According to the experts, you should hold off from walking – or even vigorously playing with – your dog for least two hours after a larger meal. This is to reduce the risks of bloating and GDV, which is a potentially life-threatening condition especially prevalent in larger breeds.
In most cases of bloat the gas can actually shift after about 30 minutes. Try slowly walking your dog on the lead or gently massaging his belly to relieve some of the pressure. It's a great sign if you hear him belch or break wind because it means that the gas is leaving his stomach!
Any dog can develop bloat, but large and giant breed dogs are prone to it. The theory is that dogs with deep, narrow chests have more room in their abdomen for the stomach to move around and get twisted. "Overall, about 5.7 percent of dogs will develop bloat," Romine says.
Stomach distension alone is referred to as a “simple bloat”, or dilatation. This simple bloating can occur on its own and may resolve on its own.
Often signs of GDV develop 2-3 hours after eating a large meal. However, it does not need to be associated with eating at all. The classic sign of bloat is unproductive retching (it looks like your dog has to throw up but nothing comes out). The abdomen appears to be swollen and firm to the touch.
Without treatment, GDV is a fatal condition. A dog with bloat may only have an hour or two to live.
Hot food, cold food, big kibble, little kibble, too much food, too much exercise, too many carbohydrates, and stress have all been touted as causes of bloat, but remain unsubstantiated. Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that breed is a risk factor for developing bloat.
In addition to Great Danes, large- or giant-breed dogs at greatest risk include St. Bernards, Weimaraners, Irish Setters and Gordon Setters, Standard Poodles, and Doberman Pinschers. Males are twice as likely to bloat as females.
The two most obvious symptoms of bloat are a distended belly and unproductive belching. A distended belly will present as an obvious change to the shape of your dog's abdomen. It's hopefully something you've never seen before, and if you do notice it you should get your dog to a vet immediately.
Do not let the dog play or exercise (e.g. go for a walk) for at least two hours after having a meal. Ensure continuous fresh water is available to avoid your pet gulping down a large amount after eating.
The treatment for bloat is a stomach pump to relieve the gas and if the stomach is twisted, surgery to untwist the stomach. In some cases of bloat the pancreas and spleen are also affected and additional surgical intervention is required.
According to the study, “approximately 20 and 52% of cases of GDV (bloat) among the large breed and giant breed dogs, respectively, were attributed to having a raised feed bowl.”
Puppies are also most likely to use the bathroom within fifteen minutes of eating or drinking. If you've fed your puppy recently or observed it getting a drink of water, try to take it out within ten minutes and walk until it relieves itself.
Is There a Best Time to Feed Your Dog? "While there is no best time, with most dogs that eat twice a day, it is best to feed them in the morning as soon as you get up and then again when you get home from work in the afternoon.," says Dr. Sara Ochoa, veterinary consultant for doglab.com who practices in Texas.
It occurs primarily in large, deep-chested breeds. Bloat occurs without warning and is very difficult to treat. It does not seem to affect one sex more than the other, but is more likely to occur as a dog ages. Bloat commonly occurs in dogs between the ages of 7 and 12 years.
Bloat is very rare in Aussies but it does occasionally happen.
If treated early, about 90 to 95% of the dogs having surgery to treat bloat will survive. If a portion of the stomach is found to be dead at the time of surgery, the survival rate decreases to 50%. Patients that have bloated are predisposed to abnormal heartbeats that if left untreated uncommonly may result in death.
Bloating happens when the GI tract is filled with air or gas, as a result of the fermentation of food after meals. Some foods produce more gas than others or it can also be due to a food intolerance e.g. dairy/lactose. This type of bloating typically occurs 2-8 hours after food, depending on what you've eaten.
Kibble is the most commonly fed type of diet, and unfortunately for our dogs, once it enters the dog's stomach, it starts absorbing stomach acid and begins to swell.
In most cases, dogs or cats do not need an elevated bowl – and elevated bowls do not (as some suggest) reduce the risk of bloat, a life-threatening emergency in dogs that can cause gastric torsion.
Feed Canned Food
Canned/wet dog food has extra moisture which dogs need and it's easier for a dog to digest than dry kibble. Mix some canned food with your dog's regular kibble or switch to canned food exclusively if you want to prevent your dog from developing bloat.
Generally, a dog with bloat WILL NOT be able to poop.
Unlike a human stomach, dog bloat will cause stomach twists, which means that both ends of the stomach will be closed, preventing your dog from pooping.
Gulping water may be what's contributed to your dog's bloat and water won't treat a serious case of bloat, there's no use in letting your dog gulp a large amount of fluid. However, if bloat is ruled out after an examination, your vet may actually recommend water intake, depending on the condition.