Is anyone else getting paranoid about bloat?

kamfam · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:35 pm Post subject:

I would buy the drops (liquid). There is also something called a bloat kit (google great dane bloat kit) which gives specifics of things to have on hand "just in case" along with step by step instructions. It may give some of you peace of mind to have these things on hand.......

Aces-Wild · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:46 pm Post subject:

peppernaei · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject:

Aces-Wild · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:14 pm Post subject:

Hmm, ok good to know...on this site:

http://www.ginnie.com/gdv.htm#early

it states that -

"Many people, myself included, always keep a ready supply of the antacid Simethicone nearby, usually in the form of Phayzme® or Gas X®. (Among my contacts, Phazyme seems to be preferred; that's what I use.) Simethicone is considered quite safe, even when administered in large doses. Its purpose is to break up large gas bubbles in the stomach, enabling the accumulating gas to be more easily passed.

At the first hint of a gassy stomach, you can give a generous dose of Simethicone. If you are using Ultra Strength Phazyme® 180 mg softgels, slit open 5-10 capsules and squeeze the liquid directly into your dog's mouth. Some people report they get faster/better results using Phazyme® Quick Dissolve 125 mg chewable tablets. With either product, one dose of Simethicone may be sufficient to relieve pressure and settle the stomach before the condition gets any worse. More Simethicone can be given later, if needed."

Edited to add: this above comment is about Great Danes, not necessarily Weims.

weimdawgs · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:17 pm Post subject:

I always have GasX and Phayzyme in the house....I gave Jake some..It didn't help.

Aces-Wild · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:47 pm Post subject:

anne · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:04 pm Post subject:

anne · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:06 pm Post subject:

anne · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:07 pm Post subject:

anne · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:09 pm Post subject:

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/dec94.htm
The previous issue of BLOAT NOTEs included preliminary results from a radiographic study showing that chest depth:width ratio is highly correlated with bloat risk for 7 breeds. Chest radiographs from 437 dogs of 17 different breeds were used for the final analysis. The depth, width and length of the chest were measured.

Relationships between chest measurements and bloat risk for each breed, based on a previous study, (LT Glickman et al: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 104:1465-1471, May 1, 1994) were analyzed.

The mean chest depth/width ratio alone explained 37% of the variability in bloat risk among these breeds. This relationship is illustrated in the figure below.

When bloat risk was evaluated as a function of both chest depth/width and the ideal adult breed weight, 76% of the variability in bloat risk was explained.

This study provides the strongest evidence to date that chest depth:width ratio is an important risk factor for bloat. Relationship Between Bloat Risk and the Mean Chest Depth/Width Ratio for 17 Breeds

anne · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:10 pm Post subject:

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/apr96.htm
Personality traits associated with an increased risk included being fearful or showing aggression to people or other dogs. In contrast, dogs characterized by their owners as happy were at decreased risk.

The time of bloat onset was between 6 p.m. and midnight in 51 (59.3%) of the 86 cases in which it was reported. This is consistent with veterinariansí clinical impressions that bloat often occurs at night. We attempted to identify factors during the 8 hours before bloat onset which might have precipitated the episode. The most notable association was with stressful events.

anne · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:15 pm Post subject:

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/jan98.htm

Re: Family lines. and possible mode of inheritance..

We continue to follow a family of Irish Setters in which several dogs have already bloated. This family study is another attempt to better understand genetic influences on bloat, which can cluster within certain families (familial bloat) or occur in unrelated animals (sporadic bloat). Geneticist Dr. Robert Schaible and Irish Setter breeder Jan Ziech collaborated with the Purdue Bloat Research Team in this study 1

Measurement data and bloat histories were collected for all but 1 of 15 surviving pups in 2 litters, whelped in 1988 and 1991, respectively, that had the same dam but different sires. The parents' measurements and bloat histories were obtained. The pedigree was plotted on a scale of chest depth/width ratios (Figure 4). The ratios in this family are spread across a wide range of values for Irish Setters enrolled in the ongoing prospective study.

The pattern suggested that incomplete dominance of a major gene is the mode of inheritance of chest depth/width ratio. After the study was published, another pup in the 1991 litter bloated (indicated by arrow in pedigree). The data support the hypothesis that dogs with a deeper chest relative to width are at greater risk of developing bloat than dogs of the same breed with smaller chest depth/width ratios. The pattern for this family will not be complete, however, until all dogs have been followed throughout their lifetime.

anne · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject:

There's lots more on the site, with Weims being one of the breeds they looked at. For anyone paranoid about bloat, it's worth reading the whole stie.

simis · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

Thanks Anne, that is very helpful.

weim2mom · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 9:30 pm Post subject:

Can anyone post a video of exactly how a dog should be eating? I feel that even though, i take a LOT of precautions, Hemi eats too fast.