Is anyone else getting paranoid about bloat?

Trene · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:39 pm Post subject:

I can't control them running around the house and yard though.

BEANSnBERRY · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:47 pm Post subject:

I crate 15-30 min. prior to eating, they eat in their crate and they rest in their crate an hour after eating.

THEN they can come out and play. I don't go straight to exercise though. I wait at least another 1/2 hour to hour to go for a walk or play fetch. I also don't feed after exercise. I wait until they've been relaxing a bit before putting them in their crates.

That's the only way to prevent the running around IME. And they are fine waiting in their crate to eat, cause they know it's coming. Very exciting times.

I didn't just throw them in and expect them wait, I built up the times. I'd put them in, open the crate, feed them... close it, allow them to eat and then only leave them 15 min. afterwards (and then slowly lengthen the time that they were left in.)

It's one of the few things I can control, so I do.

Anne, age/chest shape could you elaborate?

kamfam · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:52 pm Post subject:

I used to keep Kam in his crate after eating - in fact, the night that "it" happened, he never even ate his evening meal. So his was not food related. I believe it was a result of his anxiety, in combination with his build and possibly genes (which I know nothing about since he was a rescue).

I did everything the right way, or so I thought. My point is, is that we can not be so obsessed with trying to prevent something or worrying about something that may ultimately be out of our hands. We do everything in our power to keep them safe and healthy. That's all we can do.

simis · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:09 pm Post subject:

Could you please elaborate on the anxiety and bloat correlation?

What happens, they just gulp down air while getting stressed out and worked up and it can happen like that?

clarkiek · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:25 pm Post subject:

clarkiek · Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 2:31 pm Post subject:

aly · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:52 am Post subject:

Most vets will only tack a dogs stomach if they have already bloated, it isn't a guarantee that they won't twist, a friend of mine lost her weim the second time he bloated, he had been tacked after the first time and when he bloated again the twist just happened further along than where he had been tacked.

Being paranoid is not really helpful...do the sensible things, absolutely no exercise before or after feeding, feed twice a day, monitor water intake after exercise (not too much at once) and be aware of the symptoms.

BTW Anne I agree with the genetics factor in bloat, after Bailey bloated and I spoke to his breeder we found out that before she owned Bailey's mum she had owned his great aunt...they had lost her to bloat, so although we had asked specifically about Bailey's lineage, Dad, Mum, Grandparents etc for some reason she hadn't mentioned that.

Kamfam...Bailey hadn't eaten either, his stomach was completely empty except for a blade of grass, our vet suspects that he had got over excited throughout the day as we had a family bbq to celebrate our daughters birthday. Now when lots of people come round we let him say hello then pop him into my son's room where he can just relax and sleep on the bed!

luana80it · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:23 am Post subject:

i am very paranoid about tommy too, because he has a very deep chest and he is very hyper and stresses easily

greydogs · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 4:11 am Post subject:

anxiety and worry won't help you one bit, and your dog might feel your fear.
if you keep to the guidelines for feeding/exercise time, that is the best you can do.
and most important, go with your gut when you feel something is wrong. do not waste a minute and take your dog in.

this is from someone who had 2 dogs go through bloat/torsion.

i just go about my days, feed them small meals, and enjoy my time with my dogs.

mooks7014 · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:48 am Post subject:

I thought I was doing everything right too, I thought that by feeding raw, being that it takes about 20 minutes to eat rather than scoffing down kibble might have helped. Also they would go swimming everyday about 3 then dinner wasn't till about 7pm. And breakfast is always early in this house as hubby gets up at five to go to work so they eat at five then they would go back to bed till 7am. It really goes to show that you can "think" you are doing everything right and if its going to happen it will no matter how good you think you are doing things.... I don't know Its doing my head in trying to work it out and OMG everytime one of the others makes a slight noise we all freeze........ I have decided that we can't go on being paranoid anymore and just enjoy every second with them...

DukesMom · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 7:48 am Post subject:

When I was searching for puppies I had contacted a breeder in So. Cal. I asked her if both parents were on sight. Her reply was the Dam was on sight but they Sire wasn't because they had just lost him unexpectedly to bloat...yep woke up one morning and he was gone. Uhhhh....I said ok no thanks. And she was asking a fortune for these pups! I mean I appreciate her honesty and all....

KarenTag · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:00 pm Post subject:

How can you tell about the size of their chests? Lucy is very thin and narrow.

weimdawgs · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject:

The absolute best thing you can do is get them to the ER if you suspect they are bloating.

The night that Jake bloated, I am convinced he was completely stressed. John's boss had taken all the guys out for Christmas drinks. John doesn't normally drink anymore so he was pretty drunk when he got home and Jake didn't like it. He went right to bed, but I think Jakie thought something was wrong with John and it really upset him.

John didn't even know it happened until the next morning.

aly · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:16 pm Post subject:

Aces-Wild · Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2008 3:26 pm Post subject:

Ok...soooo...I bought some Gas X today to have around in case a bloat situation would occur with Ace. *hope he never needs it* I had read (on that website that someone had linked) that a Gas X or Phayzyme (sp?) could possibly slow the torsion process in a bloat scenerio.
Does anyone know, do you just give them one Gas X if you are noticing symptoms associated with bloat? If it's not actually bloat, the Gas X won't hurt them, right? I bought the 'softgels' but they had chewable too......I didn't think I could force him to chew a pill, especially if he was in distress. I totally hate even thinking about this, but unfortunately, it's reality.