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PROBLEMS / ANSWERS
Bloat is a very seriousBloatBloat is a very serious health risk for many dogs, yet many dog owners know very little about it. Bloat is the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer. It is frequently reported that deep-chested dogs, such as German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Dobermans are particularly at risk. Causes It is thought that the following may be the primary contributors to bloat. bullet Stress bullet Dog shows, mating, whelping, boarding, change in routine, new dog in household, etc. Although purely anecdotal, we've heard of too many cases where a dog bloated after a 3rd dog was brought into the household (perhaps due to stress regarding pack order). ( I acquired a new adult dog 4 months ago) bullet Activities that result in gulping air bullet Eating habits, especially... bullet Elevated food bowls bullet Rapid eating bullet Eating dry foods that contain citric acid as a preservative (the risk is even worse if the owner moistens the food) New bullet Eating dry foods that contain fat among the first four ingredients bullet Insufficient Trypsin (a pancreatic enzyme present in meat) bullet Dilution of gastric juices necessary for complete digestion by drinking too much water before or after eating New bullet Eating gas-producing foods (especially soybean products, brewer's yeast, and alfalfa) New bullet Exercise before and especially after eating bullet Heredity (especially having a first-degree relative who has bloated) bullet Build & Physical Characteristics bullet Having a deep and narrow chest compared to other dogs of the same breed bullet Older dogs bullet Males bullet Being underweight bullet Disposition bullet Fearful or anxious temperament bullet Prone to stress bullet History of aggression toward other dogs or people Prevention Some of the advice i below for reducing the chances of bloat are: bullet Avoid highly stressful situations. If you can't avoid them, try to minimize the stress as much as possible. Be extra watchful. Can be brought on by dog shows, mating, whelping, boarding, new dog in household, change in routine, etc. bullet Do not use an elevated food bowl bullet Do not exercise for several hours (e.g., 2 or 3) before and especially after eating Particularly don't permit your dog to roll over, which could cause the stomach to twist bullet Do not permit rapid eating bullet Feed 2 or 3 meals daily, instead of just one bullet Do not give water one hour before or after a meal It dilutes the gastric juices necessary for proper digestion, which leads to gas production. bullet Always keep a product with simethicone (e.g., Mylanta Gas (not regular Mylanta), Phazyme, Gas-X, etc.) on hand to treat gas symptoms. Some recommend giving your dog simethicone immediately if your dog burps more than once or shows other signs of gas. New Some report relief of gas symptoms with 1/2 tsp of nutmeg or the homeopathic remedy Nux moschata 30 bullet Allow access to fresh water at all times, except before and after meals bullet Make meals a peaceful, stress-free time bullet When switching dog food, do so gradually (allow several weeks) bullet Do not feed dry food exclusively bullet Feed a high-protein (>30%) diet, particularly of raw meat bullet If feeding dry food, avoid foods that contain fat as one of the first four ingredients New bullet If feeding dry foods, avoid foods that contain citric acid New If you must use a dry food containing citric acid, do not pre-moisten the food bullet If feeding dry food, select one that includes rendered meat meal with bone product among the first four ingredients New bullet Reduce carbohydrates as much as possible (e.g., typical in many commercial dog biscuits) bullet Feed a high-quality diet Whole, unprocessed foods are especially beneficial bullet Feed adequate amount of fiber (for commercial dog food, at least 3.00% crude fiber) bullet Add an enzyme product to food (e.g., Prozyme) bullet Include herbs specially mixed for pets that reduce gas (e.g., N.R. Special Blend) bullet Avoid brewer's yeast, alfalfa, and soybean products bullet Promote an acidic environment in the intestine Some recommend 1-2 Tbs of Aloe Vera Gel or 1 Tbs of apple cider vinegar given right after each meal bullet Promote "friendly" bacteria in the intestine, e.g. from yogurt or supplemental acidophilus Avoids fermentation of carbohydrates, which can cause gas quickly. This is especially a concern when antibiotics are given since they tend to reduce levels of "friendly" bacteria. Breeds At Greatest Risk Breeds most at risk according to the links below: bullet Afghan Hound bullet Airedale Terrier bullet Akita bullet Alaskan Malamute bullet Basset Hound bullet Bernese Mountain Dog bullet Borzoi bullet Bouvier des Flandres bullet Boxer bullet Bullmastiff bullet Chesapeake Bay Retriever bullet Collie bullet Dachshund bullet Doberman Pinscher bullet English Springer Spaniel bullet Fila Brasileiro bullet Golden Retriever bullet Gordon Setter bullet Great Dane bullet German Shepherd bullet German Shorthaired Pointer bullet Great Pyrenees bullet Irish Setter bullet Irish Wolfhound bullet King Shepherd bullet Labrador Retriever bullet Miniature Poodle bullet Newfoundland bullet Old English Sheepdog bullet Pekinese bullet Rottweiler bullet Samoyed bullet Shiloh Shepherd bullet St. Bernard bullet Standard Poodle bullet Weimaraner bullet Wolfhound bullet Sighthouds bullet Bloodhounds And perhaps most importantly, know your dog well so you'll know when your dog just isn't acting normally. Information compiled from GlobalSpan.net using the references above. Although I have summarized information I found from the links, I cannot attest to the accuracy. Please consult with your veterinarian for medical information. Back |
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