From: hckrus01@ulkyvx.louisville.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Bloat Recommendations
Date: 15 Oct 92 16:58:32 GMT
Organization: University of Louisville

From the August Irish Setter Club of America _Memo to Members_:

"Morris Animal Foundation, one of the organizations supported by ISCA 
in the past, has published the findings of a panel of veterinarians 
representing several veterinary colleges.  The Bloat panel report asked
more questions than it answered as far as the causes of bloat (or GDV,
as it is called) are concerned, but the recommendations of the panel are
useful for all dogs thought to be susceptible to this condition.  Irish
Setters, as we all know, are one of the breeds at risk for bloat, 
although other breeds, such as the Great Dane and the St. Bernard are at
even greater risk.  The researchers do not know why, for instance, 
Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers are less at risk than Irish
Setters, but they are."

"Here are the recommendations of the Bloat Panel:

1)  Feed 2 or 3 times daily, rather than once a day.  Feed at times when
someone can observe after-feeding behavior.

2)  Be aware of signals that indicate a bloat condition.  These may be
abdominal fullness, whining, pacing, getting up and lying down, stretching,
looking at the abdoment, anxiety, unproductive attempts to vomit.  These
signs indicate a medical emergency.

3)  Water should be available at all times, but should be limited immedi-
ately after feeding, if the dog appears to over-consume.

4)  Vigorous exercise, excitement and stress should be avoided 1 hour
before and 2 hours after meals.  Walking is permissable, as it may help
stimulate normal gastrointestinal function.

5)  Diet changes should be made gradually over a period of 3-5 days.

6)  Special attention should be paid to these procedures after animals
return home from being at a veterinary hospital.

7)  Dogs that have survived bloat are at increased risk for future
episodes.  Preventive surgery or medical management should be discussed
with the veterinarian."


I have always taken the additional precaution of mixing dry food with
warm water and letting it soak before serving - even brands that are
not supposed to expand much in the stomach, like IAMS or Science Diet.

At each of the last 2 Irish Setter national specialties, a dog has 
bloated, but luckily a prominent ISCA member is a vet tech and was
on the spot and able to save both dogs.

There has been controversy, though, over whether time should be spent
trying to pass a stomach tube in a bloat situation, since if the dog
is in torsion (stomach twisted) the tube would not be able to reach
the stomach anyway.

Despite what is said in the first paragraph, I HAVE seen a Lab in 
torsion -- I was working for a vet and it came in displaying all the
classic symptoms:  unsuccessfully trying to vomit, pacing, drooling,
swollen abdomen.  We saved it with surgery, luckily (I had to hold
the pan into which the stomach contents were emptied and it overflow-
ed.  Blech!  Not a pretty sight.)

There is still little known about the herditary factor in bloat.  Both
of my Irish's paternal grandparents died of bloat at age 8 (and his
paternal grandfather is also his maternal great-grandfather).  Tristan's
now 11 and has never had any brushes with bloat, thank God!!!


Holly