Many dog owners may not be aware as to what bloat is exactly, and why it is such a problem for their pets. But bloat can be a serious, even life-threatening condition, and it always requires immediate medical attention. Many dogs can actually die from this condition since it can be really difficult for dog owners to spot the warning signs. That is why knowing what to look for can mean the difference between life and death for your pet since bloat is a condition that progresses quite rapidly. Minutes can mean the difference between a dog surviving or not.
Bloat is also known by the names gastric dilatation, gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), or twisted stomach. It is a medical emergency that causes the death of up to 40% of dogs – even if they’re given immediate care. Bloat is caused by air getting trapped in the dog’s stomach. The swelling of their stomach causes pressure to be put on the internal organs, like the lungs, and that can cause difficulty breathing. Eventually, bloat progresses by decreasing the blood supply to their vital organs.
One family was fostering an Akita who developed bloat. They got extremely lucky that they discovered it in time. The Akita, named Roscoe, had just arrived at the foster home, and unbeknownst to them, Roscoe was already in the early stages of bloat. The family had filmed his arrival and that video ended up being something that would later be used to raise awareness.
Even though nobody in the family had experienced a dog with bloat before, they still acted quickly when they felt that something was wrong.
YouTuber, DancingAkitaLady, posted on the video, “I can tell you from personal experience that we can talk to you about it forever, but until you actually experience it, it is very difficult to recognize. They say a picture is worth a thousand words and in this case, the video is priceless for its teaching value.”
That is when the video they’d previously captured turned out to be so important to help people learn about the warning signs of bloat.
You can watch it below, but you should be warned that it may be a little difficult to watch:
Share with the dog lovers in your life.
