warning! bloat in dogs

Dave-R · Post by **Dave-R** » Sat May 16, 09 8:46 pm

Wil you should have seen the state of me last Sunday when my dog lost himself in some bushes and I realised he had gone back the way we had come to look for us. I thought he was in front of me and he thought I had gone back.
We had parked on the other side of a busy main road and I realised he would make for the car. I was in a right state running back shouting for him.
I passed an old couple who said they had seen him running back and fore near the road. My heart was in my mouth I can tell you.

I was so relieved when the bugger came running back towards me safe and sound. He looked as worried as I had been.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Sun May 17, 09 12:16 am

Glad everything worked out OK Neil , know only too well what it's like losing yer buddy.

SteveCase · Post by **SteveCase** » Sun May 17, 09 7:05 am

Glad she's ok Will, lost my German Shepherd 5 years ago this year, and l still miss her.

Doug · Post by **Doug** » Sun May 17, 09 12:51 pm

Happened to my big lad too, again a rotty, had him for a hip score when he was 18mths old,brought him home,everytime he went to lay down or get up he wimpered a little bit,

Early hrs of the morning i got up out of bed , just knowing something was wrong, he was laid there with his side distenered on 1 side , str8 to the vets as Will says, vet immediatly did the tube thing, wouldnt pass all way in , str8 to operation, luckily went all ok , ended up with staples on 1 side instead of stitches, made a full recovery thankfully.

Also in their later years watch out for lack of appetite or shortness of breath, can be quite susceptable to growths nr the heart or in it, just nother thing to watch out for..........glad alls ok Will with yours

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon May 18, 09 12:13 am

dogs are awesome. I got very very attached to a dog i was sharing / looking after half the time/ training etc. After a few months the person decided i was no longer needed and my access was denied. He got jealous I think as the dog liked coming to my place much more than going back to his place, where it got left in a cage all day unattended, so his solution was to stop the dog coming here. No amount of reasoning and asking would get me anywhere. Still hurts like hell and I wind myself up thinking about that poor doggy. I even dream about her. I had no idea a bond between a dog an a human could be so strong, it had never happened to me before, and even though I have since got my own dog, the bond is not the same. There are no two dogs the same, as with people. Just one of those things.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Mon May 18, 09 8:30 am

Thanks for the comments

Bess is now on a very different diet and seems to be loving it.

Just started last night after the ok from the vet, Raw minced chicken and slightly cooked veg mashed, the chicken is specially for dogs, and the veg is only what a dog can eat, I.E no onions, garlic, or anything from the nightshade family, was a little sceptical she wouldn't eat it but gone in 60 seconds

Throughout the day she has tinned dog food in 2 hour intervals at the moment, we're going to introduce more natural food for her as time goes on and get her off the commercial rubbish.

Problem with Bloat is that the vets do not know what causes it, take the elevated food bowl for instance, you'll find just as much info saying it's good as info saying it's bad, heavy chain in the bowl seems to be recommended to make the dog slow down and eat around it, daren't do that with our dog as the chain would be gone too !, also there's a special bowl with big bumps in the bottom to slow em down.

Another thing we're doing is she does not get fed if there is anyone else here

SteveCase · Post by **SteveCase** » Mon May 18, 09 8:31 am

Absolutely agree there Will, the main reason l moved house 5 years ago was the place just wasn't the same anymore. Couldn't face going in and her not being there.