Bloat or Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus

Bloat in poodles can be caused by a number of different factors, but in medical terms is the “immediate prerequisite is a dysfunction of the sphincter between the esophagus and stomach and an obstruction of outflow through the pylorus,” or a blockage.

The normal canine’s stomach sits high in the abdomen and contains a small amount of gas, food being digested and a small amount of mucus. The stomach has a normal rhythm of contraction as it receives food from the esophagus above, grinding the food, and digesting the ground food and pushing it out to the small intestine at its other end. Normally this happens without any disturbance except for the occasional burp.

In the bloated stomach, gas and/or food stretches the stomach many times its normal size which causes tremendous amounts abdominal pain. For reasons we do not fully understand, this can led to a dangerous situation as the grossly distended stomach has a tendency to rotate or twist. This twisting of the stomach not only cuts off its own blood supply but the only exit routes for the gas inside. As we alluded to, this is not only is a condition which is extremely painful but it is also progress rapidly life-threatening situation. A poodle with a bloated, twisted stomach will die in pain in a matter of hours unless emergency measures are taken.

Some of the more widely known factors which will contribute to digestive distress or bloat are physical factors such as, age (more common in older dogs), breed, having a deep and narrow chest, or environmental factors including stress, eating foods that expand in the stomach, overfeeding, too much water consumption over a short period of time and before or after exercise.

The Roll of Diet

To help avoid bloat or “Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus,” one of the most common recommendations in the past has been to raise the dog dish when they eat. However, recent studies have found this could be dangerous and may actually increase the risk of bloat.

Eating only once a day, and eating foods which only consist of pieces which are less than 30 mm in size can contribute to the increased the risk of bloat in your poodle. Studies looked at the ingredients found in dry dog food and found that while neither grains, soy, nor animal proteins increased risk of bloat, foods that contained increased amounts of fats and oils do increase the risk of bloat, possibly this could be caused by the delay of the stomach emptying.

Symptoms of Bloat

Symptoms of “Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus,” or bloat are not easily distinguished from other kinds of distress. Your poodle might seem to be in extreme discomfort for no apparent reason or it may look to be standing uncomfortably. Other possible symptoms can include firm distension of the abdomen, difficulty breathing, weakness, depression, extreme salivation, and retching without vomiting. A large number of dogs with bloat have cardiac arrhythmias (or irregular heart beat), up to 40 percent in one study. Chronic bloat may occur in some animals; symptoms include loss of appetite, vomiting and weight loss.

Diagnosis Bloat or “Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus”

Diagnosis of bloat is based on several different factors. The breed and history of the individual animal will often provide significant clues as to whether its bloat.

The physical exam will often reveal the telltale sign, a distended abdomen and abdominal distress. Shock can be diagnosed by the presence of pale mucous membranes with reduced capillary refill, an increased, irregular, heart rate, and a weak pulse. X-rays will show the dogs stomach to be distended with gas. The pylorus, which normally is ventral and to the right of the body of the stomach, will be cranial to the body of the stomach and left of the midline, often seen separated in the x-ray by soft tissue and appearing to be a separate gas filled pocket.

Treatment for Bloat

Bloat is an emergency medical condition. For your poodle to have a chance of survival they must be treated by a Veterinarian is quickly as possible. Bloat can become fatal within a matter of minutes!

Emergency First Aid

Bloat is an emergency condition that requires treatment by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Some web sites claim to have so-called “bloat first aid kits” and provide information on first aid that the dog owner can provide when an attack of bloat is discovered. This is not a substitute for immediate veterinary treatment. There is risk of esophagus or stomach rupture if a tube is inserted too forcefully in an attempt to relieve pressure.

No matter how successful a home treatment is, you should always seek the help of a professional. Contact your veterinary immediately or an emergency hoy-line for advice before attempting any procedures at home as these may further worsen the animal’s condition or prove fatal.

Veterinary treatment

Treatment usually involves resuscitation with intravenous fluid therapy in combination with isotonic fluids and hypertonic saline or a colloidal solution, and emergency surgery. The dog’s stomach is initially decompressed by passing a stomach tube, or if that is not possible, multiple trocars can be passed through the skin into the stomach to remove the gas, in some cases the trocars may be inserted directly into the stomach following anesthesia in order to reduce the chances of infection. During surgery, the stomach is placed back into its correct position; the abdomen is examined for any devitalized tissue. A partial gastrectomy may be necessary if there is any necrosis in the stomach lining.

Prevention and Reduction of Bloat

Recurring attacks of bloat can be a problem; statistics show that up to 80 percent of dogs treated medically only that is without surgery have a reoccurrence. To prevent bloat from returning it will require surgery; often a right-side gastropexy is performed, in which a verity of procedures are used to firmly attach the stomach wall to the wall of the body, to prevent it from twisting inside the abdominal cavity in the future.

While dogs that have had gastropexies can still develop gas distension of the stomach from gas, there is a significant reduction in recurrence of gastric volvulus. Gastropexies are also performed as a preventive measure in dogs considered to be at high risk of bloat, this includes dogs with a history of bloat or with gastrointestinal disease predisposing them to bloat, and dogs that have a sibling or parent with a history of bloat.

Precautions that are likely to help prevent bloat include knowing what and how much and what size food you are feeding your poodle. Ideally, small meals throughout the day instead of one big meal are best and not exercising immediately before or after a meal.