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.
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. Breathing may also appear to be labored and they may have a hard time getting up or even collapse.
The condition has been reported to most commonly occur two to three hours after eating a large meal, although bloat and GDV can occur at any time.
If you notice that your dog is not acting normal, has a bloated belly, tries to vomit, circles like he cannot get comfortable, and has trouble breathing, you need to get your dog to a veterinary emergency hospital right away. This may be a life-threatening illness called bloat.
Bloat and GDV (gastric dilatation and volvulus) can have some of the same symptoms as an upset stomach. However, these two conditions are very different. An upset stomach can be uncomfortable for your dog; GDV can be deadly.
While there are mild cases of bloat in dogs, this should still be considered a serious medical issue. Without the appropriate treatment it could be fatal. As such, even if the symptoms don't seem severe, you should take your dog to see a vet as quickly as possible.
A dog with bloat might still drink water. Some dogs refuse to drink and eat completely, others actually seek out water to replenish after vomiting or to alleviate the pain bloat causes. What is this? In any case, you shouldn't let your dog drink large amounts quickly if bloat is suspected.
"Overall, about 5.7 percent of dogs will develop bloat," Romine says. "But that goes up to 20 percent for dogs weighing 100 pounds or more. Great Danes have the highest risk of all—42 percent of them develop bloat if they don't have a preventative gastropexy."
Without treatment, GDV is a fatal condition. A dog with bloat may only have an hour or two to live.
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.
Waiting 30–60 minutes is best, so they are not panting and taking in air while they are eating.
If a dog eats too much or too quickly, canine bloat can occur. During the passing of the food to the stomach, there is a buildup of gasses, and the stomach begins to blow up like a large balloon. As gasses continue to build up, the stomach stretches beyond its limits and prevents blood circulation to the heart.
A "large amount" of food will vary depending on the size of the dog. A small dog, like a Pug or Chihuahua, can bloat from eating 2–3 times their daily intake. A large breed dog, like a Lab or Great Dane, may need to ingest 3–5 times their normal food intake to cause their stomach to bloat.
What is Bloat? In a simple “bloat” situation, a pet has often ingested a large volume of food or other material (such as dog food, bread dough, foreign material, etc), or has a stomach full of air. When this happens, it causes the stomach to stretch like a balloon and can become very uncomfortable for the pet.
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!
According to current research, feeding a dog dry food doesn't seem to increase or decrease the likelihood of GDV. In fact, moistening dry food appears to have no benefit in reducing the risk of GDV. A food with fat or oil (vegetable or animal) listed in the first four ingredients does seem to increase the risk of GDV.
Without treatment, GDV is a fatal condition. A dog with bloat may only have an hour or two to live.
Not all cases of bloat present with typical signs, the site advises. In early bloat, the dog may not appear distended, but the abdomen usually feels slightly tight. The dog appears lethargic, obviously uncomfortable, walks in a stiff-legged fashion, hangs his head, but may not look extremely anxious or distressed.
Symptoms of GDV or bloat in dogs
The biggest sign of bloat is vomiting. A dog with bloat appears highly nauseated and retches but little comes up. It's important to recognize the signs of bloat — for each hour that goes by, there is a greater risk for complications.
A small dog, like a Pug or Chihuahua, can bloat from eating 2–3 times their daily intake. A large breed dog, like a Lab or Great Dane, may need to ingest 3–5 times their normal food intake to cause their stomach to bloat.