Canine Bloat: Cooper’s Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus Survival Story and a Warning

Those who own a large, deep-chested breed and don’t know what gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), aka bloat, is, go stand in a corner and don’t come out for the rest of the day. After that, please go read up on it.

I am sure, or at least hope, that does not include you. You are familiar with this horrible emergency and take every precaution to prevent it, right?

Canine Bloat: Cooper's Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus Survival Story and a Warning

There is a little clarity about what causes GDV, though.

The body conformation is a risk factor. Other things that can contribute might be age, stress levels, feeding habits as well as some ingredients. In general, bloat is being connected to eating one large meal of kibble a day, how fast is eaten, and what time before and after the meal the dog exercises or plays.

Cooper had his meal early in the morning, long enough before his afternoon playtime.

It was a hot day, and Cooper and his buddies had a great time playing with a hose.

You’ve seen dogs having fun this way before. Attacking the water, bouncing around barking. The perfect activity for hot weather.

Everybody was having a great time until Cooper suddenly look like he was not feeling so well. Perhaps he just overdid the play?

All the fun and games became a deadly situation quickly.

Cooper drank swallowed too much water too fast and was too active that is caused his stomach to twist.

When this happens, the stomach expands, and twists up and starts to cut off blood flow to neighboring organs. It is one of the most deadly things that can happen to a dog.

GDV kills on average 40,000 dogs a year. 33% of dogs who get this injury do not survive.

This can happen with eating too fast, too much water, activity after eating & drinking and so many more things that dogs do on an everyday basis.

If your dog becomes restless, starts dry heaving, pacing, or has a distended stomach to start packing up the car.

Understanding the significance of these signs saved Cooper’s life. Cooper’s mom knew something was wrong and they rushed him to the only vet open.

If they waited any longer, Cooper would have died or had permanent damage to his organs.

Time is of the essence when it comes to bloat

There is no treatment at home! If you suspect bloat, rush to a vet. It will save your dog’s life. 75 % of dogs who get to the vet within the first hour or two survive.

But prepare for a big bill as the average cost of bloat surgery is $2500-$5000 depending on location and how bad of damage has been done.

Don’t forget Cooper’s story. Bloat can happen at any time! Know the signs so you can save your dog’s life should this happen to them.

Cooper had the life-saving surgery and is recovering well.

Read Cooper’s original story here.

Related articles:
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat): RIP Barbie

Categories: Conditions • Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat): • Real-life Stories

Tags: : • •

Jana Rade

I am a graphic designer, dog health advocate, writer, and author. Jasmine, the Rottweiler of my life, was the largest female from her litter. We thought we were getting a healthy dog. Getting a puppy from a backyard breeder was our first mistake. Countless veterinary visits without a diagnosis or useful treatment later, I realized that I had to take Jasmine's health care in my own hands. I learned the hard way that merely seeing a vet is not always enough. There is more to finding a good vet than finding the closest clinic down the street. And, sadly, there is more to advocating for your dog's health than visiting a veterinarian. It should be enough, but it often is not. With Jasmine, it took five years to get a diagnosis. Unfortunately, other problems had snowballed for that in the meantime. Jasmine's health challenges became a crash course in understanding dog health issues and how to go about getting a proper diagnosis and treatment. I had to learn, and I had to learn fast. Helping others through my challenges and experience has become my mission and Jasmine's legacy. I now try to help people how to recognize and understand signs of illness in their dogs, how to work with their veterinarian, and when to seek a second opinion. My goal is to save others the steep curve of having to learn things the hard way as I did. That is the mission behind my blog and behind my writing. That is why I wrote Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog, which has turned out being an award-winning guide to dog owners. What I'm trying to share encompasses 20 years of experience.

Share your thoughts