So sad!

[Kris and Sawyer]

My frend lost their sweet labradoodle, Luke, last night to bloat! He was only 4 years old. Just a reminder to know the warning signs and take note of preventatives.

Hope this link works. I can't remember if I can just paste the link:
http://pets.webmd.com/dogs/gastric-volvulus-bloat-dogs-life-threate...

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Laurie, my thoughts too.  I already have that in the back of my mind, just in case.  

[Jen, Buddy, & Kevin]

Same here - Buddy ended up having emergency surgery a few years ago for a stomach issue and the vet suggested the same thing. While they were in there and he was under, might as well. And in the grand scheme of cost, it only added another $150 to cost of the 3 day stay..... Buddy never had much of an appetite in his first 6 years, but after the gastropexy he rarely doesn't eat.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't think those two things are related.

[Jen, Buddy, & Kevin]

Curious how you would explain the 180 in appetite and interest in eating? :-) We can't figure anything else out, considering food has not changed, and exercise and activity has decreased since the surgery. He's actually eaten more in the last two years than he did in the prior six.

Btw, Buddy had a sand impaction/100% blockage and the Dr was not certain he would recover. After enemas, stomach pumping that did not work bc the mass was solid, and then laparoscopic surgery that took four hours (including the gastropexy), our boy made it home. We're shocked at his appetite after the fact, considering his history.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't know that I can explain it. But now that I know the history I can speculate that perhaps Buddy had a partial obstruction that interfered with his digestion causing him to eat less. He may have had pain when he ate or something. Was he underweight?

[Jen, Buddy, & Kevin]

No, never under weight. He's always had an issue with being heavy that no amount of exercise or diet could solve. I have felt the shame of having a heavy-ish dog that walks 3-5 miles every day and never eats, and then be told to take steps to reduce his weight.

And considering he thinks dog food is the pits, limiting food wasn't a resolution to him being over weight since he wouldn't eat it to begin with. Low cal food did not work - what little he ate created 5xs the poop and that stressed him out.

[F, Calla & Luca]

It sounds like it was very frustrating. Hard to understand.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know a few GSD & Great Dane owners who had the dogs' stomachs tacked. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I know of a bloodhound who had her stomach tacked when she was spayed.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

 I am so sorry for your friend!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh this is so sad.

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Kris, I'm so sorry for your friend.  Bloat really scares me because Finn has that deep narrow chest. I divide his meal into several smaller ones and watch his exercise before and after meals and his water but this could be any of us at any time.  Rest in peace dear Luke.