The dangerous illness known as "bloat," or gastric torsion, frequently affects dogs with deep chests. It happens when the dog's stomach is overly inflated and flips over, making it impossible for it to return to its upright position.
Gastric torsion, also known as "bloat," is a serious condition that often affects deep-chested dogs. It occurs when the dog's stomach becomes too full of air and flips over so it can't return to its normal position. When this happens, blood flow to the heart is obstructed, and the stomach becomes inflamed. Bloat can be fatal if treatment isn't given within two or three hours after symptoms first appear, so it's important for owners to be aware of symptoms and act quickly if they notice them in their pets.
Bloating in dogs is a medical emergency and requires immediate pet medication. If your dog's stomach gets too full of air, it can flip over and become so inflamed that it can't return to its normal position. The condition is fatal if the dog doesn't receive treatment within two to three hours.
The term "gastric torsion" may sound like a harmless malady, but it's anything but a minor case of indigestion. In fact, gastric torsion is one of the most common causes of death in dogs under ten years old. The condition can be fatal if not treated within 2-3 hours. In fact, gastric torsion accounts for about 20% of all cases of canine bloat, which is a condition where the stomach swells due to gas buildup.
The condition happens more often in deep-chested dogs, like Great Danes and Labradors.
The condition happens more often in deep-chested dogs, like Great Danes and Labradors. These breeds have a lot of room for food to expand. The gassy stomach will fill with gas and possibly twist on itself, cutting off blood flow to the stomach and other organs.
The good news is that gastric torsion can be treated with surgery and pet medications, and a good diet like Royal Canin gastrointestinal dog food if it's caught early enough. The bad news is that you might not know your dog has gastric torsion until it's too late to save them, and there are no tests to check for it before symptoms start showing up. So how do you protect your dog from this condition?
The best way to prevent gastric torsion is by feeding your dog small meals throughout the day instead of leaving food down all day or by feeding your dog Purina’s pro plan dog food and Hills prescription diet. This will help keep things moving through their system quicker so they don't get backed up and cause bloating or gas buildup (which can lead to torsion).
Gastric torsion has a high mortality rate.
The treatment of gastric torsion depends on how severe the case is and how quickly treatment begins. If it's not treated immediately and properly, there is a high chance of death within 24 hours. When treated early enough and properly, there is a 90% survival rate for dogs with this condition.
The mortality rate of dogs with gastric torsion is high. The sooner you take your dog to the vet and give the right pet medicine, like antibiotics for dogs, the better its chances of survival will be. A dog can die from gastric torsion if left untreated for too long. In fact, it's not uncommon for owners to find their pet dead in its bed after it has gone into cardiac arrest from gastric torsion and bloating. Dogs are most at risk within two or three hours of eating too much and drinking too much water very quickly—so if your dog seems uncomfortable during this time frame and/or has trouble standing up or walking around normally, get him or her help immediately.
Bloat is fatal without treatment
If you're wondering why gastric torsion is called fatal bloat in dogs, it's because the condition is so serious that there's a high risk of death if your dog doesn't receive treatment within two to three hours.
It's important to know that if you think your dog might be suffering from gastric torsion, the first thing to do is call your vet immediately. Don't wait for him to get better on his own or for him to vomit whatever air was causing this issue. If left untreated, gastric torsion can lead to shock and organ damage. Without immediate medical attention from an experienced veterinarian and pet medication, these conditions can lead directly to death.
As with any emergency situation, the first step to treating bloat is getting your dog to the hospital as quickly as possible. If you're not sure what's going on or don't know where the closest animal hospital is located, call 911 and ask for their help in finding one nearby. The faster the treatment and pet medicines like antibiotics for dogs begin, the pet meds can be easily found in a pet pharmacy, the more likely it is that your dog will survive this condition.
If you are able to take your pet directly to an emergency veterinary hospital, be sure to bring along any information about his/her medical history (including surgeries), as well as proof of vaccinations, if possible. This documentation may help speed up care at the clinic and could mean life or death for your pet.
Conclusion
The symptoms of gastric torsion in dogs are much more severe than in humans. In humans, it is often treated with surgery and IV fluids, but in dogs, it can be fatal if not treated immediately. The best way to prevent gastric torsion is by ensuring your dog has plenty of exercises and doesn't overeat. Gastric torsion is considered a medical emergency, and prompt treatment can save your dog's life.
