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Stomach
Bloat in Dogs Bloat is a stomach condition of dogs that is potentially fatal. Bloat (gastric dilatation-volvulus or GDV) refers to the stomach becoming very dilated with food, water and air. The most serious form of bloat occurs when the stomach also twists on its long axis after it is dilated. This is an emergency situation for the dog. If not treated early on, especially when the stomach twists, the dog can die in a matter of hours. The dog's stomach normally lies in the front part of the abdomen protected by the rib cage. The esophagus empties into the stomach which then empties into the small intestines. Bloat usually occurs when the stomach is full after a meal. The stomach enlarges and becomes more rounded and with exercise or movement it can then rotate blocking off its entrance and exit. Most episodes of bloat occur after a large meal and exercise but this is not always the case. The stomach can continue to enlarge and it takes over most of the room in the abdomen. It becomes so large that it starts to cut off the blood vessels in the abdomen that return blood to the heart. The spleen which sits right next to the stomach can also become enlarged due to the twisting and blood vessel congestion. The dog goes into circulatory failure and dies if not treated. Dogs with bloat typically will show signs of discomfort and stomach distress. They may vomit or try to by retching. Sometimes this retching, or nonproductive vomit, looks like a cough or gag. The vomiting is nonproductive especially after the stomach has twisted. The dog will seem uncomfortable and it will get up and down, pace, and may roll around trying to relieve the pressure and discomfort in its stomach. As they worsen, you may be able to notice that their abdomen looks bloated as they will have a very full look to their midsection. It is prudent to note that not all dogs will show the classic bloated look. In deep chested breeds of dogs and ones that have a very long rib cage, the stomach may be well hidden from view. If your dog shows signs typical of bloat, you should seek emergency veterinary assistance. As mentioned previously, waiting until the morning may be too long. Veterinary treatment involves decompressing the stomach with needles, a stomach tube through the mouth, and/or surgery. The dog usually needs to be treated for shock also with intravenous fluids and injections. If the stomach can be decompressed and returned to its normal position with medical treatment then surgery is not necessary on an emergency basis. Even if the emergency situation is treated successfully without surgery, most dogs will need surgery at some point to prevent a recurrence of bloat. At surgery the stomach is returned to its normal position if it is not already there and it is evaluated for any loss of blood supply and resultant damage to the stomach through this loss of blood. The spleen is evaluated much the same way because of potential blood supply disruption. There is a possibility that part of the stomach may need to be removed as well as the spleen. Usually the cases that were further advanced before treatment will have a much higher chance of needing emergency surgery and removal of damaged tissues. Once everything is evaluated, the stomach is permanently attached to the abdominal wall. There are different techniques available to perform this, but they all ensure that the stomach can not twist again, even if if becomes dilated. Dogs that have experienced bloat need to be monitored closely for several days after their episode. Their hearts need to be checked frequently due to the possibility of abnormal rhythms that can develop after bloat and they need to be fed and watered with caution for several days to gradually ease the gastrointestinal system back to normal. Bloat is a serious condition and one that any owner of a large breed dog should be aware of in order to seek treatment if needed. As mentioned previously, the earlier the treatment the better the chances that your dog's bloat will be treated successfully and with fewer complications.
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