Gastric Torsion/Bloat
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| I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I do appreciate the tip on this, but I know that even understanding the disease is no comfort in these times of loss. Thank you for sharing with all of us.
S Fair wrote: We recently lost our OES to gastric torsion/bloat while he was being boarded in a kennel on a weekend. Although the kennel denies any wrongdoing and denies noticing any symptoms, there are often signs. These signs include, trying to vomit without success, cowering in a corner, hard/painful/distended stomach. I am writing this because after speaking with several vets, I have learned that this can occur in sheepdogs or other dogs with deep chests. But, most importantly, I was told that there is a preventative procedure that can be done that involves "stapling" the stomach in place so that it cannot rotate. I was told that many owners of show (sheep) dogs have this done at a young age. Our OES was only 9 1/2 yrs old and I wish we had known that he was prone to this condition so that we could have had the procedure done. If this email prevents even one sheepdog from suffering this fate, then I am glad. Please talk to your vet about this condition and post any other advice that you hear of that might prevent this. |
| I don't know much about bloat, but I've always heard that smaller meals given two or even three times a day rather than one big feeding and no strenuous exercise immediately after feedling are two ways to help prevent bloat.
Thank you for sharing. June |
| My heart goes out to you about losing your baby. We've had sheepdogs for over 20 years, and a male that we had did get bloat. We were planning on going to the movies that night, when he came in - completely distended, foaming at the mouth and trying to wretch. We immediately took him to the emergency hospital where they performed surgery to correct his stomach and stapling it. If we had gone out before that, he definitely would have died. We were quite lucky that he survived, because even if you can get them to the vet in time, they don't always survive, plus there is the risk of related damage to their hearts. So, the breed (being large chested) is prone to it. We now feed our dog twice a day, and keep her from strenuous activity immediately following meals. But, it must be horrible for you to learn this after boarding your dog, and not being there. I am so sorry to hear of this. |
| Our OES is currently in an emergency clinic for bloat, they have relieved the pressure and are waiting to see if her stomach corrects itself, or if she will require the stapling procedure...
I am wondering, once this is done - what are the chances for it to happen again? Will she be more prone to this having it happened once already (she is only 5yrs old and we have always been careful to feed small meals without water at the same time and avoid exercise around meal time)? Any information you can share would be VERY helpful! Thank you. |
| Hi,
I just lost my Max (Jan, 14) from Bloat. He was 11 yrs. old and was never sick, always full of energy. When I came home from work I found him in the back yard with a totally bloated stomach. He was unable to move, it broke my heart so see him this way. We rushed him to the emergency clinic where he died within hours. I feel so devestated, why could he not be saved? I had never even heard of this "BLOAT" before this terrible experience. I miss him terribly and feel that maybe there was something I should have done for him. I am so sorry for you loss! |
| This does make you stop and think.
We used to let Abbi finish he food at night in her kennel, but never again. Having a preventative stapling done sounds dangerous. Operations in the stomach area are never routine, even for humans. But I guess if the vet is going to neuter a bitch and you wanted to have the stomach stapled? Still I have heard of stapling not working either. One of my friends dog died after it had an emergency stomach stapling. And it wasn't that big of a dog. It was a medium sized dog (not pure bred). My vet said it was best to just feed your dog half of his meal in the morning and half in the evening while you are watching him. No large quantities of water with the food and no sudden exercise right before or after they eat. He said walking the dog should be fine. On a list I read that if the dog doesn't eat his food in 7 minutes, take it away until the next formal feeding time. I guess this is to insure that you are around in case anything occures? It is also a training technique I have been told. I guess, since this was posted almost 2 years ago that the poster has since find some solace and perhaps a new OES? Maybe I will go check and see if any new posts are around. Nope didn't find any more posts. Veronica, I am so sorry you lost MAX. Please do not feel like it was your fault. We try to do our best for our families and our pets, but sometimes things just happen. I am a very careful person and I have came home from shopping and found Abbi in trouble. I always say, why didn't I check, why didn't I do this or that. But we are only human. We cannot do everything all the time. And I am not sure that stapling doesn't lead to adhesions and other complications later in a dog's life. Please feel free to go to the RAINBOW RIDGE topic. Everyone checks this topic because we all have lost a loved one and everyone has a great amount of sympathy for those who have lost. It is hard. Once you quit blaming yourself or the fact you had no idea, maybe you could have some type of memorial to you dog MAX. Post a photo page, make a scrap book, plant a tree. He will always be around in your thoughts and memories. |
| I, too, lost my Maggie almost 20 years ago to bloat. She was a large (100 lbs.) female and when I woke in the morning she was HUGE in the stomach area and walking all hunched up. It was 7 am and I was trying to get my daughter ready for school. Maggie went down in our basement to find a dark corner (to die?) and I forced her back up the stairs after which she collapsed and died shortly afterward. It was a horrible, traumatic experience for us all. I have no idea how long she was bloating during the night. I do know that it is reportedly very painful and it breaks my heart that any of our furkids must suffer this fate. I now feed my pups in two smaller feedings and watch their intake of cold liquids. Also, the exercise particularly in warm weather. I don't know about preventative surgery but it's good to know there is something available. Please accept our condolences at your loss. Best wishes.
Sandy, Oliver, Winston and Bentley with Carrie, Maggie and Sassy at the bridge |
I work for a vet and we lost our blood doner dog Annie to bloat she was not a sheepdog but we had all loved her so much.All of us met at the hospital around 9 at night (all the techs who loved annie and 3 of our vets)The vets worked hard to save her but she did not make it through the night.I was so heart broken. Annie was a member of our staff and family I understand your grief and my heart goes out to all of you Annie's ashes are buried in the hospital flower bed with a head stone to remember her. Someday soon I hope to have a picture of her mounted in our hospital loby she helped save many dogs by donating her blood.She never even moved when we had to stick her it was like she knew she was helping. Thanks for letting me share this I didn't realize how much I needed to. I sit her with the tears rolling down my cheeks for all of us.This is a horible thing to have happen to some one you love.  |
| I guess I should also tell you that Annie was only a 60 # mix breed.I think raising food bowls helps prevent bloat as well as the smaller meals.Thanks again for letting me share my storie. |
| I have questions about bloat so I thought I would ask you guys since I won't be seeing my vet for another month.
My last OES I would always run him with the ball and then only feed him once at night pretty soon after this playtime. Upon reading everyone's emails about this topic I am now paranoid so hopefully maybe I can gain some more info. I feed Frank 2x's a day. He gets really rammy once he eats he immediately wants to race around the house & play. Do I need to worry about bloat now that he is a pup, or can I just let him be playful. I don't want to squash this time with him as he really wants to romp. Also I don't know what the medical definition is of "strenuous" exercise. Does that mean several times chasing after a ball down the yard or going for a jog? Also, how long do you think I need to wait for him to digest a bit? 1/2 hour? I won't carry through the playtime "after eating" behavior into adulthood. He just has so much energy now and I just want him to get it out as much as possible so maybe he will sleep later. 
He does get hiccups a lot after drinking and the vet told me not to worry about this as when they are pups this is pretty common. I believe she said something about the diaphram being really close to the stomach at this age, but don't quote me on that. |
| Bloat is very common in dogs with deep chests - such as the OES, Great Dane, Greyhound, etc. It is often brought on by stressful situations - like being kenneled. I don't think it is common to do the stapling procedure unless they've had a previous problem. They do have a greater risk of repeat episodes if they have had it before (I think!).
Fast eating, drinking excessive amounts of water following eating, vigorous exercise after eating/drinking, and stress contribute to the risk of bloating. Smaller more frequent meals, slow down the eating process (if that's an issue), not eating right before something stressfult, etc. decrease the risk. It's scary! Immediate treatment can sometimes increase the chance of survival. |
| After doing some research I believe this is what I lost my dog to yesterday morning. I'm heartbroken to say the least and even more so thinking he could have been saved. He paced alot and had a few episodes of unsuccessful vomiting that was tinged with a bit of blood. He had gotten in to the neighbors garbage and probably ate way too fast...vomited about 6 times successfully and then was lethargic the rest of the day occasionally pacing....he died within 24 hours. Does this sound like bloat? |
It could of been Bloat here is a link on the subject explaining the symptoms of a dog Bloating. It could of maybe also of been a blockage also as you don't know what he ate out of the neighbours garbage. I am so sorry for your loss 
http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm |
| We lost a 12 year old boy to bloat a few years ago. Devastating.
I have friends with Malamutes and (male) Goldens who routinely have the stomach stapling done - it doesn't prevent bloat, rather it (normally) prevents torsion, which is typically what kills them. I don't know anyone in OES who does this though. I suppose if bloat becomes more common in the breed that may be a consideration. I routinely feed 2 times a day instead of one but have heard mixed reviews on feeding elevated. But smaller meals, most definitely. That didn't save Calvin, but I don't know that anything could have at that point. Some times bad things just happen.
Kristine |
| I'm so very sorry regarding the lost of your beloved dogs.
Just yesterday morning I finished reading the second Marley book. Marley and Me is on the NY best sellers list and this was the second book written by the author of his Golden Lab. In the book the same scenerio happens to Marley, He was boarded and apon his family's written he becomes ill and passes from Bloat. The vet said barking dogs, and thus inhaling food quickly had something to do with it and once it happens chances would be that it would reoccur again. In the book it mentions the vet states there is only a 1% chance the stomach can be "uncontorted". How much of this is true as it's told second hand I'm not sure but it is almost the same scenerio as to what happened with your boy. I do know from reading this forum that dogs should not have rough play or a lot of exhersion after eating. I'm deeply sorry you had to go through this pain and grief. May he be playing at the bridge. Marianne |
| Bloat unfortunately is a very common occurance in any deepchested dogs. Usually it is more likely in dogs like dobies, weimaraners, boxers, etc.. but it can really happen to any dog. We actually did a preventative stomach stapeling on a bernese on Friday at my clinic. She was being spayed at the time and having her hips xray as well so it was a good time to do it. The owners did the surgery because of the type of breed it was. If your dog has had bloat and needed the surgery, you can opt to have them tack the stomach to prevent it from happening. If the stomach is tacked, this will only really prevent the torsion part of it happening. You can bloat all on your own without the torsion portion happening and then you need to decompress the patient. Bloat will still be able to occur again even if it is tacked and if they have been decompressed. The vets I work with say, for those more prone to bloat/torsion, to feed in 2-3 portions their meal, no heavy or sometimes even any excersize right before or for several hours after meals and watch the pet when they have just drank a lot of water. I am so sorry for those who have lost their beloved pets to bloat. It truely is a sad happening and not a nice way for them to spend their last minutes/hours.
I do believe though that the kennel that was talked about in the beginning of this thread can be held liable for not doing enough checks on their boarders but it is a tricky thing to go after them for. |
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