Interesting article of bloat and allergies

scrbear11

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/bloat_and_allergies.htm

I found this online while looking up information on the Purdue Study done. This really really interested me considering Zehen has been on a different antibiotic each month since he was 3 months old for various skin allergies. He "pre bloated" when he was 5 months old- stomach got distended, he didn't eat dinner, obviously uncomfortable, then he relieved it by getting horrible diarrhea. After that he was fine. I'm now wondering if his off and on runny stools are related to the fact that he's been overmedicated. Hmmm....

On the bright side. I started them on salmon oil about a week ago, and already their skin is looking 100% better. Zehen has very few lumps and pimples, and their coats are shiny and glossy. I'm impressed. I'm going to start them on yogurt after Zeh's surgery once he's back to eating regular food.

aly · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:26 am Post subject:

Pre-bloated??

I have never heard of that. I think there is a lot of confusion among owners about bloat. Bloat is not simply gas, bloat is another name for gastric torsion. The gut twists and there is a build up of gas behind the twist (hence where the name bloat comes from). The actual 'bloating/stomach distension' effect is most definitely not the first sympton. There are many really good threads on here about bloat including many posts from owners like myself whose dogs have suffered and some from owners who have unfortunately lost their babies.
The reason I'm posting again is because I think it is REALLY important that people DO NOT wait until their dogs stomach distends. This is usually one of the last symptons and happens just before the dog goes into shock as it's organs begin to shut down from the pressure that has built up.

The first signs to look out for are your dog acting strange, being hunched up (this is a very good indicator), trying to vomit unsuccessfully, crying, pacing around in obvious distress.

Here in the UK my vet (who saved Bailey's life) and myself travel around local puppy/obedience classes trying to ensure that people are aware of the symptons...it continually surprises us how many owners of deep chested dogs here have never even heard of it! We are also in the process of producing a pamphlet for owners with the symptons on (similar to the ones you can get for meningitis symptons) owners will be able to pick them up from the surgery (free) and give them to people who look after their dogs so that they are also more bloat aware. I have also managed to talk my friend into handing them out to his students when they go on work placements (he is a zoology lecturer at the local uni) hopefully we can get more vet surgeries to take them for their clients.