Bloat in dogs is something most of us dog owners do not even think of, yet it is something that can be fatal to your pet.

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In an effort to keep you informed about the different possibilities that may occur during your pet's lifetime, I found this information on bloat extremely interesting.

Granted it may seem like something that rarely happens, but in my research I have found that in large breed dogs it happens with some frequency.

Why does it happen?

Believe it or not, the stomach in a dog can twist and rotate, the stomach apparently is not really attached to anything inside the body of the dog that will keep it completely stationary.

There is a surgery called prophylactic surgery that can fix the stomach into a position so that it will not move. However, this surgery is only recommended as a last resort for dogs that are prone to bloat.

What causes bloat is not really known. It is said that dogs that have nervous personalities seem to have this problem. Also dogs 메리트카지노 that are large and have more room in their chest cavity and abdomen are prone to it.

It seems that with more room in the dog's body along, with excess air or food, it is possible for the stomach to flip, bringing the spleen with it and closing down the stomach.

The problem here is that the blood supply to the stomach and spleen is shut off. If the dog is not taken to the vet immediately, the chances of survival are slim and even then there is no guarantee, your vet can save your pet.

This is a case where "time is of the essence."

What are the symptoms?

Typical symptoms are:

When can it happen?

Within a matter of minutes.

A dog can be fine one minute and suddenly it is not.

What dogs are most likely to be affected?

It is possible that it can happen to most dogs, however the larger breeds of dog are the most likely candidates. Such as:

What can be done to prevent it from happening?

Other than the surgery mentioned earlier (and it is not recommended, only in rare cases,) there are some precautions that can be taken. However, these precautions are just that, precautions, not assured prevention.

If your dog is a gulper and seems to inhale its food, feed smaller meals more often, to prevent hunger pangs. Divide your dogs food into two, three, or four meals during the day.

If you usually exercise your dog after meals, do only moderate exercise, nothing strenuous.

Do not allow your dog to gulp water after eating or exercise, restrict its intake of water until your pet has relaxed and will drink normally.

Gulping increases the chances of air moving into the stomach.

Running, which jars the stomach and causes excessive thirst may stretch the muscles that support the stomach and cause it to twist or rotate.

Recent research has shown that raised food dishes and water bowls may cause an increase of air flow into the stomach which can lead to bloating. It is better to keep your dog's bowls at floor level.

Bloat, though not seemingly common, in most of our pet's lives, is a possibility and your awareness of it can save your dog's life.

The key here is if you notice any of the above symptoms occurring in your dog do not hesitate to take your pet to your vet or emergency clinic. This is one time an extra visit could very well be the difference between the life or death of your pet.

"Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often got himself into sticky situations..."

So begins a story in the latest report from the ASPCA on foods that may be toxic to dogs. It turns out that Magoo got into the pantry and snagged himself about a pound of raisins. He ate the whole thing, of course.

The ASPCA never mentions Magoo's fate. But they do tell us that as little as a handful of raisins can impair a dogs health and has been fatal for some. Ditto for the grape.

Who Knew?

Growing up, I regarded our family dogs as "the first cycle of the dishwasher". They were good about waiting their turn for whatever we left on our plates, and we weren't too concerned about offering them "people food". It never crossed our minds that our dogs health could be affected by a few measly table scraps. What was safe for us, we figured, was safe for our pets.

What's more, whenever I ate grapes, I liked to give one or two to our German Shepherd "Tiffany". The grapes always popped out of her mouth when she tried to bite into them and Tiffany, ever the good sport, refused to give up until she'd squashed each one into submission. It guaranteed at least 60 seconds of harmless fun.

Tiffany was also fond of chewing gum (she chewed it -- wrapper and all -- but didn't swallow it!) We had the sugarless kind, which is often sweetened these days with xylitol.

Little did I know that I might have been poisoning our family pet! (More on xylitol below).

Why are grapes harmful?

As far as grapes and raisins go, no one is sure why they're harmful. It's been confirmed that even grapes grown without fertilizers or pesticides can be toxic to dogs. But not to every dog, and not every time. It's also not known whether small amounts eaten over a long time period could have a cumulative effect.

What we do know is that the end result in nearly all reported cases of grape or raisin toxicity is acute kidney failure. (The term "acute" means that the condition is severe and comes on quickly.) The dog ultimately can't produce urine, which means they can't filter toxins out of their systems -- a process essential to life.

During the twelve-month period in which the effects of grapes were studied, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled 140 cases involving one or more dogs. Over a third of the dogs developed symptoms ranging from vomiting to kidney failure, and seven dogs died. The ASPCA based their study on reported cases, so naturally there may be cases where a dogs health is entirely unaffected by eating grapes. But until they know all the facts, the Society advises against feeding pets grapes or raisins in any amount.

An ounce of prevention

So, your dog just scored himself a big box of raisins. What's a pet owner to do?

The first line of defense, if the grapes or raisins were eaten recently, is to induce vomiting and administer activated charcoal (it absorbs toxins in the GI tract). Vomiting is also the first sign that your dog is in trouble, so skip right to the activated charcoal if vomiting has already occurred. (In a pinch you can make your own activated charcoal by charring a piece of toast until it's blackened and crumbles easily.) Then call your vet right away.

Can't reach the vet? Call ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435

The vet will keep your dog on intravenous fluids for at least 48 hours and monitor blood chemistry daily. Normal blood work after 3 days usually means your dog is in the clear.

Keeping a watchful eye out, of course, is the best way to keep your pet out of trouble. Like children, dogs (and other pets) have a knack for getting into mischief when we're not looking.

It's Not Just the Grapes...

There are other foods your dog should be kept away from, and some of them may surprise you.

Here are some other foods that can put a dogs health in harms way:

Chocolate

Who can resist chocolate? Like it your not, your dog.

Chocolate is made with cocoa beans and cocoa beans contain a chemical called Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Different types of chocolate have varying effects on dogs health. Dark chocolate has the largest theobromine, coming in at a whopping 450mg (compared to 1mg for white chocolate). So on Valentine's Day, you're actually being kind to your best buddy if you eat all the chocolates yourself!

Cocoa Mulch

Cocoa bean shells are a by-product of chocolate production (which is how mulch made it into the "foods" category) and are popular as mulch for landscaping. Homeowners like the attractive color and scent, and the fact that the mulch breaks down into an organic fertilizer. However, some dogs like to eat it and it contains Theobromine.

Fatty foods

Fatty foods are hard for a dog to digest and can can overtax the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis. This can threaten your dogs health and is potentially fatal.

Nuts

Macadamia nuts should be avoided. In fact most nuts are not good for a dogs health since their high phosporus content is said to lead to bladder stones.

Mulch

Mulch isn't food, but there's one type tempting enough for dogs to eat. Some dogs are attracted to cocoa mulch, and will eat it in varying quantities. The coca bean shells can contain from 0.2% to 3% theobromine (the toxin ) as compaired to 1-4% in unprocessed beans.

Onions

Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger, D.V.M and Edward C. Fieldman, D.V.M. 's book: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884.) Stay away from onion powder too.

Potatoes

Potato poisonings among people and dogs are rare but have occurred. The toxin, solanine, is poorly absorbed and is only found in green sprouts (these occur in tubers exposed to sunlight) and green potato skins. This explains why incidents seldom occur. Note that cooked, mashed potatoes are fine for a dogs health, actually quite nutritious and digestible.

Artificial Sweeteners

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, especially sugarless gum and candies. Ingesting large amounts of products sweetened with xylitol may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar in dogs, resulting depression, loss of coordination, and seizures. According to Dr. Eric K. Dunayer,