Bull Mastiff diagnosed late with Bloat

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millimoo

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I'm posting this on behalf of my mum for some advise and guidance.
Our bully is 4 years old, and was found in a distressed state on Sunday night - panting & agitated. He was seen by the vet as an Emergency on the same night as my mum was concerned it was Bloat.
He was given painkillers, something else and seen by the same vet the next morning for Xrays which show a mass in his stomach.
The vet thought it was food (ruled out socks & towels etc as not that way inclined) so initially didn't want to open him up and wanted us to take him home yesterday afternoon and walk him about to see if we could naturally get things moving as he obviously had a blockage of some kind with nothin obvious showing.
To cut a long story short, the dog remained in a distressed state and was rushed in for an emergency op last night and has been confirmed as having Bloat.

The vet has said there were no contusions or stomach damage, but I have two questions:

1. Is Bloat hard to spot, i.e if the gas is hidden by food on Xray? or did the vet fail to make a proper diagnosis (negligent).
2. The dog is due home tonight we hope, but is there anything we should expect / look for over the next few days, weeks and even years (mums already decided she's going to make changes to his diet etc). Also do any of you have experience of this?

Sorry for the long post, but we're all a bit shocked by it and if it wasn't for mums gut feeling he might not have been here this morning - also realise he has a way to go in terms of prognosis / recovery, but any info would be appreciated.
 
Sadly these dogs are prone to this condition
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I have seen clients adhere to the strictest of routine, and still the dog has suffered an episode of bloat, it's usually easy to spot, the dog will begin to gulp, salivate, sometimes vomit and the stomach will begin to swell up at a pretty alarming rate.
Our vets advise the usual, no exercise after food, or indeed no food when the dog is exerted in any way, break meals down into 2 smaller rather than one large esp if the dog gulps it's food down, and some of our vets advise raising the food slightly, with an erganomic(sp) feeder.
I would not like to comment on the diagnosis of your own or your vets procedures, there are a few vets on here, they may/may not add, but they have a life and are not here are frequently as the rest of us...ok me
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Thanks CALA I appreciate your quick response.
Also understand your comment about the vets: our vets very good and I trust him 100% with my menagerie of cats and dogs. I think mentioning negligence was a bit harsh on my part, and it's in no way a witch hunt, just trying to get our heads round how we got to where we are.
As for Bodger, he's my mums fourth Bully, and it's the first time we've ever seen it.
He's not big on food, and although fed twice a day is a bit of a grazer - prefers people food if he can get it.
I guess the vet was flumoxed as his tummy didn't swell up and he certainly wasn't tender in that region on the Sunday night, at no point had any vomiting and only started salivating yesterday afternoon.
Anyway, we're keeping fingers crossed he comes home tonight and makes a speedy recovering.
Thanks again .....
 
Found this on a website - Aim: to prevent bloat.

Divide the day's ration into two or three meals a day, spacing them well apart. If feeding a dry food, ensure it is well soaked beforehand. If your dog has a tendency to eat very quickly, gulping his food down, try slowing him down by placing a very large smooth stone (too big to be swallowed) in the middle of the food bowl. If you have more than one dog and meal times are a competition to see who eats fastest then try feeding them in separate rooms. Put both the water and food bowls on a stand at head height, thus reducing the amount of air swallowed during eating or drinking. Do not allow your dog to drink large quantities of water at a time, especially after a meal. Avoid exercise for about two hours after a meal. Avoid feeding before or during stressful or exciting situations. Most important of all, ensure you know and can recognise the symptoms of bloat and act quickly by taking him to the vet immediately.

Much of this information was echoed by the previous poster.
 
Thanks applecart14, all info is much appreciated.
It's wierd though, as he's not a greedy dog and because he's an only child, eats little and often through out the day - in fact he hasn't always finished up at tea time in which case we just don't give him anything else. The only thing my mum didn't do was soak his dried food which may be where the problem lies - my lab always has water with hers, but she eats it all the minute it's down.
He's actually very lean and fit - he's tall and athletic, rather than short and stocky like a lot of his breed, and generally has a very laid back demeanor..... now we know what to look for though we'll be watching him like a hawk bless him.
thanks again......
 
We lost a GSD with bloat. His stomach began to swell up within half an hour of his food, and he showed the symptoms Cala mentions, gulping, salivating etc. He did not vomit, I actually undertood they could not vomit with bloat so have learned something. Got him to the vet within 20 minutes but with hindsight he receieved poor treatment. Was opened up, and then sent home to recover. I now realise he should have been on rehydration therapy and treated for shock
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Sadly he bloated again the next day and we were unable to save him. I changed vets shortly afterwards.
It would seem your mastiff was not showing any typical symptoms so perhaps your vets action is understandable, but not really qualified to comment further.
We have always followed the regimes mentioned to avoid bloat, only thing different in this instance was he had been on a different food for a few days, a flake maize based one. I have always felt that was to blame although of course there is no proof.
 
They try and look like they are vomiting but without sucess or atleast the ones I have experienced not me personally) but dogs at work
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and my mams rotti
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, u are correct MM.
 
Also dogs who have suffered from bloat can often get it again so just keep your eyes peeled!

If any animal is nOT showing typical signs it can be difficult if you have no previous experience of it, to diagnose it! (Speaking as a vet student here, not a vet)

But hopefully it will all go smoothly now on for you!
 
There is masses on this subject and we were particularly vigilent as had a Wolfie. Ours was rushed to the vets as was showing signs (very similar to collicking in horses) pacing, aerophagia, looking at flanks. The timing is crucial and our dog's problem turned out to be trapped wind! £1000 worth!
That was the only episode he had and not related to anything obvious as nothing had changed and he had last exercised hard 5 hours previously, last eaten 3 hours previously. He was desperate to be sick and eat cleavers (his preferred emetic)
The best advice I can give you is to contact these people... They are friends of ours and have considerable experience and have even had an elective gastropexy (sp?) on their dogs. They are pretty authoritative and so approachable, lovely and will not mind one bit that your pup is not a Wolfie. Do contact them and Anne will be able to share her experience of bloat with you (not her personally but her dogs of course!)
Hope all is well from now on as its terrifying!
http://www.irishwolfhounds-guernsey.com/feeding.html


both bitches have had a gastropexy

http://www.irishwolfhounds-guernsey.com/
 
Just want to say a huge thanks to you all.....
Bodger came home last night, and whilst still very restless is not crying and eventually settled down and slept through.
He's a bit whingy today, but has had a small breakfast (although is very suspiciosu of food) and the vet thinks he will make a full recovery.

On the subject of feeding as low to the floor as possible, it's a bit of a catch 22 - he's fed off the floor due to his height and potential impact to joints.
 
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