I recently had a question about bloat from a concerned breeder of German Shepherd Dogs.
Question:
My mom's best friend, a 4 1/2 yr old reg. German Shepherd, just died of Gastric Torsion this past Monday. He woke her up at 3:30 am Monday and was gone by 5:30 am. Mom tried to reach a vet, but since we live way out in the country, none were answering their phones. She did not know what to do until it was all over.
What my question is, there seems to be so many different theories, what exactly is the best research showing as to what exactly causes this? I have heard that a certain type of dog food. I have heard that the dog was malnouished in the mother's womb. I have heard that too much exercise after eating. I have heard of table scraps (which she did feed him a steak bone Sunday night, but she has fed him steak bones many times before). The shock of the whole thing is just how quickly he went. She just wants some kind of answer to his death, and since I also have reg. shepherds, I would like to know what not to do.
Answer by Dr Rex Riggs of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio:
Bloat is thought to be from air actually swallowed and you don't want your dog to run around after eating for 2 hours. Dogs with deep chests are more prone. Bloat is a combo of genetic and enviromental factors. We now will tack the stomach to the body wall of prone breeds when we spay them to prevent bloat in the future.
I do think feeding a better quality food makes a difference. I would choose food with fewer fillers because they can potentially cause gas formation but that is not a proven theory.
BTW we never recommend bones for dogs, not because of bloat, but because of obstructions.
Dr. Riggs
After reading Dr. Riggs' answer, I asked my friend Roxanne Hawn, who writes a lot about dog foods, for suggestions on food with fewer fillers for those of us on a budget (because aren't we all on a budget these days?) She got right back to me and I'll post her answer tomorrow.
Stay tuned...
Related Posts:
Claim example: gastric torsion, or bloat, in a standard poodle
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Dr. Rex Riggs grew up in Wadsworth, Ohio, near Akron. Dr Riggs is co-owner of Best Friends Veterinary Hospital in Powell, Ohio. He is also on the board of the North Central Region of Canine Companions of Independence, a board member of The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine Alumni Society and Small Animal Practitioner Advancement Board at The Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Riggs lives in Lewis Center with his wife Nancy, their two dogs Boo and Maggie, and two cats Franklin and Speeder. Outside of work, Dr. Riggs is an avid golfer and enjoys travel and photography.
