Bloat question

[angelbears]

I know there is not much info that is concrete out there but your opinions would be welcomed. Ziva gets extremely anxious during a thunderstorm, I'm always afraid she is going to bloat. Would it be better to feed her before or after the afternoon storms? I feel that feeding raw helps but I would like to take as many precautions as I can. All muscle meat or a boney meal?

 

[Rugers-Kris]

I don't have an answer for you but I worry about bloat SO much. Ruger will not stay calm after he eats. He gets the zoomies and wants to play as soon as he finished and when a dog his size wants to run, there isn't much you can do about it. :-/

 

[ruthcatrin]

Stress IS considered to be a known trigger......I'd say empty stomach is better IMO though I'm hardly an expert.....do things like Rescue remedy or a Thundershirt help her at all?

 

[angelbears]

Tried rescue remedy last night, didn't seem to work. I'm not sure how much I got in her though and if I had a strong enough dose.

Anyone here use rescue remedy and can suggest a dose for a 120 pound dog?. Also, an easy way to get the dose down her?.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Both of my two will take RR if I put it on a treat first. Maybe if you put it on a bite of bread?

The bottle I have says "4 drops and repeat as needed", but thats going to be a "normal sized" dog. So I'd say you could double or wven triple it.

 

[voidecho]

I don't have an answer for you but I worry about bloat SO much. Ruger will not stay calm after he eats. He gets the zoomies and wants to play as soon as he finished and when a dog his size wants to run, there isn't much you can do about it. :-/

Lincoln is the same way. As soon as he's done playing he wants to play. We spend the next 30 minutes trying to calm him down.

 

[mx5055]

ab...you're in Florida correct? I was born in Florida...McDill Air Force Base (raised in Calif though). Anyway, when I was still married we moved to Fl due to husband's job (Tampa area) and after a couple years to Boca Raton, where I ended up for way too long. I don't really know much about bloat, but our rotti who moved with us was petrified of the lightening/thunderstorms in Florida...only thing I ever knew that dog to be afraid of. Besides having a mental/emotional reaction to them he also had a very physical one. Throwing up/diarrhea, etc. I found he did much better on an empty stomach whenever I could predict the storm coming...made it easier to deal with, and distract him from the mental/emotional fears he had if we didn't have to deal with the physical reaction at the same time. Hope this helps at least a tiny bit...Good luck

 

[angelbears]

Actually I'm in Texas but same kind of weather patterns. Storms can just kind of dust up out of nowhere or coming in off the Gulf. So they can catch you off guard. I hate not feeding her. She is the one that is a rescue and came to us almost starved to death. She panics almost as much over delayed meal times. I feel I'm just screwed either way.

Thanks Ruth! How long does it take to work and about how long does it work?

 

[mx5055]

Actually I'm in Texas but same kind of weather patterns. Storms can just kind of dust up out of nowhere or coming in off the Gulf. So they can catch you off guard. I hate not feeding her. She is the one that is a rescue and came to us almost starved to death. She panics almost as much over delayed meal times. I feel I'm just screwed either way.

Thanks Ruth! How long does it take to work and about how long does it work?

Sry...thought it was Fl....similar weather season coming up though...if the RR doesn't work, have you asked you vet if there is anything prescription wise that might calm her stomach down...or her whole being during this time of the year? I am not at all a big fan of giving my dogs any type of drugs unless absolutely necessary, but you seem really concerned with her and this issue, so it might be something to check out

 

[angelbears]

No problem! We use a Homeopath but we really haven't explored her fears yet. Ever since we got her we have pretty much been in a drought, so it was far and few in between. Plus, she has been doing so good with her anxiety. We really thought we had a good grip on it. Until last night and it was just pitiful. She wouldn't come into the bedroom to go to bed. She got in the hall and laid behind the door.

Debra even made a pallet and slept in the hall with her.

 

[ruthcatrin]

Half hour-ish, but its better if you can get it in her before the storm hits

 

[tojvan]

I don't have an answer for you but I worry about bloat SO much. Ruger will not stay calm after he eats. He gets the zoomies and wants to play as soon as he finished and when a dog his size wants to run, there isn't much you can do about it. :-/

Lol I thought my pup was the only one that did this I mean he'd be dead tired and wanting to sleep but as soon as he finishes his meal he is all over the place like jumping on the couch, running around the house like a maniac! Lol it's like he gets thus sudden burst of energy.

 

[mx5055]

No problem! We use a Homeopath but we really haven't explored her fears yet. Ever since we got her we have pretty much been in a drought, so it was far and few in between. Plus, she has been doing so good with her anxiety. We really thought we had a good grip on it. Until last night and it was just pitiful. She wouldn't come into the bedroom to go to bed. She got in the hall and laid behind the door.

Debra even made a pallet and slept in the hall with her.[/QUOTE

Oh no...poor baby My sister has a dog with so much separation anxiety and they tried everything they could for almost 2 years...they had no luck with anything, and finally gave in and put him on a medication the doctor recommended and he is a completely different dog today. I am of the same mind as you when it comes to medicating my dogs...so is my sis, but the medicine really did change his life.....he got to the point where he was so anxious all the time that he really had no quality of life....now a total different dog. Good luck

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

My paranoia self I'd feed Thor after certain events.

 

[Hank DDB]

What I do with new puppies is sit on floor with them after their meal if they run around (hank was active after eating) after eating, and I calm them down with slow strokes and calm voice, and in storms which we have had a few later I sit with them and calm them down just like after a meal. ( hank was also very scared of thunder). I'm not sure if it will work with a older dog . Put with puppies it works for me.

 

[tojvan]

actually i have a question, i know prevention is better than the cure, but what if bloat occurs is there anything you could do to save your dog?

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

There are bloat kits available for your dog if you catch it in time. But the best is to get your dog to a vet ASAP. More importantly know the signs.

 

[angelbears]

There are bloat kits available for your dog if you catch it in time. But the best is to get your dog to a vet ASAP. More importantly know the signs.

100% agree!

We keep GasX on hand. At the first sign of discomfort we will give two.

 

[tb44]

Where do you get the kits? I've owned large breed my whole life and thank god nobody ever got it. I know giant breed is different. Scares the hell outta me.

Sent from my HTC VLE_U using Tapatalk 2

 

[Duetsche_Doggen]

http://www.naturesfarmacy.com/store/results.php?category=9

[URL="http://www.kifka.com/Elektrik/BloatFirstAid.htm"]http://www.kifka.com/Elektrik/BloatFirstAid.htm

[URL]http://www.ginnie.com/gdv.htm [/URL] [/URL]Not really a kit but symptoms and studies for bloat.