Signs of bloating in your dog
Not all dogs will exhibit these signs of bloat, but these are some of the most common distinguishing symptoms of bloating in a dog. Normal bloating should be differentiated from the more severe condition called Gastric Dilation and Volvulus (GDV).
GDV is always painful and causes a lot of distress to your lovely friend. It needs prompt veterinary attention and evaluation.
For cases where the dog looks bloated but acting normal, check out these signs.
Hard, swollen abdomen: This is not so obvious for large breed and deep-chested dogs. You would also not notice a swollen stomach in a furry or an overweight buddy. When you pay keen attention, you might notice the hard stomach as you associate with the dog.
Retching: Bloating is associated with occasional unproductive retching. The dog attempts to vomit unsuccessfully but what comes out is just thick saliva and no vomit.
Elbows outward and extended neck posture: The dog adopts this posture in an attempt to improve his breathing. The swollen stomach makes it hard for the lungs to expand and relax as usual. The abducted elbows increase the amount of space in the dog’s chest for easier breathing.
Difficult breathing: A bloated dog would find it hard to breathe due to the limited lung space for expansion. There are a lot of abnormalities going on in the dog’s body, making him find it hard to breathe.
What is bloating?
The mention of this word sends fear down dog owners’ spines. Bloating refers to the ballooning of the dog’s stomach when filled with air, fluids or food. It is the same condition you have probably gone through when you have had more than enough to eat or eaten something you should not have consumed.
When it occurs it your dog, it can sometimes be harmless or severe in some cases. You have to be careful when handling a bloated dog as the bloated stomach can be painful and life-threatening too. However, most of the time, a bloated stomach will just subside on its own without any intervention.
Can a dog have a mild case of bloat?
Is bloat always an emergency? While there are mild cases of bloat in dogs, this should still be considered a serious medical issue. Without the appropriate treatment it could be fatal. As such, even if the symptoms don’t seem severe, you should take your dog to see a vet as quickly as possible.
4 Reasons Why Your Dog’s Stomach is Hard and What to Do
If your dog’s stomach is bloated, it could be due to a number of underlying causes, ranging from mild to severe, including pregnancy, heart failure or liver dysfunction, uterine infection (“pyometra”), internal bleeding, GDV, and several others. Many of these are very serious and concerning conditions, including GDV.