Bloat
Dogs
Bloat
Bloat, also known as torsion, gastric torsion, and
gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a medical condition in which
the
stomach becomes overstretched by excessive gas content. The
distortion of the stomach constricts the
oesophagus, preventing the gas from escaping. The condition occurs
most commonly in domesticated animals, especially
dogs and
cattle.
In dogs, it occurs most commonly in large-chested breeds, such as
Great Danes,
Airedales, and
boxers.
The condition exists in two varieties, depending on the direction of movement
of the stomach. If the stomach twists around the axis of the digestive tract,
the condition is known as torsion, and if the axis of movement is
perpedicular to the digestive tract, the condition is known as volvulus.
In either case, the
oesophagus
is closed off, thereby preventing the animal from relieving the condition by
belching or vomiting. At the other end of the stomach, the
spleen may be
damaged if the twisting interrupts its blood supply. If not quickly treated, the
condition can lead to
blood poisoning,
peritonitis and death by
toxic
shock.
In dogs, the causes of bloat are unclear, and currently there is little
agreement on the factors that may contribute. Some of the more widely
acknowledged factors are stress, eating foods such as kibble that expand in the
stomach, swallowing too much air while eating, overfeeding, and other
gastrointestinal distress. There is also no consensus on ways in which to
prevent bloat from happening, and suggestions are sometimes contradictory, for
example, "Raise your dog's feeding dish - he will not swallow as much air while
eating" as opposed to "Lower your dog's feeding dish so that he eats slower, and
thus swallows less air."
In cattle, bloating is most often caused by the animal eating damp, green
alfalfa. New
(green) alfalfa hay, especially that made from the first cutting of the year,
must be kept from cattle until it has aged for several weeks. When a calf has
become bloated, often a section of hose is inserted down the throat and into the
stomach to relieve the gas pressure that builds up. A
veterinarian should be called for treatment. Death of the animal often
results if bloat is not quickly treated.
Symptoms are not necessarily distinguishable from other kinds of distress. A
dog might stand uncomfortably and seem to be in extreme discomfort for no
apparent reason.
Bloat is an emergency medical condition: having the animal examined by a
veterinarian is imperative. Bloat can become fatal within a matter of
minutes. Treatment usually involves emergency
surgery.
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