Bloat

Dyan, I used to be a wreck worrying about bloat with Tonka.  He was deep chested, so more susceptible to it.  No matter what kind of research I did on it, I never felt there was a definitive protocol for preventing it.  We raised Tonka's food bowls, but then I read that could make it worse.  We kept him calm after meals, didn't let him gulp water, etc. etc.  But I'd hear stories like the one you just told, and I'd worry.  It was one of the many reasons I hated leaving him at a kennel, or even with a housesitter in our home.  I wish there was a clear way to avoid it.  To be faced with such an emergency when you may not be near a vet clinic would be terrifying.  My heart goes out to the woman in your post.

I just emailed my vet (not the one I work for) to see if they would have treated my dog had this happened. I remember when I first got Bubblegum, I called or stopped in at a few vets in my area to see who I would take her to. The one I had hoped for I decided against when I found that she was very much "into" yearly vaccinations AND they said they would refer us to Emergency in a case of bloat since they handle them all the time.   I couldn't remember what the clinic I go to had said, so I email them.   I'm glad to know they would not turn her away, he said at the very least decompress the stomach before sending them to emergency.  But I don't really know the whole story on what happened that day yet. 
I also do everything I have read that could help prevent bloat. I do have raised bowls and do think that is important, mainly because I think the less stress the better, and it has to be stressful for a tall dog to have to reach way down to eat off the floor.   I also give Bubblegum probiotics every meal, when we went away and I knew she was stressed, I doubled up on them.  I have simethicone (the strong stuff) in my fridge because I have a paper printed out from a lady with a Dane that bloated..said give them simethicone to try to keep the gas down,,,and Rescue Remedy to keep them calm and from going into shock...just to "buy some time" on the way to emergency.   I sure hope I do'nt have to use any of these things.

I worry a lot about bloat, too.  I've read up on it as much as I can, but there never seems to be any specifics.  As in, how soon after he eats can I let him have water?  How much is too much?  If he starts exhibiting signs of bloat, how long do I have to get him to the doctor?  It would take me thirty minutes to get him to the nearest emergency (24 hours) vet clinic.  It really frightens me.

Yeah, pretty much it would take me 30 min. too.  That scares me.  I know my vet said we should make a dry run to make sure we know exactly where it is and to save time.  
I think it depends on the dog and how long we have, so your go FAST!
As far as water, everything I read says never hold back water from your dog. Some do say watch his intake after eating and exercise. I do both. I also add water to her kibble RIGHT BEFORE if put her dish down...she gobbles it all up and doesn't really drink water from her bowl after that since I've been doing that. The water in her kibble must satisfy her.

My dog (Standard Poodle)developed bloat as we were trying to save her during an Addisonian crisis...definitely stress related.  I agree Dyan, the more I read about bloat, the more I'm convinced that stress is the major contributing factor in its development.

Were you successful jbv?
You know, the killer part of the stress is that sometimes you have a dog that every thing seems to stress him out!

I was browsing the internet today trying to learn more about it, and this page has a lot of information and a LOT of links with more information....
 
[linkhttp://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm]http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm[/link]

Anyone with a large breed should have a bloat kit on hand. It can save your dogs life and give you extra time to work with.
[link>http://www.kifka.com/Elektrik/BloatFirstAid.htm]http://www.kifka.com/Elektrik/BloatFirstAid.htm[/link]

I was browsing the internet today trying to learn more about it, and this page has a lot of information and a LOT of links with more information....

[linkhttp://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm]http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm[/link]

 
While there is some good information on this site, I don't believe in all of it. It almost looks like someone put everything they have ever heard of together and on the link.  
There is some things there that I don't believe in or like...(this is my opinion obviously) such as I don't believe you should EVER hold back water as it suggests (no water one hour before or after eating) and elevated bowls. I believe that it is much more stressful to have a tall dog have to bend so far down to eat from bowls on the floor then it is to have elevated dishes....and since I believe stress plays such a big part of bloat,,I would NEVER feed my Dane from the floor.
I know a lot of people suggest to have that bloat kit, the Great Dane Lady suggests it also. But I have read that by the time the normal person figures out how to use it, you could be well on your way to the emergency vet.

A lot of the information on that page and in the links seem to contradict itself, I know.  But I read most of it, and anything that seems to come up repeatedly I paid attention to.
 
I leave perhaps an inch of water in the bowl around mealtimes, and refill it up an hour later.  That way, Marty can get a little water, but he can't gulp.  Considering there's no exercise for him an hour before and an hour after mealtime, he doesn't really have a huge need to drink a ton of water.

Were you successful jbv?
You know, the killer part of the stress is that sometimes you have a dog that every thing seems to stress him out!

 
No very sadly we were unable to save her.... although we tried desparately.  The addison's had just been diagnosed (while she was in crisis)...then megaesophagus, microcardia, severe anemia,  and then bloat...her whole body was shutting down.  She wasn't even 4 years old when we helped her pass.  She was a wonderful dog...no real obvious signs of significant stress...didn't like being groomed...and just prior to her crisis, developed a fear of thunder. Generally though, she interacted beautifully with everyone, she was very intelligent and responsive...I swear she could read my mind!  She was a joy...I could go on and on...it just takes someone to ask about her and I'm off...  

Thanks to everyone for the info. I need to know if anyone has heard of bloat in cocker spaniels, as I just lost my second cocker to this terrible condition. The first time it happened overnight at home, and I had never heard of it! More recently, my new cocker was boarding at the vet's and took sick while there. They caught it in time to do surgery, but he went downhill afterward. Both dogs (unrelated) were males, neutered, with highly anxious temperaments (even for cockers) and both totally food-driven. Both were rescue dogs whose backgrounds I didn't know in any detail. Can someone relate to this?

Gee that sad about your cockers...but I do know that any dog can bloat and any dog can die of it, its just more common in giant breeds,,,such as the Great Dane.  Just last year I came across two people that lost their German Shepherds to bloat though. 
I think we must make sure to feed our dogs premium food with some kind of meat as the first ingredient...that is important. I also add real meat on top of it,,makes ME feel better about kibble and she loves it.

I'm going to ask a silly question here, but I don't know, so here it is:
How do you know if your dog is deep chested?
I don't know what that means.
Is a pit bull considered deep chested?
I know they're broad, but does that necessarily mean deep?
I worry about bloat too. That's why if Ella gets kibble, I water it down.