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.
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.
Bloat is a medical emergency that requires quick intervention, as it can be fatal. Visit your veterinarian or emergency clinic as soon as possible if you notice signs of bloat in your dog. Bloat in dogs won't resolve on its own, so it's important to get help quickly.
Predisposed breeds include Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Weimaraners, Irish Setters, Gordon Setters, Standard Poodles, Basset Hounds, Doberman Pinschers, and Old English Sheepdogs.
After proper diagnosis, dogs with simple bloat tend to bounce back into their normal lives and routines 1 to 2 days after receiving fluids and taking frequent walks.
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.
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.
Will a dog with bloat lay down? In severe cases, bloat can be life-threatening. Dogs with bloat may pace or circle, pant excessively, have a distended abdomen, drool or vomit, and seem restless or agitated. For this reason, they may lie down and refuse to get up.
This is caused by an overabundance of the cortisol hormone – the hormone related to stress. Most often found in dogs over the age of six, Cushing's syndrome causes bloat. Symptoms your pup may be experiencing this can include excess eating, drinking, and urinating, as well as unusual pacing and hair loss.
Will a Dog with Bloat Poop? Generally, a dog with bloat will not be able to poop. If they do, it will be diarrhea and of small volume. But do not assume that because your dog has been able to have a bowel movement they are not experiencing bloat.
Taking an x-ray of your dog's abdomen is the only way to tell the difference between bloat and GDV, allowing for appropriate intervention. A dog with bloat can die in a matter of hours unless emergency gastropexy surgery is performed.
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.
The symptoms of an intestinal blockage generally occur within 24 hours after swallowing the problematic item. However, depending on where the item lodges, the time frame may vary—the earlier in the system the item is lodged, the sooner symptoms will emerge.
Symptoms of Bowel Obstructions in Dogs
Straining or unable to poop. Weakness. Loss of appetite. Diarrhea.
Fact: The grain used in kibble is typically highly digestible and unlikely to cause bloating and gas. On the contrary, grain-free diets that use legumes to replace the grain can sometimes increase the amount of gas being formed and potentially increase the risk of bloat.
“Bloats without torsion can last for minutes to hours, even days in low-level chronic situations, without it becoming life-threatening.
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.
If your dog's stomach appears bloated, it could be due to a number of possible causes, ranging from mild to severe, including pregnancy, heart failure, liver dysfunction, uterine infection ("pyometra"), internal bleeding, as well as GDV, and several others.
How to Check Your Dog's Stomach. The exam is pretty straightforward: touch and feel your dog's stomach, starting just behind the ribs, and gently pressing your hands into the belly. Like all other parts of the body, you will be getting a feel for what is normal, and then continuing to monitor for any future changes.
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.