Bloat...What do I watch for?

[gidget1]

HELP!!!
Gidget has just had her eve. meal 30 or so minutes ago and while I was on the phone in another room the kids took her out to play!!! Now it's been VERY hot here during the days often hitting the high 90's as it did today. I know they were just trying to help by getting her out to run off a little energy after it cooled down a little but it's still very warm (90 degrees) and she's now panting non-stop! The panting of course is normal, what concerns me the most is the risk of bloat after eating. She consumed not quite 2 cups before leaving it ( she's a nibbler). How much should I be concerned and what do I look for?

 

[Boxer_21]

I've never personally seen a dog that has bloat, but here's what I've read are symptoms. Lethargy, continual looking at abdomen, walking in circles, gagging, whinning, obvious discomfort.
I know how you feel about bloat, I'm also very concerned about Riley after every meal. The only advice that I can offer is to just watch her closely and if you suspect even for a second that she has bloat, contact an emergency vet asap!! I know I'd much rather look over worried than to regret not taking quick action!! Good luck, I hope Gidget's ok!!!

 

[Matt S]

(Moving this thread to the Health Forums)

Here's a link that gives the Bloat phases, Symptoms & Recommended actions.
http://www.ualberta.ca/~dc8/szbloat.htm

As for being concerned, well I don't think I'd be too concerned, rather just a little vigilant.

 

[mygirlmollie]

When my Boxer Mollie bloated, there were no signs, it all just happened right before my eyes! She had her usual dinner about 7pm.....soaked dry food mixed with tin food. We used to feed them out on the back porch, so she ate her dinner and it must have happened straight away. She came inside and went to throw up, so I told her to go out and she did. A few mins later I thought I better go and check on her and then I saw she was in distress, dry retching and trying to vomit and her stomach was distending (blowing up) right there and then. I felt it and it was as hard as rock I knew something was seruiously wrong and obvoiusly internal. ( I didn't know about bloat prior)

So I rang the vet, they said immediate emergency! We raced her down and they were doing surgery on her probably an 1 1/2 -2 hours since it all started.

They didn't really tell me at that stage that really, not many dogs survive bloat. Even though they untwisted her stomach and the surgery went well, the reperfusion injury had done to much damage to her heart (2 days later) so I had to put her down. At that stage she was very ill and close to death so I helped her along :(

 

[gidget1]

Thanks to everyone for the input. Gidget has been fine, I worry alot. The kids have been told they ask before taking her out to play. They were really only trying to help. Bloat scares me to death and I try to watch heavy exercise or exherstion before and after meals.

Wanda,
What an awful experiance for you, and that's exactly what scares me.

 

[LittleRockyCole]

I was just wondering if anyone out there knows exactly how common bloat is. I've read that it is one of the health problems that boxer owners should be aware of but really how worried should I be? Is there any way to prevent this problem or is it something that is totally uncontrolable?

 

[gidget1]

It's my understanding that bloat is fairly common in large barrel chested dogs. It's not really something that is preventable. As in the previos post Mollie bloated with no precurser other than eating her supper. I know that Boxers should not exercise heavily before or after eating meals anad should be fed smaller more frequent meals rather than one large meal so the do not "gulp" the meal down injesting alot of air.
My fear for Gidget was that she had eaten her eve. meal then the kids took her out to play and she playes hard and fast!
As Matt S. stated we just need to be more vigilant.