Is anyone else getting paranoid about bloat?

mooks7014 · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:47 am Post subject:

Anne,
I totally agree with your thoughts about bloat being anxiety related. As you know Shelby had the WORST case of seperation anxiety. We had everything to control it but he would start pacing and crying if we even touched keys or jackets etc.... I am positive that that is what caused it.

mooks7014 · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 6:53 am Post subject:

Sorry it should say that we had tried everything to control it!

Kiarazoom · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 7:56 am Post subject:

Yes very paranoid....even treats after walking stress me out, you know the teeny tiny ones! We are always stopping him from drinking lots after a walk then feel bad cos hes thirsty so thats why he wants lots to drink. It really does suck bloat....scarey! Shocked

AmazingGrayce · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 8:30 am Post subject:

clarkiek · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:15 am Post subject:

youhavenoidea · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:03 pm Post subject:

DukesMom · Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2008 2:43 pm Post subject:

My dogs are both really slow eaters I guess. They pick a little, go back pick a little more etc. And thats OKAY by me! It takes them FOREVER to finish their meals. I know lots of people say to pick the bowl up after 20 minutes or so and I don't so maybe that's why they don't feel rushed?
As far as the separation anxiety...well I really feel for you all that have to deal with this. I couldn't imagine! My two willingly go in their crates and just go to sleep. I'm just thankful for how good I have it - even if they did eat the sprinkle system this morning and my husband was furious Laughing

weim2mom · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 7:15 am Post subject:

I wish Hemi would slow down. I literally put my hand flat into his bowl when he eats, so he'll go around me.

peppernaei · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 12:24 pm Post subject:

Marvin's just began to slow down. We used to throw toys on top so he'd have to fish around but now he's actually chewing,... sometimes. Confused

simis · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 3:41 pm Post subject:

DukesMom · Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2008 9:31 pm Post subject:

Duke has always had a sensitive stomach and he eats really slow. I couldn't possibly take his food away after 20 minutes or he'd starve! Gracie loves food and eats a bit faster but I certainly wouldn't call it fast. I think because I don't rush to pick it up, they are in no hurry. And sometimes late at night Duke will go in and bang his empty food bowl around to let me know he's hungry and I always give him a little snack. He doesn't do it very often, just once in a while. And when he was a puppy he'd puke all morning if he didn't get a late night snack the night before.

Plinko · Puppy Joined: 01 Apr 2008 Posts: 18

i used to feed my dogs twice a day and they would eat everything in the bowl as fast as they could. i bought one of those free feeders and after about 4 days they got used to it they eat slow and less then they were when i fed them individually. A lot of people don't like free feeding and it probably doesn't work out for every dog but in my case it slowed them down and kept my weim from eating my other dogs food.

pennywood3 · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:25 pm Post subject:

First of all, good idea to post the symptoms of bloat and names and numbers of emergency vets on the fridge or wherever it's easily accessible.

I lost a dog to bloat about 12 years ago. Her symptoms were...distended abdomen, unproductive vomiting and behavior which was out of the ordinary...such as trying to go off by herself, which was highly unusual. Her gums were very pale...almost white, not bright pink. That is a bad sign, that they are going into shock. I always check the gums whenever my dogs seem to have a tummy upset stomach. It doesn't take but a second. (So how many of you just checked your dogs gums?). LOL. That's good, cuz now you know what color they're supposed to be.

If you suspect that your dog is bloating, call the emergency vet as you are getting into your vehicle. Tell them you are on your way. Time is of the essence. When you get there, insist that they do an x-ray. It will be money well spent. If it's not bloat, you have peace of mind. If it is bloat, they can act upon it and you save your dog's life.

It doesn't do any good to be scared that they might bloat. Weimaraners are #3 in AKC breeds as far as bloat is concerned. What you can do, is be proactive. As stated above, know the symptoms. Have an anti-gas remedy such as mylanta on hand. Feed a good food. If I remember correctly, foods high in citric acid may be a contributing factor to bloat.

Add a probiotic to the food. Products such as prozyme and dogzymes work well.

Enjoy your dogs, get to know your dogs. I find that weims are stoic and sometimes a little hunch in the back can be a sign that they are in pain or not feeling well. Now I am not saying stare at them all the time. LOL.

If it makes anyone feel any better, none of the dogs that I have owned since, have bloated. (Knock on wood). Jackie

NenaGunther · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject:

mooks7014 · Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 11:32 pm Post subject:

I agree with Kamfam that if its going to happen it will so just love them like its there last. My guys had kibble for breakfast and raw for dinner.
I was so paranoid that I had old sheets and I would scatter the kibble all over the sheet instead of it being in a bowl so they had to take there time and look Shelby still succumbed to it. I had made sure that there was no signs of bloat in his bloodline and he really didn't have that deep of a chest compared to some, so I figure it was the SA that may have triggered it.