Stomach distension alone is referred to as a “simple bloat”, or dilatation. This simple bloating can occur on its own and may resolve on its own.
Try it first: Cardio. Whether a nice long walk, a brisk jog, a bike ride, or even a jaunt on the elliptical, cardio will help deflate your bloat. Physical activity such as this will help expel gas that causes pain and help move digestion along.
Using ACV for bloating is simple. Adding a tablespoon of ACV to a small glass of warm water and then drinking it before or after a meal or when a person feels bloated is all they need to do. A number of drinks, salad dressings, and other foods also contain ACV that may help to relieve symptoms of bloating.
Without treatment, GDV is a fatal condition. A dog with bloat may only have an hour or two to live.
A dog with bloat might still drink water. Some dogs refuse to drink and eat completely, others actually seek out water to replenish after vomiting or to alleviate the pain bloat causes. What is this? In any case, you shouldn't let your dog drink large amounts quickly if bloat is suspected.
Hot food, cold food, big kibble, little kibble, too much food, too much exercise, too many carbohydrates, and stress have all been touted as causes of bloat, but remain unsubstantiated. Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that breed is a risk factor for developing bloat.
The classic sign of bloat is unproductive retching (it looks like your dog has to throw up but nothing comes out). The abdomen appears to be swollen and firm to the touch. Breathing may also appear to be labored and they may have a hard time getting up or even collapse.
Some dogs with bloat will still want to eat because they are food-orientated. They will do virtually anything for treats. However, bloat in dogs is quite painful. Once the dog associates the pain with food, it is likely that they'll stop eating.
Treatment of simple bloat can be quite straightforward. Dogs are usually hospitalized to receive large amounts of intravenous fluids and sometimes medicine. They're also walked often to stimulate movement of the gastrointestinal tract to help move the gas and food quickly through the body.
It occurs primarily in large, deep-chested breeds. Bloat occurs without warning and is very difficult to treat. It does not seem to affect one sex more than the other, but is more likely to occur as a dog ages. Bloat commonly occurs in dogs between the ages of 7 and 12 years.
Predisposed breeds include Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Weimaraners, Irish Setters, Gordon Setters, Standard Poodles, Basset Hounds, Doberman Pinschers, and Old English Sheepdogs. In a recent study, the top three breeds found to be at risk of bloat were 1) Great Dane, 2) St. Bernard, and 3) Weimaraner.
So what would we recommend to toss that bloated, heavy, blah feeling to the curb? A REAL food cleanse. Try eating only unrefined foods for a week. That means instead of bread, pasta, and breakfast cereal, choose whole grains like quinoa, cracked wheat, buckwheat, millet, oats, or wheat berries.
Baking soda is effective at relieving both indigestion and acid reflux when it's consumed. It can also help with bloating and gas. Mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with 4-5 ounces of warm water and drink up to experience relief.
Lemon water can help with digestion
To relieve bloating, gas, and constipation, drink a cup of lemon water first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. Lemon contains minerals that promote healthy digestion, alleviate heartburn, and stimulate healthy bowel function by reducing bloat and stimulating bowel movements.
Your body needs water – a lot of it. Dehydration leads to constipation, which leads to bloating. And while it may seem counterintuitive to drink more water, when your body gets the hydration it finally needs, it lets go of the liquid it doesn't. Be sure to drink at least eight, eight-ounce glasses a day.
For those suffering from GI symptoms, diaphragmatic breathing offers specific benefits: Activating the diaphragm creates a gentle massaging action felt by internal organs like the intestines and stomach, which can reduce abdominal pain, urgency, bloating and constipation.
The treatment for bloat is a stomach pump to relieve the gas and if the stomach is twisted, surgery to untwist the stomach. In some cases of bloat the pancreas and spleen are also affected and additional surgical intervention is required.
Your vet will first release the build-up of gas and air inside the stomach to stop the tissue in the stomach from dying and take pressure off surrounding organs. This can be done using a tube and stomach pump, but surgery is sometimes needed. It's possible to untwist the gut at this point as well, but not always.
Symptoms of GDV or bloat in dogs
The biggest sign of bloat is vomiting. A dog with bloat appears highly nauseated and retches but little comes up. It's important to recognize the signs of bloat — for each hour that goes by, there is a greater risk for complications.
If a dog eats too much or too quickly, canine bloat can occur. During the passing of the food to the stomach, there is a buildup of gasses, and the stomach begins to blow up like a large balloon. As gasses continue to build up, the stomach stretches beyond its limits and prevents blood circulation to the heart.