Bloat in dogs: Symptoms, causes & what you should do

Aug 17, 2021 | Health & Wellness

Have you ever heard of gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs? How about bloat, as it’s more commonly known? If you’re a dog owner and this doesn’t ring a bell (or really, even if it does), please keep reading. GDV, or bloat, is a relatively common but highly deadly condition that can affect your pup.

After recently seeing one of our clients lose their beloved pet, we’d like to talk a bit about bloat, its symptoms and causes, and what you should do if you suspect your dog is affected. We prefer sharing fun recipes and pet care guides, but unfortunately, sometimes it’s important to talk about the not-so-fun aspects of being pet owners!

Please note: All scientific sources for this article can be found at the bottom, if you’re interested in further reading.

What is bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus)?

Bloat is scientifically known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (or GDV). In order to understand what this actually means, and what happens to an affected dog, let’s split the term:

  • Gastric dilatation: This refers to bloating of the stomach. As we’ve all experienced after a big meal, stomach bloat is uncomfortable, but not always dangerous in itself. It’s the same for dogs, who might suffer from gastric dilatation due to overeating or a build-up of gas or fluid.
  • Volvulus: This refers to twisting of the stomach. If this happens, the level of emergency basically goes from “call your vet” to “drive to the vet clinic immediately, you can let them know while you’re on your way”. This is due to the fact that volvulus can cut off the blood supply to other major organs, which can quickly cause a build-up of toxins and irreversible shock.

After having seen how quickly bloat and volvulus can become deadly (mortality is about 100% without treatment!), we really can’t stress enough how severe this is. Every dog owner should be aware of the existence of GDV, as well as the symptoms and risk factors.



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Did you know? Bloat can of course occur without the stomach twisting. Scientists are not entirely sure whether it’s bloat that causes volvulus, or if it’s the stomach that twists first, which then causes extreme bloat due to blockages (as the dog will be left unable to burp or vomit). Does it matter for us dog owners which comes first? Not really. Whatever order the issues occur in, this is about as urgent as it gets.

Bloat in dogs: Symptoms

What does bloat in dogs look like? In an ideal situation, we wish for all dog owners to know what to look out for. Every minute counts, especially if the stomach does end up twisting: studies report an average mortality rate anywhere between 15-33% for dogs admitted to veterinary hospitals with GDV. If your dog shows symptoms, it’s always an emergency. The sooner you can get your pup to a vet, the higher the chances they’ll pull through.

So what should you be mindful of? Let’s have a look at the most common symptoms of bloat in dogs.

  • Abnormally distended stomach: your dog might show a huge belly that even produces drum-like sounds if you gently tap it. Be aware that touching the belly can be painful.
  • Hypersalivation: drooling a lot.
  • Retching: in order to try to find relief, your dog will try to vomit, but usually be unable to.
  • Pacing: your dog might appear restless and unable to get comfortable.
  • Panting.

If your dog turns lethargic and shows pale gums, this might mean shock has set in, something that can happen in as little as an hour. The further along, the smaller the chances of survival, so don’t wait and see.

Take your pup to the vet immediately, as it will need to be stabilized and the stomach decompressed. Then, surgery is required in order to place the stomach back into its normal position. If you wait too long, necrosis may occur, basically rendering the stomach unusable in extreme cases.

Did you know? Bloat and stomach twisting are not just a danger to dogs. Bloat, for example, is a common cause of colic in horses. Humans can suffer from volvulus, when part of the large or small intestine loops around itself, causing a blockage. Scientists have also reported gastric dilatation-volvulus in a very limited number of cats, big cats, polar bears, brown bears, otters and even an unlucky red panda.

Bloat in dogs: Symptoms, causes & what you should do

Bloat in dogs: Causes

There are some risk factors for bloat in dogs that you should keep an eye out for. The most prominent one is breed: large dogs with deep chests are especially vulnerable. Examples of these breeds are Great Danes, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, German shepherds and the likes.

If your dog belongs to one of these breeds, don’t start panicking just yet. Researchers have also identified other risk factors for bloat, many of which are luckily preventable. All dog owners, especially those with large breeds or a senior dog, should keep the following risk factors in mind:

  • Gender: bloat is more common in male dogs.
  • Eating too quickly, especially if it’s from an elevated bowl.
  • Some studies suggest that the number of meals a day played a part.
  • Other studies didn’t find the above, but did find that bigger meals increased the risk.
  • Being underweight.
  • Being fearful, likely due to the constantly elevated stress levels.
  • Speaking of the above, stress in general (like from travel, owners being away, excessive exercise, etc.) can increase the risk.
  • Overly intense exercise after a meal.
  • Eating fine particles (like fine kibble) rather than larger ones.
  • Speaking of kibble, it has been mentioned as a potential culprit.
  • Frequency of defecation appears to play a role. Basically, pooping more often seemed to help.
  • Dogs kept exclusively outside had higher incidence rates.

Even factors like the weather have been looked at with suspicion, although there is some uncertainty there. Some studies reported more cases of bloat during summertime, while others pointed the finger at the winter months.

In addition to all this, there also seem to be some genetic factors. Your dog might be more prone if one of its direct family members, like a parent, suffered GDV. Unfortunately, that’s not something you can do much about, so let’s focus on the things you can influence!

Did you know? Some owners of large-breed dogs that are susceptible to GDV opt to have a gastropexy performed on their pup when it’s still young. This is a surgery that makes the stomach unable to twist, meaning gastric dilatation-volvulus can’t occur. You could speak to your vet about this if your dog belongs to one of the at-risk breeds.

Two grey Great Danes on a lawn chair.

Great Danes are a typical example of a dog breed at risk of GDV.

Bloat in dogs prevention

Based on the above, you’ll notice that there are definitely some things you can do to reduce the chances of your dog experiencing bloat, even if it falls into one of the high-risk categories.

Consider implementing the following to keep your furry friend’s tummy safe:

  • Use a slow feeder bowl, especially if your dog is among those that have trouble pacing themselves at feeding time.
  • Feed smaller meals more frequently rather than one big meal a day.
  • Feed larger kibble and mix it up with plenty of non-kibble foods.
  • Walk your dog often so it has the opportunity to poop and keep its digestive system going.
  • Don’t let your dog run too wild right after a meal.
  • Train your dog to be flexible when it comes to new situations. If it’s used to changes in environment and people, that should hopefully keep its stress levels down if you do need to leave it with a pet sitter, long car rides and the like!

And lastly, of course, it’s just very important that you know the symptoms. That way, if bloat does occur, you’ll hopefully be able to intervene before things become life-threatening. Always have the number for an emergency vet ready.

Bloat in dogs

 

Conclusion

As you’ve hopefully concluded, bloat, or gastric dilatation-volvulus, is a very serious condition in dogs. There are things you can do to lower the chances of it happening to your pup, but unfortunately part of it is breed-related and genetic.

All in all, the only thing you can do is to be prepared. Memorize the symptoms of bloat in dogs and get in touch with a veterinarian if you notice them in your own pet! Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. A vet won’t mind being contacted for something that turns out to be harmless.

Sources

Amstrup, S. C., & Nielsen, C. A. (1989). Acute gastric dilatation and volvulus in a free-living polar bear. Journal of wildlife diseases, 25(4), 601-604.

Anderson, K. M., Garner, M. M., Clyde, V. L., Volle, K. A., Ialeggio, D. M., Reid, S. W., … & Wolf, K. N. (2018). Gastric dilatation and enterotoxemia in ten captive felids. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 253(7), 918-925.

Brockman, D. J., Washabau, R. J., & Drobatz, K. J. (1995). Canine gastric dilatation/volvulus syndrome in a veterinary critical care unit: 295 cases (1986-1992). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 207(4), 460-464.

O Cummings, C., Pirie, G., Sasaki, E., & Wakamatsu, N. Gastric dilatation‐volvulus in two North American river otters (Lontra canadensis). Veterinary Record Case Reports, e96.

Glickman, L. T., Glickman, N. W., Perez, C. M., Schellenberg, D. B., & Lantz, G. C. (1994). Analysis of risk factors for gastric dilatation and dilatation-volvulus in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 204(9), 1465-1471.

Marinković, D., Ozvegy, J., Aničić, M., Vučićević, I., Nešić, S., & Kukolj, V. (2016). Gastric dilatation and volvulus in brown bear (Ursus arctos). Acta Veterinaria-Beograd, 66(3), 422-428.

Monnet, E. (2003). Gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome in dogs. Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 33(5), 987-1005.

Schlanser, J. R., Agnew, D., Paperd, D. W., & Harrison, T. M. (2014). Gastric dilitation-volvulus in a red panda (Ailurus fulgens). Journal of Veterinary Medical Science, 76(6), 901-903.

Uhrikova, I., Machackova, K., Rauserova-Lexmaulova, L., Janova, E., & Doubek, J. (2015). Risk factors for gastric dilatation and volvulus in central Europe: an internet survey. Veterinarni Medicina, 60(10).

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