Posted on 11/24/2011 6:40:01 AM PST by Titan Magroyne
So I arrive home from work this morning - usually both dogs greet me, the senior first, by standing on hind legs with front paws on my wrist so I don't have to bend down to give them a hug.
It was immediately obvious that the 8 y.o. was uncomfortable and her sides were swollen.
Now I've looked up the symptoms of bloat, but what I'm asking for is help with *eliminating* that, if possible. So if there's anyone knowledgible out there on this holiday morning, I'd appreciate some help.
Besides the obvious discomfort and swollen abdomen, her collar was higher up her neck than it usually rests, pointing to her having stood hunched up with head down.
Since my arrival, she's had a very healthy looking BM with a normal amount of effort. Firm & steamy, good to go there.
With my encouragement, she ate grass until she vomited twice, which is usual when she has an upset tummy (also not rare for her). Up came the grass and foamy moisture. This dog will not eat on an upset tummy, so it was gurgling before and after she unloaded at both ends, also normal under the circumstances.
After that, she responded to overtures of play from the other dog and me: not up to full activity & still uncomfortable, but she picked up a tree limb or two and shredded a few sticks. She refused to roughhouse with the other dog.
I'm trying to keep her within sight & hearing to catch if she gags, pants, dry heaves or any other of the "hallmark" bloat symptoms. But really she prefers to go huddle in her usual dark, cool, quiet corner of the dining room, and she's doing none of those things so far. Eased down gingerly upon first contact of chest to floor but looks comfortable now that she's down there.
Gums normal to pale, and warm as expected.
Really, all the symptoms I have here are swollen abdomen and obvious tenderness.
Plese, are any old hands with canines available to assist?
Went ahead and pinged your list, Joe.
You might need an old hand with a x-ray machine, and a young hand with a surgical knife. Anything missing around the house? As in something your dog might have swallowed?
Did she have access to any food/poison that she shouldn’t be eating? Salmon, rat poison etc. The Spleen will enlarge quite a bit if she ate something she shouldn’t have.
I had a Lab that died at the vets because he figured that one out too late.
When my 7 yr old labradoodle seems to have an upset stomach of any kind, I push one pepto bismol tablet down her throat. Seems to help within a very few minutes. An old country vet gave me this hint years ago. I’ve used it with several dogs that I’ve had through the years.
Salmon is poison to dogs?
what breed of dog are you talking about??? deep chested and large dog. been through this three times not a good experience for you or the dog time is critical. the phenomenon could be gastric torse. try picking up the dog under its front shoulders and do a quick almost a drop a couple of times.gastric torse is when the stomach flips like a hammock. the quick drop possibly will unwind the stomach. just prepare yourself with a expensive vet bill and heartache. the success rate is low
My elderly Chocolate Lab, who I loved very much, ultimately died due to bloat, not the cancer for which he was being treated. If it were me, I’d not take any chances, it’s very painful. There’s not much you can do yourself unless you’ve caught it very early. Give her Gas-X, that could reduce the bloating enough to allow her stomach to return to a normal position.
Outside of that, there’s surgery and that’s it. If it is bloat, you’ll know. Tissue death sets in, then shock. She’ll be gone before the day is out.
That she’s eating at all makes it sound to me as if it’s not bloat, technically torsion-volvulus. She could have ingested something that is causing a blockage, which again might require surgery.
If her sides remain distended for any length of time you need to call up the emergency vet and tell them you don’t have the money but are desperate to seek treatment. Some of them will work with you, and some of them have foundations associated with their practice that exist to fund just this sort of thing, to help the pets of people who are not able to pay for treatment.
Good luck, do the right thing for her, she loves and trusts you, and you are her shepherd and advocate in this world.
Please keep us informed what happens.
Can you take her to the Vet tomorrow if she’s not better? Have you tried calling the clinic and talking to someone at least to find out what you should be watching for in symptoms —what are the danger areas where you might have to take her to the clinic.
No question. Take your dog to the vet. She is probably suffering and you cannot take any chances trying to treat her yourself. Call the vet and let them know you are on your way. You have to do this. Unless she is just a ‘dog’ and considered expendible. Then just lock her in the bathroom and hope for the best.
Sorry to sound cold but I cannot abide any animal suffering and you sound like you are weighing your options. So what if it is a little drive. I am sure your dog would sacrifice everything for you.
Is the abdomen still swollen even after having a bowel movement & vomiting? Is it tender if you touch it?
Maybe vetvetdoug can help.
had a standard poodle with bloat. 55lbs.
symptoms were major discomfort, inability to vomit. sides were not swollen visibly. came on really fast, over 2 hours total.
went to vet. diagnosed bloat and operated immeadiately. if it is bloat, time counts, meaning hours. if you wait a day and it is bloat, you may lose the dog.
if it was me i would take the dog to the vet. if the sides are visibly swollen, you got a major something.
tab for the operation: $5,000. stupid i know, but didnt know that until afterwards. had i known i would have just got a new dog for a lot less.
so other thing to consider, how much you want to spend saving the dog, bloat will be a load of cash.
If the dog attempts to go to the bathroom (BM) and cannot manage it, the issue is most likely a bowel obstruction. The only recourse is the vet as soon as possible. Our local vet charges—I’m not making this up—$500.00 to open up nights or holidays. They don’t make it easy on us, do they?
I’m sure you intended to direct your response to the author of the thread and not me.
>>> “You might need an old hand with a x-ray machine, and a young hand with a surgical knife. Anything missing around the house? As in something your dog might have swallowed?”
No. She’s not a real mouthy type. She’d of course help if the other dog opened a food package she shouldn’t, but there’s no evidence of that in sight.
No poisons within reach either. Haven’t used any in a while.
I did have a lab die years ago of duodenum blockage - vet said her intestines were bound to her lower stomach as with a drawstring by some kind of large (presumably) food packaging. Of course it was plastic, which did not show up on x-ray, and was only found upon necropsy. This dog is not having that dog’s symptoms (and I have covered trashcans these days), but she’s not interested in drinking/eating.
One thing is pretty clear from a few minutes searching the ‘net. There is no way to definitely eliminate bloat by a few posts back and forth. However, I did notice that most sites say it is very painful, and your dog does not now exhibit that.
I am still searching and will post further if I find anything that might be of use to you.
Any chance the dog got into rising bread dough? That cost me $500 a few years ago. The dog was bloated and drunk( bread yeast produces alcohol) and dogs can’t metabolize alcohol.
Well, he said she has had both a BM and has vomited. I wonder about worms, but I’m a cat lady. Don’t know much about dogs. I know I’d probably offer it a heating pad if I had one, simply because when my own stomach hurts, that helps.
Yeah, I am an “old hand” at this sort of thing. Unfortunately, the only answer is the vet. Too many things with bad endings can cause this, and the faster you get the dog to competent medical care, the better. And you usually only have hours to deal with this, if it is torsion/bloat, before the dog will die a very painful death.
I speak from experience, as we are breeders of GSDs (deep chests, all that) and some of our bloodlines can be prone to torsion/bloat. We have had 4 dogs over the years that have torsioned, and in 3 cases they died or had to be put down within hours (one in 2 hours) of the start of symptoms. One had successful surgery.
However, on a good note, most emergency vets have seen so many of these that they are much more competent than your normal vet on handling/diagnosing this class of condition. If it is possible to save the dog, they will be able to do so. The only drawback is money. They are expensive... very expensive.
i used these guys once for quick answer and it was really good, you get a real vet in chat. i can reccomend it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.