Bloat Guidelines for Dog Owners

Bloat is a serious and life threatening problem in the deep-chested dogs which include the German Shepherd Dog. The Morris Animal Foundation's bloat panel has put together some suggestions on how to avoid bloat. This does not mean that if you follow all these guidelines, that your dog will never have bloat. There is no sure cause or prevention for bloat, but the following guidelines seem to reduce the dog's chances of having bloat:

1. Feed two to three meals a day (instead of one large meal).

2. Always make sure that someone is home when you feed the dog until he is done eating. You should allow your dog 15-20 minutes to eat his meal, and then pick his bowl up whether he is finished or not. He can eat the remainder of his meal at his next feeding.

3. Water should always be available to dogs. However, immediately after eating, water should be restricted.

4. Vigorous exercise should be avoided one hour before and one hour after a meal.

5. Elevate your dog's food and water bowl to chest level.

6. Establish a good working relationship with your veterinarian. You and your veterinarian should discuss emergency procedures in the event of acute gastric dilation, including giving the dog Digel™ or Mylanta™, passing a length of tube or piercing the abdomen with a needle to relieve bloat (unless you are experienced in these last two procedures they should only be done by your veterinarian).

7. Be aware of the signs of bloat. Keep an eye on your dog especially after meals. Evidence of abdominal fullness, whining, pacing, getting up and laying down repeatedly, stretching, looking at or biting at the abdomen, anxiety, excessive slobbering/drooling, and unproductive attempts to vomit. Dogs with these signs (the dog does not have to have all of these signs) should immediately be seen by a veterinarian.

8. There have been a few cases of bloat following a change in food from one brand to another (especially with cereal-based foods). Therefore, abrupt changes of food should be avoided. Any changes in diet should take place gradually over a period of 3-4 weeks, depending on how your dog is tolerating the change.

9. Bloat can sometimes occur when a dog returns home from being boarded whether at the veterinarian's or a boarding facility, or some other type of stressful condition (such as shows). This is a time when you should be particularly aware of feeding, watering, and exercising the dog.

10. Finally, dogs that survive bloat are more prone to suffer from it again. Therefore, it is imperative that you and your veterinarian discuss and utilize preventative measures (i.e., surgery or medical management).

Additionally, a preventative measure an owner can take is to have their veterinarian "staple" the stomach when the dog is being spayed or neutered and under anesthesia. This will prevent bloat and has become a method that many animal owners have opted for.

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