Video of Dog with Bloat-Warning-Disturbing but dog is okay now!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

It seems that bloat and the ability to recognize bloat in our doodles is a concern for many DK'ers. I found a video of a dog experiencing bloat. It is disturbing to watch but will hopefully help others to save their dogs if they begin to experience this condition. Below is the text explaining the situation and the video below.

This video shows a dog in the middle to late middle stages of bloat. This dog, Roscoe, was saved. He had just arrived in a new home. The weather was warm but not hot, actually quite pleasant as this video was being filmed. Neither the person who brought the dog to this foster home nor the foster home had ever seen bloat and had no idea of what they were seeing. As soon as they realized something was wrong, he was rushed to the emergency vet. I can tell you from personal experience that we can talk to you about it forever, but until you actually experience it, it is very difficult to recognize. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and in this case the video is priceless for its teaching value. The person filming this very kindly allowed us to use it as an educational tool so other people can learn to recognize what is happening when a dog bloats.A voiceover was done to point out the various symptoms of bloat to those who may not recognize or understand what they are seeing. This dog bloated, but did not have gastric torsion. His stomach filled with air, but luckily for him, he made it to the vet in enough time that he had not torsed. They were able to deflate him and he is now home and doing well. Torsion occurs when the stomach flips over, cutting off the blood supply causing stomach tissue to start dying. Torsion requires very expensive surgery, and even if your dog survives the surgery, they may not survive the aftermath when the toxins from the dying tissue are released causing heart arrhythmias and sepsis. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE take your dog to the vet if you think he may be bloating even if there is no swelling apparent yet. Sometimes there is no obvious swelling in the early stages; your dog just looks "fatter". They can take an x-ray to determine if your dog is in the early stages and treat him immediately. If the vet refuses to take an x-ray, INSIST upon it. This is YOUR dog. YOU know him very well and if the vet still refuses to take an x-ray, go elsewhere. The earlier it is caught, the better your dog's chances of living.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thanks for adding this info Karen.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Okay...I was doing okay, but now after reading your link, Karen, I am really kind of freaking out.  I will now be paranoid from now on.  I am glad you gave the link though, but I am just really worried about this.  I had never even heard of bloat before DK.  What scares me is that it seems so common.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I thought every dog lover must have read Marley, or at least seen the movie, lol. That's what he died of.

I was familiar with it from fostering GSDs. That was before the Purdue study, when it was still believed that elevated feeders helped prevent bloat, so they would always bring raised feeding bowls when they brought me a foster, and that's I how I first learned about bloat.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Traci, try to think of it this way-Knowledge is Power!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

More good info....thanks Karen.

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

Luna did the EXACT same lip licking as that dog was doing when we took her to the ER Friday (it wasn't bloat).  However, there was no retching and abdominal distension.  The vet also said she's a bit on the small side for bloat, but could still happen because of her deep chest. 

It's good to know what it would look like though if it did happen!

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Didn't you say that your vet demonstrated what bloat looked like? Did it look like this video at all?

[J and Riley (and Luna)]

She did - and she actually did a pretty good job of impersonating the facial expression.  Her description didn't do the drooling justice, though... that is a LOT of drool.

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Ricki,

Thanks for posting this.  It is good for everyone to see.  I for one would not be sure of what to look for, but after watching this, I have a much better idea.  You may have saved a dog's life by showing us this!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Thanks for posting this. very useful and important

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Ricki, thanks for letting us know that he was okay in the end, otherwise it would have been very difficult to watch.

I for one worry about bloat, Daisy is such an active player that I watch for signs because she would be the kind of dog that plays through exhaustion.

We are on a very strict one hour before and one hour after eating before play but I realize bloat can happen anytime even when you are cautious.

I had a friend who's lab died at the top of the stairs, his owner had no idea what was going on and by the time he got him to the vet his stomach had turned.:o(

A very good tool for us all. Thank you for posting.

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I'm sorry about your friends lab. :(

I think it was wise that you monitor Daisy's before and after meal activities. We do this with Tara. Even though she is small the Miniature Poodles are among those at risk so she could have the genetics for it. (hope not!)