Dogs with bloat are usually in acute pain and distress, pacing and restless and will display non-productive retching or vomiting, and excessive salivation. Progressive enlargement of the abdomen, which can start to feel like a tight balloon, is a sign bloat is well advanced. Dogs with bloat are also usually weak and depressed. Without treatment this condition can lead to death within a few hours.

Bloat is potentially fatal for a number of reasons. As the stomach enlarges and twists the blood supply to the stomach is cut off, causing the tissue to begin to die and leading to the release of harmful toxins throughout the body. The expanding stomach also puts pressure on the lungs, preventing them from expanding and depriving the body of oxygen. As the stomach expands it also puts pressure on the major blood vessels (vena cava) resulting in disruptions of blood flow to various other body organs.

Diagnosis is often based initially on breed predisposition. On examination, the stomach will be obviously enlarged and very firm and the dog will be in considerable discomfort. An x-ray is performed and usually reveals a grossly enlarged stomach full of air. Sometimes the twist in the stomach can also be seen on the radiograph.

We’ll begin treatment by placing the dog on intravenous fluids to stabilise the patient and counteract shock. Once stabilised, a long tube will be passed through the mouth into the stomach to attempt to decompress the stomach. In many cases decompression is not possible using this method, but if decompression can be achieved this way the patient is better stabilised before the next step — surgical correction of the problem.

Whether the stomach is first decompressed or not, surgery must be performed to decompress (if not achieved with a stomach tube) and untwist the stomach. Usually the stomach is then permanently stitched to the side of the abdominal wall so it is held firmly in place and cannot twist again.

In some cases, the stomach will only fill up with air and not twist on itself. These dogs still need surgery to secure the stomach position and prevent it from twisting in the future. Without surgery there is an 80 per cent chance of a recurrence of bloat, compared to 3-5 per cent after surgery.

In cases where the blood supply to the stomach has been cut off for too long the stomach will look very blue or black in surgery. Sadly, these dogs will not survive and the kindest thing is to euthanise them.

Patients who have been treated for GDV require intense monitoring for at least 36 hours after surgery. A common problem post-surgery is cardiac arrhythmia — where the heart beats irregularly — caused by the heart receiving reduced oxygen during the bloating episode, causing parts of the heart muscle to be damaged, and also due to some of the toxins released after the stomach position is corrected.

Bloat is an extremely serious condition, and frequently fatal. In most cases where we cannot save the patient it’s often because the dog’s owner was unaware of, or failed to recognise, the initial symptoms and the patient reached the hospital too late for corrective surgery.

Dog parents should familiarise themselves with the signs of bloat and act swiftly if they suspect their dog is suffering from the condition. The sooner medical treatment is begun the greater the dog’s chances of survival. With prompt and appropriate treatment most dogs suffering from bloat that undergo surgery have a  55-70 per cent chance of recovery.