Staff of BAH Blog

Blog Series: Medical Emergencies for Pets

PT 4: Bloat or Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV)

Euraysia Duhaime: BA, Veterinary Assistant BAH

“Be honest and be kind.”

Pets are prone to a wide variety of illnesses, and it can be difficult to sort out which symptoms are emergencies. I’ve written a series of short blogs to help you determine when your fur-baby needs immediate medical attention. Today, we’re discussing bloat or gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV).

BLOAT, BLOAT, BLOAT! I repeated that three times to stress it’s severity! This is an emergency situation and is common in deep chested breed dogs such as Mastiff breeds, Retrievers and Shepherds. Bloat is when the stomach becomes twisted and is the most serious non-traumatic emergency in dogs. Bloat happens when a dog’s stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid, making it expand. This can include your pet eating too quickly, playing or swimming after a large meal or eating too large a portion. The stomach then puts pressure on other organs and can cause dangerous problems, including: decreased blood flow to their heart and stomach lining, a tear in the wall of their stomach, or difficulty breathing.

Symptoms of GDV include:

  • agitation - panting, whining or pacing;

  • head hanging, stiff movements;

  • shaking or shivering;

  • burping, drooling;

  • trying (unsuccessfully) to vomit;

  • bloated abdomen;

  • signs of abdominal discomfort or pain;

  • shock;

  • collapse/loss of consciousness.

Collapsed Dog

Published under CC BY by unknown author.

You can avoid Bloating in dogs by: feeding your pet small meals more than once per day to avoid large meals; not feeding your dog before participating in vigorous activity; making sure your pet has had a chance to cool down after extreme excitement or exercise; encouraging slow consumption of meals.

 

If you have any questions, or would like to book an appointment, fill out the form below and we’ll get back to you within 48 hours. If you have a possible emergency during our hours of operation, please call the clinic at 519-648-9738. If you have an after hours emergency, please contact Campus Estates Animal Hospital at 519-837-1212.