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?

[Lesley, Wellington & Bingley]

I've heard that raw feeding is one way to guard against bloat and that it is more common in dogs that eat dry food. Perhaps because they tend to drink alot of water after eating? I don't know - it's just a thought.

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

Although the link to the bloat emergency kit is in the Health and Medical Issues Group I am putting it in again,

http://www.kifka.com/Elektrik/BloatFirstAid.htm

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

So Denise, how is your friends dog today?

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

She is doing really good, The vet (PL Vet Hosp Dr. Riedel) was able to get her put to sleep and they put a tube down her and they were able to release the gas and they got a 1/2 cup of food. The vet said when they got that Holly didn't even have a heartbeat that she could hear and in another few minutes it would have been to late. Since this is the same vet that we go to I was really glad to hear how she handled the situation so quick and saved her.

The one thing that struck me as odd is she told her to only feed her Bill Jack from now on. Holly was a really fast eater and they got one of the bowls shown above that slows her down. She also said to keep her water up for a 1/2 hour before and after she eats. Hunter is a really slow eater, she takes a bite at a time.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Ohhh...hope your friend doesn't feed the Bill Jack. You know the Food Group has a great source of information on foods to feed. Fromm what I understand, it is not the type of food as much as the type of bowl (as you say below). I am not an expert though. We have a small dood and toy breed so bloat is not as worrisome.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

She is going to feed the Bill Jac (so far I should say!) I am hoping to influence her but they are just convinced that the vet knows best.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

It is a hard thing to muster the courage to fight your vet on nutrition. I have been there, done that. Finally have the respect from doc, who admitted the food my dogs are on are good and working (specifically for T's kidneys). Oh well...can't change the minds of everyone. I hope your friend's dog is okay! Sounds like it was a close call.

[F, Calla & Luca]

That is a funny typo---Fromm.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Bil-jac Adult formula ingredients:
Chicken, Chicken By-Products (organs only, source of arginine), Corn Meal, Chicken By-Product Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Brewers Dried Yeast, Oatmeal and Flaxseed.

Yet more proof that even great vets know nothing about dog food or nutrition. But that was admitted to me today by Jack's specialist, who had 4 years post-graduate study after she got her DVM. Her exact words "We aren't taught nutrition in vet school." There- right from the horse doctor's mouth.

They apparently want your friend's dog on a limited ingredient diet. At least they didn't try to sell her an Rx food.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

They did give her an RX food but just for 5 days along with something like Pepcid or Tagament and an antiobiotic. Then the Bill-Jac is canned they said - I know ZERO about Bill Jac so maybe its all canned.

That is amazing about not teaching nutrition in vet school, that seems so incredibly basic! When my vet gave me coupons and an advertising folder on Purina One I had my doubts to begin with - she had never even heard of Canidae or Eagle Holistic.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

They don't teach much nutrition in medical school, either.
That's very interesting that the Bil-jac is canned, because their website doesn't list a canned dog food product. I wonder if it is an Rx food. Is the vet selling the food?

[F, Calla & Luca]

now, now, one hopes they teach nutrition in medical school nowadays.