What Causes Bloat in Dogs

Bloat, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is a life-threatening condition in dogs that requires immediate attention. It occurs when the stomach fills with gas and twists, cutting off blood flow and leading to severe complications. This condition can affect any dog, but certain breeds are more susceptible than others. In this article, we will explore what causes bloat in dogs, how to recognize the symptoms, and the steps you can take to protect your dog from this dangerous condition.

What Causes Bloat in Dogs?

1. Indigestion

Indigestion is one of the common causes of bloating in dogs. When a dog eats too quickly, has food discomfort, or overeats, the stomach may swell. In this case, the dog may exhibit a loss of appetite, abdominal discomfort or bloating. Often, the problem can be solved by adjusting eating habits and food types. For example, using a slow food bowl can slow down your dog's eating rate and reduce the chance of swallowing too much air.

Also Read: How to Cure Dog's Acute Indigestion At Home​

2. Parasitic infections

Parasitic infections are also a common cause of a bloated belly, especially in puppies. Internal parasites, such as roundworms or hookworms, may cause abdominal distension. Regular deworming can be effective in preventing such problems. For example, ascites caused by tapeworm infection is often characterized by marked respiratory disturbances, easy fatigue, hyperactive palpitations, coughing, dyspnea, heart murmur, arrhythmia, and sometimes sudden onset of hematuria, jaundice, and often nodules on the skin at the base of the ears.125

3. Gastric torsion or gastric dilatation-torsion (GDV)

Gastric torsion or gastric dilatation-torsion (GDV) is an emergency situation. At this point, the dog's stomach fills with gas and may twist, cutting off the blood supply and potentially endangering life.Symptoms of GDV include severe abdominal distension, vomiting or attempted vomiting, rapid breathing, and anxiety. For example, dogs such as Labradors or pit bulls may have stomachs that may torsion after a full stomach and then after a lot of exercise. Once a dog develops gastric torsion, the consequences can be serious and require immediate surgery.

4. Malnutrition

Malnourished animals are likely to be characterized by a thin organism and pronounced bones, and the large abdominal stools that trigger ascites can be contrasted with a thin skeleton. Such dogs often have a history of mono-feeding, protein deficiency and rough housing, and stray animals are common. For example, malnutritional ascites (hypoproteinemia) may cause a dog to develop ascites, which manifests as a distended abdomen.

5. Ascites

Ascites is an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity that may be caused by a variety of reasons, including peritonitis, parasitic infections, and malnutrition. Symptoms of ascites include abdominal distension, difficulty breathing, and loss of appetite. For example, ascites caused by peritonitis, the systemic symptoms are obvious, and the whole abdominal wall is sensitive to palpation, the abdominal wall is tense, which is a manifestation of pain, because there is an infection temperature can be increased in a short period of time, and the blood test can be seen in the leukocytes increased significantly.

Symptoms of Hepatic Ascites

Abdominal distension: Hepatic ascites occurs mainly due to liver disease that causes portal hypertension and hypoalbuminemia, which allows intravascular fluid to leak into the abdominal cavity and form ascites. This results in an increase in the size of the abdomen at this point. Ascites accumulates mainly on the sides of the patient's abdomen and can move with changes in body position.

Abdominal fluid accumulation: When the liver develops sclerosis, its structure gradually fibers and loses its normal anatomical shape, leading to obstruction of blood return to the liver, which in turn triggers the production of ascites. The formation of ascites is the result of high pressure in the portal vein as a result of hepatic decompensation. As ascites is usually located under the diaphragm, and the patient may feel discomfort or pain in the abdomen.

Enlarged spleen: In cirrhosis, the inflammatory activity of the liver is intensified, stimulating the proliferation of splenic immune cells, and the spleen becomes congested and enlarged. In addition, advanced cirrhosis is often complicated by portal hypertension, which leads to increased pressure in the splenic vein and further promotes splenomegaly. The enlarged spleen may be accompanied by tenderness, and in severe cases, hypersplenism may occur, which is manifested as anemia, thrombocytopenia and leukopenia.

Lower extremity edema: Hepatic ascites causes impaired circulation, which interferes with blood return, leading to lower extremity edema. Lower limb edema mostly occurs in the ankles and feet, and may also spread upward to the calves4.

Yellow urine: A large amount of water in hepatic ascites is excreted through the kidneys, which causes the urine to become darker in color. The urine is usually yellow or orange in color and is accompanied by an odor.

6. Constipation or intestinal obstruction

When a dog is constipated, it causes feces to accumulate in the intestines, thus making the belly hard. At this time, you need to urge your dog to drink more water or use corkscrew to help your dog to have a bowel movement to avoid damage to your dog's liver and kidney function. Intestinal obstruction is one of the common diseases in puppies, which may lead to blockage of the intestines and trigger a bloated belly.

7. Other Diseases

Other conditions such as heart disease, liver problems or tumors may also lead to the accumulation of ascites and cause abdominal distension. For example, tumors that may develop in various organs in the abdominal cavity, or abdominal fluid accumulation, which is subdivided into cardiogenic (caused by heart disease), hypoproteinemia, inflammatory (bacterial, viral, tumor), and so on.

8. Pregnancy

In female dogs, pregnancy is also a cause of abdominal distension. The abdomen of a pregnant bitch will gradually get bigger as the fetus develops.

Related: False Pregnancy in Dogs

9. Fat accumulation

The only non-pathological increase in abdominal circumference is fat accumulation. If a dog consumes too much food, especially high-fat food, it may lead to the accumulation of fat in the abdomen, thus making it look swollen.

What are Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs?

Dog bloat is a common health problem that can be caused by a variety of reasons, including poor diet, parasitic infections, gastric torsion, and ascites. Knowing the symptoms of bloat in dogs is crucial to recognizing and dealing with the problem in a timely manner. Below are the common symptoms of bloat in dogs.

• Abdominal distension

The most obvious symptom of bloat in dogs is an abnormally swollen abdomen. This can be caused by gas buildup, fluid retention or enlarged organs. Abdominal distension may occur suddenly or develop gradually.

• Loss of appetite

Bloat may cause a dog to lose its appetite or even refuse to eat altogether. This is because bloat can cause abdominal discomfort, making your dog feel nauseous or in pain.

• Vomiting

Bloat may be accompanied by vomiting, especially in cases of gastric torsion or other severe conditions. Vomiting may be caused by increased pressure in the stomach or an intestinal obstruction.

• Difficulty in breathing

Severe bloat may compress the chest cavity, leading to breathing difficulties. The dog may exhibit shortness of breath, wheezing or coughing.

• Behavioral changes

Bloat may cause the dog to behave abnormally, such as restlessness, whining, trying to find a comfortable position, or avoiding activity. These behavioral changes may be caused by abdominal discomfort or pain.

How to Treat Bloat in Dogs?

Dog bloat is a common health problem that can be caused by a variety of reasons such as indigestion, parasitic infections, gastric torsion or gastric dilatation-variation (GDV), malnutrition, ascites, constipation, or intestinal obstruction. Here are some common treatments:

• Dietary adjustments

Control the amount of food: Make sure your dog does not overeat and avoid high-fat foods. For mild bloat, reduce food intake, especially foods that tend to produce gas such as beans and dairy products.

Use a slow food bowl: Using a slow food bowl can slow down your dog's eating speed and reduce the chance of swallowing too much air.

Adjust the type of food: Choose easily digestible food such as rice porridge and other liquid food, and avoid feeding food with too much gas content, such as milk and some legumes and fruits.

• Massage and exercise

Gently massage: gently massage the abdomen with warm palms, slowly clockwise, to help promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and help gas expulsion. But remember to move gently to avoid aggravating the dog's discomfort.

Moderate Exercise: Encourage your dog to take appropriate exercise, such as walking, playing, etc., to help promote gastrointestinal peristalsis and reduce the accumulation of gas in the intestines.

• Medication

Probiotics and prebiotics: Under the guidance of veterinarians, some mild pets can use gastrointestinal soothing medications or probiotics to help regulate the balance of intestinal flora and alleviate the symptoms of bloating. However, remember not to give human medication to your dog at will to avoid unnecessary harm.

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• Deworming

Regular deworming: especially puppies should be dewormed regularly to prevent parasitic infections.

• Medical checkup

Emergency: If your dog has other symptoms besides a distended belly, or if you suspect that he may be suffering from GDV, you should take him to the veterinarian immediately.GDV is an emergency and requires immediate surgical treatment.

Full examination: If your dog's belly continues to swell and is accompanied by other symptoms, such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., you should take your dog to a veterinarian for an examination to rule out underlying disease factors.

• Surgical treatment

Gastric torsion or GDV: Surgical treatment may be required if the belly is swollen due to intestinal obstruction or other serious diseases. Owners should take their puppies to the doctor promptly and follow the veterinarian's advice for surgical treatment.

What Foods Should Avoid for Dog Bloat?

Dog bloat is usually caused by indigestion, and certain foods may exacerbate the condition. To help relieve your dog's bloating, the following types of food should be avoided.

Beans and soy products: such as soy milk and tofu, these foods tend to produce gas during digestion.

Sweet potatoes: although rich in nutrients, they tend to produce gas during digestion and excessive consumption may lead to bloating in your dog. 

Foods containing lactose: such as regular milk, many dogs are lactose intolerant, which may lead to bloating and diarrhea. 

High-fat foods: such as fatty meats, high-fat foods are difficult to digest and may cause bloating and pancreatitis.

Spicy foods: such as chili peppers, which may irritate your dog's intestines, leading to indigestion and bloating. 

Foods that are not easily digestible: such as certain hard-shelled seafood and meat containing bones, which may cause mechanical obstruction or scratch the mouth during digestion. 

For the sake of your dog's health, it is recommended to provide easily digestible food and maintain a regular feeding routine. If your dog is already showing signs of bloating, consult your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations. Also, make sure your dog has adequate water intake to help promote digestion and prevent constipation.

When to See the Veterinarian?

• Observe the symptoms

If your dog shows signs of discomfort in addition to a distended belly, such as decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, or behavioral changes, or if you suspect that he may have GDV, you should take him to the veterinarian immediately.

• Palpation Examination

Gently touch your dog's belly, if it feels soft and tender, it may be bloated; if it's a bit hard, you may need to go to the hospital for a checkup, as there may be worms or other problems in the belly.

• Medical checkup

If your dog's indigestion symptoms persist for more than two days, or if he or she develops severe vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the stool, dehydration, or bloating, take him or her to the vet immediately.

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Conclusion

Bloat in dogs is a serious, life-threatening condition that every dog owner should be aware of. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and preventive measures, you can reduce the risk and help keep your dog healthy. If you suspect your dog is suffering from bloat, don’t wait—seek veterinary care immediately. Quick action can make all the difference in saving your dog’s life.