Doodles and Gastric Tortion/Bloat.....?

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

I was just reading online about gastric tortion/bloat in golden retreivers.  What prompted me to was one of my closest friends is at the vet with her golden and she has bloat.  They are trying to release the gas right now but I am not sure what the outcome is going to be.  I feel terrible for them. 

 

It made me start wondering about our doodles and bloat.  From what I read that it can happen in larger hollow chested dogs.   Has anyone had any experience with this or know much about it?

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

In the Health and Medical Issues Group there is an extensive discussion on bloat. One of the last discussions is about an emergency kit to help in case of bloat,

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/healthandmedicalissues/forum/topi...

[Camilla and Darwin]

Before I chose a Goldendoodle, I was thinking about getting a Great Dane. They are one of the breeds most affected by bloat so I did a lot of research. Although Darwin isn't extremely deep chested, we always make sure to have an hour buffer before and after eating when we let him play. Better safe than sorry!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'm not sure how the hour before is necessary. What's the reasoning there?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I am not sure, but if you do a search on how to prevent it, you will see that it says "One hour before and especially after". I would rather be safe than sorry. Perhaps it's the breathing heavy and eating combination or perhaps moving around makes the stomach more... filled with air and more likely to twist?

http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm

http://hubpages.com/hub/Dog-BloatGDV-Preventive-Tips-On-How-To-Avoi...

I would love to know why if anyone DOES know.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think we have a member here who recently lost her 3 year old doodle to bloat. It is definitely a risk factor for all standard doodles. Labrador retrievers and Standard Poodles are at high risk for bloat, too. In fact, gastric torsion is what killed the famous Marley.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I spoke with a woman in PA that just lost her doodle to bloat. I was just heartsick speaking with her.

[ej]

My friend lost his boxer to bloat some years back. It happened so quickly, he was at work, his wife was home with the boxer. By the time she rushed her to the vet, it was already too late.

Recently my colleague's neighbor's Briad had a surgery done due to bloat... I think. But his case was a little different, cos the family noticed that he was not eating, vomited several times, and was very lethagic for a few days before they finally took him to the vet. The surgery was a success, he is back to his own self. But vet advised that he should have several small meals a day, and do not let him to drink too much water at one time.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And this is also why it's never a good idea to try to get a dog to eat when he isn't eating. Loss of appetite is a dog's way of telling you that something is wrong, and our job is to believe them.

[Diana Erhart]

My cousin's golden retriever puppy died from bloat a month ago. My petsitter told me that during a class she took a vet recommended that if you have a dog that is susceptible to bloat and is a fast eater to instead of giving him/her food in a bowl, to scatter it on the floor so they have to go around to get it. That keeps them from eating so fast.

[Sarah and Joplin]

So funny to read this. I was trying to think of a way to slow my girl down from eating and just thought that idea up. Guess I'm not crazy after all! Haha!

[shelly]

Tori used to eat her kibble and then vomit it up... many f the pieces were whole and of course swollen with moisture... so I switched her to canned worrying that this could cause bloat (after speaking to a breeder I work with who breeds labs)... She also told me I could spread out the kibble on a cookie sheet to cause her to eat it slower. But now I do continue to feed can, BUT also her kibble. I load up two toys she has - either a Kong ball or this plastic cubed - die thing that she must push around with her nose or paw to release the food. This way she actually CHEWS the pieces.

[Adrianne Matzkin]

Charli can be a gobbler. I purchased this and it works. Funny, she hasn't figured out that she can roll it in the bowl. Instead, she eats around it, when she is done I take it out and she slowly finishes her dinner. I love it.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3519706