[moondog]

Stress (physical or mental) is also a trigger for bloat, so I would think that indicates a genetic component in some dogs. I lost a very edgy Irish Setter to bloat when she was 2.

If a dog eats a 15 lb bag of catfood and bloats, I don't think that would say anything about genetics, but for those dogs like mine that just bloated with no contributing factors apparent other than breed of dog, it sure would lean towards a genetic predisposition to me.

I'd think a familial link wouldn't be hard to establish if one really studied and kept records of the history of a particular bloodline (both vertical and horizontal). That's another good reason for breeders, or potential breeders, to really get to know the history of the dogs they plan on breeding and to document it.