The dog may repeatedly lie down and get up, pace, whine or stretch. If you notice any of these signs and suspect your dog may be bloating, withhold all food and water from the animal and call your veterinarian immediately. The most important thing to remember is that the condition is a surgical emergency. Call your veterinarian as soon as you notice signs of bloat in your dog. Different levels of bloat exist.
Simple bloat is where the stomach fills with air, but the dog can still vent the air.
Sometimes, however, the stomach begins to rotate and in the process may close off the openings to the stomach. At that point any air in the organ is trapped, the pressure cuts off blood circulation, and the stomach tissues may begin to die. Rotated stomachs need prompt veterinary attention. In fact, the earlier bloat is recognized, the better chance a dog has of recovering. In cases of simple bloat, the veterinarian may only have to decompress the stomach by passing a stomach tube.