Deanna's right. Your dog is not going to die of starvation if you just feed him a little later. Believe me, I have a Lab, who thinks he's always starving, so if he can handle it, yours can too.

I think I posted this recently re diet info and bloat:

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/dietrisk.htm

160% increased risk with dry dog food that contains fat among first 4 ingredients

200% increased risk with dry dog food that contains citric acid

53% decreased risk with foods that contain a rendered meat meal with bone product among first 4 ingredients

It states moistening dog food does not increase the risk - UNLESS the food contains citric acid, in which case the risk increases 300%!

"These findings can be used by owners to select dry dog foods that may reduce the risk of GDV."

For interest sake, here are a few dry foods that contain citric acid, I am sure there are many more:

Kibbles n Bits
Iams
Eukanuba
Owen and Mandeville
Fromm
Eagle Pack (incl Holistic Select)

Just a couple I checked that have citric acid, in addition to having fat in top 4 ingredients

**Nutrience

**Nature's Recipe Lamb

**Natural Balance - several versions have citric acid, and their Oven Baked Dog Food and their Potato and Duck formula have citric acid and fat in top 4 ingredients

As some of you know I go around to people's homes delivering dog food etc. I was due to go to deliver to a customer with a Bernese Mountain Dog this morning. The customer has just phoned as his dog developed bloat in the night. They fed the dog and the dog started throwing up foam and when they handled the dog they noticed his stomach was rock hard. Luckily they didn't mess around they were straight on the phone to the vet and two vets met them at their surgery within 15 mins.
The dog had an operation to correct the twist and is now back home. The vet did say that it had happened before as there were stitches inside the dog from a previous occurence.
The customer did not know this as the dog is a rescue. Interestingly, the vet said that the procedure has now improved as they can stitch the stomach to prevent it happening again.
The dog had been out to the beach during the afternoon and was well rested by the time he was fed. The only difference was that as it was very hot yesterday the dog hadn't eaten in the morning and was probably very hungry by the evening.
I shall keep you posted as to how this dog progresses. He is a bear of a dog and has such a sweet nature that naturally his owners are devastated.

I'm no vet, but I'm going to risk sharing an emergency technique that someone (a vet) shared with me. I'm sure it may draw some comments, but what he hell, if it saves a life, all the better. I was told that if you find a dog down with bloat, one of the most critical things is to relieve the gaseous pressure built up, but unable to escape due to the twisting of the entry/escape valves. Doc gave me a LARGE needle without the syringe attached (I don't knwo what gauge, but it is thick) and told me that in an emergency, the needle can be inserted into the stomach which will relieve the pressure build up. Kinda like sticking the inflation pin into a basketball. I've forgotten exactly where the entry point was described to me, but I still have the needle and would certainly give it a try to avoid another loss. Crazy, or has anyone esle heard of this.

I have heard of this but it's critical that you get the needle in the stomach and not another organ.. I would have the vet teach you the exact location to insert the needle to ensure it's in the proper place.

Joe
I've seen that procedure,I think on Emergency Vets,but for us uneducated, I would have to see it performed, and explained EXACTLY where the needle went. Lots of "parts" could be messed up to easily.

Originally posted by Five-O Joe:
Doc gave me a LARGE needle without the syringe attached (I don't knwo what gauge, but it is thick) and told me that in an emergency, the needle can be inserted into the stomach which will relieve the pressure build up. Kinda like sticking the inflation pin into a basketball. I've forgotten exactly where the entry point was described to me, but I still have the needle and would certainly give it a try to avoid another loss. Crazy, or has anyone esle heard of this. I gotta kick in here. If the stomach is torsed (twisted, flipped, whatever) not just bloated, it will be very difficult to safely insert a stomach tube. It's easy to rupture the stomach or esophagus by forcing the tube in. Basically, if it's flipped, you no longer have an opening to insert the tube unless you do some tricky manuevers. Been there, done that. You try lifting a 120 pound anesthetised dog so it's standing on it's back legs!

BUT, by relieving the gaseous pressure, it's much easier to insert the tube, or it gives you a little more time for the drive to the EC.

Lay dog on side (in most cases Left side down). Just behind the ribs, find the highest point. Guess what- gas is lighter than tissue- it rises :-) Pour alcohol or whatever there to clean, and firmly tap needle in. Usually 18 gauge needle (green cover). Do not stare straight into the end of the needle. You can gently push the abdomen down a bit to let more air out as the stomach deflates.

Dilatation aka Bloat: Stomach fills with gas, food, water, whatever.

Volvulus aka Torsion: Organ actually flips (can be stomach, spleen, intestinal, etc)

Technical name- Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus aka GDV.

You can have a bloat that hasn't torsed. But if the stomach flips, it will bloat- no outlet.

Anna

Thanks for the information Anna. Hopefully it will never be useful to anyone.

 Quote:

Originally posted by Five-O Joe:
Thanks for the information Anna. Hopefully it will never be useful to anyone.

Grin, one of my favorite goodbyes when I worked at the E clinic was "now go away and never come back".

Anna

Wow, Anna, thanks for that information. I truly hope I will never need to use it!