bloat

[Laurie5]

I have a 17 week old mastiff named Lolly and I wanted more information about bloat and ways to prevent it. is it really common? Some vets recommend getting their stomachs stapled when they are spayed but I am worried about that. Laurie​

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

"My" breed is the number one for bloat. I've had quite a few scares already, unfortunately no matter what you do right, there's still no way to prevent it 100%. Some people believe its genetic. Others believe raised or lower food/water bowels can cause it. The most common contributor to bloat is the exercise before and after a meal. Be familiar with the symptoms, Ruby posted a thread about a bloat kit. I know some folks in my breed tack the stomach, though again it doesn't prevent bloat. Just some food for thought.

 

[ruthcatrin]

I wouldn't bother with having the tacking surgery seperately, but when you have her spayed its not that much bigger of an incision to have her stomach tacked too, it won't prevent bloat, but it'll prevent the stomach twisting.

In general theres some basic things you can do to prevent it. Don't free feed so you can track when she's eaten, and don't allow signifigant exercise for an hour or so after eating.

Wetting the kibble MAY help prevent bloat.

There are arguements both for and against raised bowls, I think theres to many veriables to be sure with that one.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Yeah the raised bowels thing is weird now. Before, that's all you read now its the opposite. When I feed kibble I did raise Thor's food, but feeding raw he eats on the floor. Best thing for new people is to educate themselves and go with what they believe.

 

[angelbears]

Feeding raw is supposed to reduce your chances of bloat. I don't allow mine to gulp at the water bowl for extended periods. Also keep Gasx on hand and give if you think you are seeing early signs of bloat. Before we went raw I thought Cane was trying to bloat a couple of times. We gave him GasX and he was fine.

I agree with Ruth, if you are doing it when you are getting her spayed. I would not do it independently.

 

[motolyn]

http://www.weimaraneraddict.com/discussion/diseases-and-disorders/265978-are-you-prepared-for-bloat

Hi there, my Weim Maus is prone to bloat due to her breed. As most deep chested dogs are prone. The link that I attached above has links to putting together a bloat kit, what to look out for when a dog may have bloat and so on. I was always under the impression not to let my dog play or exercise after eating a meal for at least an hour. I was looking into having her stomach attached to the wall of her body but my Vet doesn't do that service. So I'm just going to forgo it.

 

[Laurie5]

Thank you very much, I like the idea of a bloat kit!

 

[angelbears]

http://www.weimaraneraddict.com/discussion/diseases-and-disorders/265978-are-you-prepared-for-bloat

Hi there, my Weim Maus is prone to bloat due to her breed. As most deep chested dogs are prone. The link that I attached above has links to putting together a bloat kit, what to look out for when a dog may have bloat and so on. I was always under the impression not to let my dog play or exercise after eating a meal for at least an hour. I was looking into having her stomach attached to the wall of her body but my Vet doesn't do that service. So I'm just going to forgo it.[/QUOTE

Excellent thread. Thank you for posting it.

 

[Smokeycat]

One of the things that I've heard can be a contributing factor is gas in the stomach. Gulping their food can add a lot of air into their stomachs so you want to make sure that they eat slowly.

 

[excelrn]

When I was researching Neapolitan Mastiffs, before I got my puppy, I ran across the latest research on bloat and the evidence-based recommendations. Here is the link:
http://www.neapolitan.org/breed_info/bloat-study.html

It is very interesting reading. It talks about what leads to increased incidence of bloat, and what kinds of kibble had higher incidence of bloat. Human foods, such as in the raw diet, are recommended, but not because they are raw. I have spoken to multiple vets who have stated to never give raw meat. I know this is a controversial subject, but I thought I would pass it on. You can give them everything in the raw diet, but with cooked meat, and be much safer.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Honey, vet's don't recommend raw for two reasons: one, to many of them have seen what a badly done raw diet does to a dog, and two: the AVMA passed an official policy against it (using faulty information from kibble companies) and vets are afraid of loosing their licenses. Raw is one of the best things you can do for your dog, and its FAR easier to balance than a cooked diet. Cooking changes the nutritional basis of the meat and you'll want a nutritionist to help you put together THAT diet. There are several of us on here who've been feeding raw for a year or longer with no problems (AT ALL) with salmonella or other bacterias.

 

[angelbears]

Excelren, exactly what dangers are you speaking of?

 

[Robtouw]

I've owned 4 English Mastiffs, 3 Saints, and several other breeds prone to bloat and in over 20 years, I have yet to have an issue with bloat or gastric tortion. The best thing I can tell you to do is prepare just in case. I suggest educating yourself on the signs and symptoms and emergency treatments. Keep gasx, milk of magneisa and mineral oil on hand just in case. Talk with your vet and understand what you have to do in a bloat situation. Some of my dogs had their meals on elevated dishes, some did not. All of my mastiffs have been heavy drinkers and always gulped water like it had been withheld forever! It is nearly impossible to make a puppy lie still after eating, pups play as they should. Tacking the stomach is a procedure that some use, some do not, as with all procedures there can be complications. I personally do not use surgery as a preventative, it is usually best to allow the body to work as it was created. Just use common sense when feeding your pup and in all decisions in regards to feeding/watering and bloat won't be an issue.

 

[Laurie5]

Thank you all so much! I am an EMT, and I carry a jump bag with me everywhere for that unexpected moment that someone is in need. I am currently putting together a bloat kit for our puppy and I have a call out to our vet to ask her what else I should do to be prepared in case I suspect bloat.

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Honey, vet's don't recommend raw for two reasons: one, to many of them have seen what a badly done raw diet does to a dog, and two: the AVMA passed an official policy against it (using faulty information from kibble companies) and vets are afraid of loosing their licenses. Raw is one of the best things you can do for your dog, and its FAR easier to balance than a cooked diet. Cooking changes the nutritional basis of the meat and you'll want a nutritionist to help you put together THAT diet. There are several of us on here who've been feeding raw for a year or longer with no problems (AT ALL) with salmonella or other bacterias.

Ruth I like this!

 

[ruthcatrin]

Its a peeve.....there have already been reports on the Yahoo Raw Chat of vets, who were previously reasonably positive towards raw (or at least not outright negetive, depending on the vet), now coming down hard against raw "because the AVMA says we have to"

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

Correct me if I am mistaken but didn't they "ban" raw feeding? Or are they still trying to?

 

[ruthcatrin]

They officially disapproved of it due to "the risk of bacteria transmission from animal to human" or some such wording. (I'll dig it out when I get home.). Dispite not having one single case or study to prove the risks of said transmission.....

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

When I went to visit a friend last weekend ( who doesn't like me feeding my dogs raw, lol) she said that they banned it offically. I told her that they were in the works, from the article I remember you posting a while back. Wondering what happened. Even so how would they know unless you tell them? Also what would they do if they found out I was feeding raw?

 

[ruthcatrin]

They don,t know unless you tell them. Theres not much they can do, except possibley refuse to treat a raw fed animal, which I don't expect to happen. What the real issue was, if a case was brought against the vet via the AVMA, ALL the vet's policies get looked at, and they could be censured or disaplined for not following AVMA policy if it was proveable that they had approved of raw.