Worried about bloat...

B

bluehorse

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 January 2008
Messages
396
Visit site
I'm concerned that my Weimaraner may have been showing some symptoms of bloat. She's been at creche all day, so when we got home I fed her and then gave her a carrot to chew (normal routine). She happily took the carrot but suddenly dropped it and started looking round at her belly, sort of stooping, sitting and lying down, looking round at her side. She stayed like this for a few minutes, looking generally unhappy and coming to me for comfort, her belly looked and felt a little bigger and harder than usual.

I immediately rang my vet for advice and got put through to an emergency number. This number rang for ages and eventually went through to a recorded message asking me to ring their help centre number, which I did, only to hear another pre-recorded message telling me their office was closed. I'm fuming....

During all the time it has taken me to try and get some veterinary advice she appears to have returned completely to normal, her stomach feels normal, I have pressed quite firmly all round it, and she is sleeping peacefully. She did go for a drink but I took her water away.

So now I don't know what to do, hence the post. Do I need to be worried? If so I will try ringing round some other practices not just my normal one to TRY to speak to a vet...she really does seem fine now though.

Thanks for any advice...
 
How far is the surgery?
How old is she?
Is she salivating or trying to vomit?
Has she passed faeces?
Did the creche/would they have fed her?
Is her stomach normal now?
What did u feed/dry/meat?
 
I would advise, you make contact with a vet, find out how far the surgery is, if the vet is in surgery or has to be called to surgery and make them aware of your concerns, as if she does bloat or show signs you need to be there asap and you need to know everything is in place as time is of the essence with bloat.
 
The surgery is not far but they are closed now, there is another even closer but that's closed too.
She is 8yrs old
No not salivationg or vomiting, although she did try to eat grass when she popped out to the garden
Don't know if she's passed faeces, she may have done before tea but not been out since (has dog flap so can go when she pleases)
Creche dont feed
Stomach feels normal now
She had her normal dry feed (Autarky) with a bit of Nature Diet mixed in - normal tea. She gets two meals a day so smallish portions.

She is now snoring her head off curled up on her bed. I can hear a few quiet tummy rattles...

Thanks Cayla
 
I would say with what you describe there was obs/is obs something up as the grass scoffing was no doubt her trying to make herself sick, they don't actually vomit with bloat but will try in most cases.
Bloat can happen very rapidly or over a period of hours, I would definately make contact with the vet, even if she is settled and make them aware, atleast then, you can find out if the vet is in the surgery (sleeping in) like ours do, as not all vets sleep in, some travel to practice when called. And which surgery you are going to in an emergency. (preperation is your friend in these circumstances)
So make contact at the very least. If you chose to keep an eye on her, keep her with you.
She is older and breed wise (prone to bloat) so a bit higher risk.
 
I would definately try and get hold of someone NOW so you know where you are going and how quick a vet can get there if she goes in next few hours. Last thing you need in an emergency, and bloat is a true emergency, is to be scrabbling round trying to get a vet to meet you quick enough. They need to be able to get to surgery asap and open her straight up.
 
Thanks both I'm ringing round...

Got to say I'm seriously underimpressed with the emergency service of my own vets. I will be ringing them tomorrow regardless to complain....
 
Well I've finally managed to speak to a vet. We have agreed that I will watch her overnight but bring her in immediately if I become concerned. I know where they are, they have all her details and are lined up to receive her if necessary.

She will be sleeping in my room tonight, fingers crossed it's a false alarm...
 
Good good, now fingers crossed she just had a bit of tummy upset or wind:D
You should sharp notice if she becomes uncomfortable. Atleast now you know you can get hold of the vet:)
 
Yes I feel much happier now. Don't know much about bloat other than the fact that it kills, so I'm glad I've spotted it even if it is just a bit of wind. Better open up my bedroom windows tonight then...

Thanks again for your help.
 
Hope you have a restful night.
My mums Bull Mastiff got bloat a few years ago (first time on 4th Mastiff she's had)
He saw the vet, with light symptoms, and was sent home to be monitored. Within a couple of hours he was in a terrible state. Hunched, tucked up, drooling, panting, couldn't lie down... Truly awful to see. He was rushed in for emergency surgery that evening, and I think it was touch and go. He recovered but wasn't quite himself for a good 7 months (wouldn't jump in car etc). You would never know now, but first thing she did was get him off dried food and makes her own concoction up which he loves (he was never a fan of dried and we suspect wasn't drinking enough either)
I'm sure your dog will be fine... As a rule they get quite distressed, although I remember a lost on here where the pup showed very few symptoms at all.
 
at least now you know your emergency strategy for anything in future as well. It would be awful not to be able to get a vet in an emergency. Hope you have an uneventful night.
 
Hopefully now you have an emergency plan in place you won't need it :)
Fingers crossed for a peaceful, comfortable night
 
Thank you all for your kind thoughts, she slept all night so no emergency thank goodness.

She seems a little quiet in herself today so definitely a bit under the weather I think. I will be keeping a close eye on this for the future, as Cayla said she's probably in a slightly higher risk group so I can't be too careful...
 
My dog got bloat a couple of years ago symtoms as follows
Pain - screeched like hell
Trying to vomint - but not productive
Will not be still - due to discomfort
Be aware that they stomach will not always bloat up.
Do not try to give food or water
Get to vet immediately - your vets emergancy procedure sounds terrible - id be looking to change!

As everybody has said, you have no time once this starts - its often fatal. Within an hour of Twig showing signs and getting her to the vet, he told me there was very little hope. He operated and she had a 360oC torsion. Thankfully she survived, but if Id have waited any longer she wouldnt be here.
When you've seen bloat once, you'll never forget it.
Hope your pup is OK.X
 
Just as an update, with regards to out of hours emergencies, whilst phoning round last night pretty much all the vets were supported out of hours by this company:

http://www.vetsnow.com/

I did actually get through to one of their vets in the end - i just wasted time as I had already tried their number and so didn't see the point of trying again, so I kept trying alternative practices.

When I eventually spoke to the (lovely) vet, she was surprised and concerned as they had been there all the time, perhaps I was unlucky, maybe they had been wrapped up with something else in those few minutes. TBH if I'd kept trying that number I probably would have got to speak to the vet sooner than I eventually did.

The number is dependant upon location and the vet you get through to is local. Intereresting in my area they operate out of the local PDSA hospital which is open 24/7, now I know that i won't bother to call in an emergency, I'll just go straight there. It's only 15 mins down the road...

I don't think there is anything wrong with their service, I just think that my vet should explain their out of hours procedure in more detail so you know what to expect. At the time, I was gobsmacked and panicking...

All well that ends well though thank goodness :)
 
My daughter did some locum work for the PDSA and all their out of hours was covered by Vets Now. As I said to her, if I was calling my vet out of hours it would be because I was seriously worried and would be less than happy having a vet I had never met before. She said that more and more small animal practices are using these sort of services, as otherwise unless it is a huge practice with a number of vets they would be working punishing hours, which does make sense. However I am glad that when you phone our vets in an emergency you get one of them, just gives me more confidence.
Glad all has ended well for you, I didn't want to elaborate on my earlier post but we lost our dog with bloat, he survived the surgery but then went down hill. Although I got hold of the vet straight away he informed me he couldn't meet me at the surgery until he had eaten his meal "or his wife would be furious". I'm not saying the delay made a difference, but I changed vets immediately afterwards.:(
 
I agree MM, I have heard very good things about the service provided by vetsnow (and obviously in an emergency for my lot who qualify for pdsa care they will be who I use) but I too like to know the vet I am seeing, in an emergency its even more important to have someone you know and trust I think, just for peace of mind. I keep thinking the state I would have been in had Milo been under the care of a vet I didnt know last year, the peace of mind I got (although clearly still desperately worried) from knowing that vet and knowing she would be there giving him her all was some comfort in such a traumatic time. Although of course it could have swung both ways there is one vet at my surgery that could have been on call and I would have been MORE concerned to leave my dog in his care cos I know him too! Just pure luck that the most dedicated vet I have ever known was on call and when she answered phone I did breathe a sigh of relief that no question my dogs would have her undivided attention for as long as neccessary. Wasnt anticipating the poor woman having no sleep for the next 5 days!
Thats awful he had to finish his tea! I would have changed vets too!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top