Procedure Can Protect Dogs from Bloat

ATLANTA (MyFOX ATLANTA) - Bloat can quickly become a life-threatening for a dog. An outpatient surgical procedure can help pets from developing the condition.

One Atlanta couple decided to give the procedure at chance on their dog Shelby.

The rambunctious Chesapeake Bay retriever is still a puppy and her favorite activity is eating.

"For many dogs that's the most exciting thing in their life is eating, they eat with a lot of gusto, swallow a lot of air and that air has nowhere to go so it can expand," said veterinarian Dr. Mike Smith.

The dog's stomach can twist, cutting off the blood supply and leading to organ failure.

Symptoms of blot include drooling, unsuccessful attempts to belch or vomit, pacing then weakness and a swollen belly.

"The stomach gets larger and larger the animal goes into shock and if it's not addressed or recognized quickly they can die," said Dr. Smith.

Clairmont Animal Hospital veterinarian Dr. Smith said bloat tends to strike big dogs with deep, narrow chests like Great Danes, German Shepherds and retrievers.

A surgical procedure called gastropexy can keep a dog's stomach from twisting.

The Hammonds took Shelby in for the procedure.

Dr. Smith used a laproscopic camera and made two small incisions during the surgery.

The doctor gently grasped a small piece of the stomach and then attached that part of the stomach to the body wall. The procedure will prevent the stomach from twisting in the future.

Three hours after the surgery, Shelby was awake and ready to do her favorite thing…eat.

The laproscopic procedure was originally developed by a vet at UGA for the military, because it was losing 10 percent of its working dogs to bloat.

Dr. Smith emphasized that bloat can come on quickly and kill an animal, so it's important to see a veterinarian right away.

Nervous or aggressive dogs are more vulnerable to bloat, as are those who get one big meal a day of dry food. Dogs that have relatives that have had bloat are also at risk.