Bloat: Definition
Bloat: Symptoms
Dog owners should take their personal protection dogs to the vet right away if they have any of the following symptoms:
- Severe distress signs
- Stomach distension
- Pacing/restlessness
- Pale gums
- Excessive saliva production
- Vomiting attempts without bringing anything out
Bloat: Causes
Poor Nutrition
According to a study from Purdue, consuming dry foods with a corn ingredient as the primary ingredient caused a higher bloat risk. The other findings are listed below:
- 170 percent risk increase for dogs eating dry foods with fat as the primary ingredient.
- 320 percent risk increase for dogs eating dry foods containing citric acid that were pre-soaked before feeding.
- 53 percent risk increase for dogs eating dry foods with rendered meat and bone meal as a key ingredient.
The deficiency of minerals and vitamins is another issue. Kibbles strip all nutritious elements out of the food. The manufacturers of kibbles are required to put those elements back into the food so they can adhere to regulation standards.
Alas, kibble manufacturers try to meet the standards by aggregating “premixes” to processed food. These premixes are of Chinese origin. China’s low production standards can lead to premix contamination. The absorption of synthetic vitamins or minerals can be a challenge or an impossibility for your dog.
Ascorbic acid is rarely needed in a protection dog’s diet because dogs produce vitamin C on their own. The purging of vitamin C is necessary if there is an excess in your dog’s body.
If you want to know the origins of a premix, you should contact the company that sold the premix to the manufacturer.
Other Causes
Large breed dogs (i.e. Great Dane, St. Bernard, Weimaraner, Irish Setter) are prone to bloat. Bloat risk increases with age. Male dogs have a higher bloat risk than female dogs. Family history can be another factor. Bloating can happen to any dog, regardless of its breed. Prompt action is required if your dog experiences any bloat symptoms.
Bloat: Prevention
Feed raw diet
Generally, a raw diet is healthier than processed foods.
High carbohydrate foods can provoke gas, and excessive gas can result in bloat.
Feed raw bones
Avoid elevated food bowls
Most large breed dog owners believe that raised feeding bowls reduce bloat probability. There is no science on how elevated food bowls promote a low risk of bloat.
A study showed that 20 and 52 percent of cases among large breed dogs and giant breed dogs, respectively, were ascribed to having raised food bowls.
Food bowls must be placed on the floor.
Exercise
Your protection dog requires physical activity. The majority of dogs need daily exercise for their physical and mental wellness. Personal protection dogs for sale can be good role models for other dogs who need to exercise. The dog owner’s time of exercise should also be taken into consideration.
To avoid bloat, dogs should not exercise after eating. Also, they should avoid wrestling and tug of war. Dog stomachs need enough time to empty.
Bloat: Treatment
Homeopathy
Preparation for bloat cases is critical for at-risk breeds. You can consult a homeopathic vet if you need bloat remedies for your protection dog. The Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy website has a directory of homeopathic vets.
As you rush your dog to the vet, you can give your dog any of the two bloat-relieving medicines listed below. The need for emergency care will be reduced with these remedies.
- Carbo vegetabilis (30C or 200C dosage)
- Nux vomica (30C or 200C dosage)
These remedies can be purchased at health stores or online. You can put two or three pellets of Carbo Vegetalis or Nux Vomica on the inside of your dog’s chin.
Surgery
- Emergency surgery- This type of surgery assesses organ damage and straightens the stomach from a twisted position so gases and fluids can be unblocked. It is inevitable in nearly every case.
- Preventative surgery- A vet performs this surgery to stop twisted stomachs. The dog’s stomach gets attached to another body part (i.e. rib cage). This is not a recommendable practice. It should be used as a last resort.
About one-quarter of dogs die from bloat. Accordingly, blot prevention is essential for dogs. Fortunately, prevention measures can be taken to avoid bloat risk and improve your dog’s well-being so they can be one of the perfect personal protection dogs for sale.