WHAT IS
BLOAT?
The stomach becomes dilated by abnormal
amounts of food or gas. For some reason the valve to the
oesophagus fails to open and release the surplus air. The
food begins to ferment and create more gas. - This
progresses to rotation of the stomach on its axis
Bloat or 'Gastric Torsion' (Gastric
dilation-volvulus syndrome), is caused by the build up of
fluid & gases within the stomach. The accumulation is
swift and dramatic, disrupting the normal function of the
heart. The reasons leading to the dilation of the stomach
are not really known and some theories include the
ingestion of large amounts of food and water immediately
prior to exercise, air swallowing and obstructions of the
stomach outflow, stress and dietary factors.
Research at Liverpool University is at
present underway and will include comparing the behaviour
of stomach muscle in many different breeds, for whilst we
know that large breeds, such as ours, are prone to this,
many other breeds are also affected. The University will
try to determine why some breeds are more susceptible than
others are, whilst also trying to identify the causes and
possible remedy of the horrific problem of bloat in our
breed.
POSSIBLE CAUSES
A) Stress
& abrupt changes
B) certain
breed; Giant breeds are commonly affected and there are
often familial tendencies, deeper chested dogs tend to
have weaker muscles
C) There has
to be weakness of the gastric attachments and this usually
occurs in the older dog.
MAKE SURE YOU AND YOUR VET UNDERSTAND
BEFORE IT HAPPENS TO YOU
IF BLOAT IS
SUSPECTED YOUR VET MUST BE ABLE TO ATTEND AND
TO OPERATE WITHIN MINUTES - ANY TIME OF DAY
OR NIGHT. He/she should
be totally familiar with the symptoms & procedures and
fully aware, that to casually dismiss your suspicions
and/or an early diagnosis as a false alarm could very
easily result in death. Ask your Vet what he/she would do
if you rang with any of the symptoms and if you don't
think you get a satisfactory answer tell him so, or find a
vet that will.
Surgery is major and
complicated and the surgical care is intensive and very
expensive. (£400 - £600), It is so important that your
dog is insured so that you and your vet do not have to be
concerned about the costs involved.
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BLOAT
PHASES AND RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
PHASE 1 (This
phase may last between 1-2 hours. It also may not - DONT
DELAY
