He may whine and pace, he feels and looks miserable. The abdomen is distended. Blood vessels collapse and pressure is put upon the organs surrounding the stomach. Internal hemorrhage and death of tissue is a possibility. Blood flow to the heart is decreased, stressing the organ.
Shock is soon apparent.
Immediate treatment is vital. Physical and Environmental Factors Theories of causes have been many, forming part of the on-going research by the bloat panel and other institutions. Owners and veterinarians originally blamed cereal-based diets, but studies at the University of Florida, Colorado State University, the University of Illinois. This was backed up by years of nutritional research conducted by Purina. One certainty is that large.