stream which can potentially kill the dog.

Due to the effects on multiple organ systems, various life threatening heart arrhythmias can also develop, and by itself such arrhythmias add to the severity and potential life threatening nature of this condition. This condition is most commonly seen in barrel or deep-chested dogs such as Dobermans, Great Danes, Irish Setters, Irish Wolfhounds, German Shepherds, and Labrador Retrievers, but any large breed dog can potentially be affected.

Symptoms can manifest acutely and can range from abdominal distention and sudden collapse to prominent acute symptoms such as pacing and restlessness, panting, drooling, and nonproductive retching and/or vomiting. Occasionally the symptoms can occur at a lower chronic level and go on for hours or several days before progressing to the acute presentation. Some animals can die suddenly without any apparent warning. If you suspect your dog may have suddenly come down with this condition, treatment must include immediate transfer to a 24 hour critical care veterinary emergency center for X-rays to confirm the diagnosis, as well as blood work and the placement of two IV catheters with rapid IV fluid, and shock therapy with sometimes quick acting corticosteroids, IV antibiotics and if necessary anti arrhythmic drugs.

A stomach tube is quickly passed in an attempt to relieve the trapped gas in the stomach. If this is not possible, then many veterinarians will use a large gauge catheter passed right through the body wall into the stomach to relieve the pressure of the trapped gas until surgery can be performed to untwist the stomach, and tack it to the body wall, so that twisting will not recur. While quick recognition and immediate emergency care increase chance at survival, some dogs will die even during heroic treatment efforts, or in the post operative period especially the first few critical days. The condition is so severe that many veterinarians when performing routine spays on at risk young dogs will perform the stomach tacking procedure to hopefully prevent the likelihood of this condition occurring in the future.

While there are many potential and controversial risk factors involved with increasing the risks to developing this most likely genetic condition, there are some hopefully preventative measures that animal guardians can take to hopefully lessen the likelihood of bloat occurring. In my opinion, feeding dogs more evolutionarily species appropriate diets, especially low carb, higher protein and fat diets, preferably a proper balanced and home made diet can help. Some excellent natural diets such as Be Well, Azmira, or Wysong can be excellent alternatives. Preventing large breed dogs from eating or drinking too rapidly as well as the importance of not allowing exercise immediately after consuming meals also may help. I also find that excellent supplements that promote healthy digestion, such as NatureVet Probiotics and Enzymes or adding Prozyme or Missing Link for Dogs to meals offer animal guardians excellent choices to try and optimize stomach and intestinal function, and hopefully lessen the likelihood of this life threatening emergency from occurring.

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