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 burp or fart because it means that the gas is leaving his stomach.
Waiting 30–60 minutes is best, so they are not panting and taking in air while they are eating. It is the potential gulping of large amounts of air that can cause your dog to develop GDV if fed immediately after or before exercise.
They advise that you should wait at least two hours after your dog has eaten a meal before walking them. That's because walking your dog straight after a meal can cause your dog to bloat, or even lead to gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV).
Bloated or distended abdomen (swollen belly) Sudden lethargy, hunched appearance. Panting, pacing, anxious, may refuse to lay down – can't get comfortable.
Without blood flow, the stomach quickly deteriorates, and, because it is so distended, it can compress the large vessels that return the blood back to the heart and cause a shock to the circulatory system. Without treatment, GDV is a fatal condition. A dog with bloat may only have an hour or two to live.
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.
Combing through the 2,551 questionnaire responses, what the researchers found is that moderate physical activity after eating, including playing with other dogs or “running the fence,” appears to reduce the chance for developing bloat by almost half. Moderate exercise in general appears to help, not just after eating.
Water Intake Is Also Important When Trying to Prevent Bloat
Drinking water not only stretches the stomach but your dog likely intakes a lot of air if they are drinking water too quickly. If you notice them gorging themselves on water, take the bowl away for a little while to let them calm down.
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.
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.
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.
SIGNS OF BLOATING IN DOGS
They are restless and may pace. Drooling and panting are common. Their bellies sometimes, but not always, look distended, and they may react painfully to pressure placed on their left flank.
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.
Pet parents can recognize bloat because their dog will appear uncomfortable and restless, but is unable to vomit or burp. A large distended belly will indicate that the stomach is full of gas and fluid.
Symptoms of Intestinal Blockage in Dogs
Loss of appetite (anorexia): Dogs may show no interest in eating. Young dogs with a foreign body obstruction (an object they shouldn't have eaten) will initially still eat, or try to, but then vomit.
What is bloat/GDV? Bloat refers to the condition in which your dog's stomach can become filled with air. The air can, in turn, cause pain and additional gastrointestinal problems. GDV (gastric dilatation and volvulus) occurs when you pet's stomach is not only bloated but also then twists on itself.
Without treatment the condition is fatal. Pet owners should be familiar with their nearest veterinary emergency facility in the event that their regular veterinarian is not available after hours or does not have experience handling this condition. If possible, call ahead and tell them you suspect bloat.
Veterinarians can diagnose gastric dilatation and volvulus quickly and easily, not only by observing the obvious physical symptoms but also by taking X-ray images of the digestive organs. Your veterinarian may also tap at the swollen abdomen, listening for a hollow sound that confirms the presence of bloat.
Pet owners can expect to pay between $1,500 to $7,500 for gastric dilatation-volvulus surgery in dogs, as well as for post-operative care. If the owner has pet insurance, it's possible that most or even all the cost of bloat surgery for dogs will be covered.
However, as demonstrated by your Aussie bloating, any breed or mixed-breed dog can potentially bloat.