Bloat in Dogs: Why This Is the One Emergency You Cannot Wait Out

In this guide

Of everything on this list, bloat is the condition where hesitation costs the most. Medically called gastric dilatation volvulus, or GDV, it can go from a dog looking slightly off to a life threatening crisis in under an hour. Every owner of a large or deep chested breed should know these signs cold.

What is happening inside the dog

The stomach fills rapidly with gas or fluid and, in the more dangerous form, twists on itself. That twist seals off both ends of the stomach, traps the gas, and cuts off blood supply to the stomach wall and, eventually, the spleen. Without emergency surgery, this is fatal within hours.

Early warning signs

• Restlessness, pacing, or an inability to settle, especially after a meal
• Retching or attempting to vomit with little or nothing coming up
• A visibly swollen, tight, or drum like abdomen
• Drooling more than usual
• Pain when the belly is touched

Signs that mean you are already in an emergency

• Pale or bluish gums
• Rapid, weak pulse
• Laboured breathing
• Weakness, collapse, or an inability to stand

What to do

There is no home treatment for bloat. If you see any of these signs, particularly a swollen abdomen with unproductive retching, get to a vet or emergency animal hospital immediately, and call ahead so the team is ready. Treatment involves stabilising the dog with intravenous fluids, decompressing the stomach, and in true GDV, emergency surgery to untwist the stomach and, usually, a gastropexy to stitch it in place and prevent it happening again.

Who is at higher risk, and prevention

Large, deep chested breeds are most vulnerable, including German Shepherds, Great Danes, Boxers, Dobermans and Rottweilers, all commonly kept in India, along with deep chested indigenous breeds such as the Rajapalayam and Mudhol Hound. Risk appears to increase with eating a large meal quickly, exercising heavily right after eating, and drinking a large volume of water in one go.

• Feed two or three smaller meals a day rather than one large one
• Avoid strenuous exercise for at least an hour before and after meals
• Use a slow feeder bowl for dogs that gulp their food
• Feed from a floor level bowl rather than a raised stand. Raised feeders were once recommended for large breeds, but a widely cited Purdue University study found they roughly doubled the risk of GDV in large and giant breeds, likely because dogs eat faster from them, so current advice has reversed on this point
• Discuss preventive gastropexy with your vet if you own a high risk breed, sometimes done at the same time as spaying or neutering

Common Questions

Q: Can small dogs get bloat too? A: It is rare but not impossible. The overwhelming majority of cases occur in large, deep chested breeds, so small breed owners can be reassured this is a lower risk for them specifically.

Q: Is bloat hereditary? A: Having a first degree relative who has experienced bloat does appear to raise a dog's own risk, so this family history is worth mentioning to your vet if you know it.

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