Bloat...Is it heriditary?

[kclinch]

How do some of you breeders on the forum feel about breeding dogs who have bloated in the past?

It has been a topic of discussion at the vet clinic where I work, as a GSD breeder had one of his males bloat the other day(not gastric torsion, just a really, really, really bad case of gas). The dog is 2 yrs old, out of great lines, Schutzhund 1, AD, BH, OFA good, etc....

A friend of mine and I were talking and she thinks that the dog should never be bred because of this.

How does the forum feel.

[rottie40]

Well in my opinion there can be many factors??
In my boarding establishment I see many different breeds, Weimaraners and Great Danes seem to be more susceptible to it than many other breeds??
Feeding can be a factor and consideration should be taken about what to feed and when and not to exercise within an hour or two of feeding
I had a Rottweiler that bloated 3 times the last time they opened him up to find he was riddled with cancer and that had been the cause of the bloat.
If the GSD is the only dog that has bloated in an otherwise long line of dogs that have never suffered then indeed maybe the cause is something remote, rare and not hereditary.
Over the years have seen many bloats in many different breeds And it never gets any less scary - A TRUE VETERINARY EMERGENCY

[kclinch]

Originally Posted by rottie40

Well in my opinion there can be many factors??
In my boarding establishment I see many different breeds, Weimaraners and Great Danes seem to be more susceptible to it than many other breeds??
Feeding can be a factor and consideration should be taken about what to feed and when and not to exercise within an hour or two of feeding
I had a Rottweiler that bloated 3 times the last time they opened him up to find he was riddled with cancer and that had been the cause of the bloat.
If the GSD is the only dog that has bloated in an otherwise long line of dogs that have never suffered then indeed maybe the cause is something remote, rare and not hereditary.
Over the years have seen many bloats in many different breeds And it never gets any less scary - A TRUE VETERINARY EMERGENCY

Thanks....This is kinda my thoughts.

BTW, Having worked in an emergency clinic and a vet clinic, you ain't kidding about it being a scary thing!

[bliss7373]

I am not a breeder, but I recently lost my girl (a rescue) to bloat. While bloat is certainly prevalent in some breeds - I've not seen a study that indicates it's hereditary amoung certain bloodlines. As you mentioned above, there are so many factors that come into play. For example, my girl had been in poor health and had other gastro issues, prior to bloating. I strongly feel that her case of bloat was "secondary" if that makes sense.

That being said - if I were a breeder and realized that my lines were showing an uncommon amount of bloat, I'd rethink my future plans. Likewise, if I had a dog that was prone to bloat (i.e. several successfully treated instances of non-lethal bloat), I would strongly consider removing that dog from a breeding program. I'm a strong believer that you don't breed unhealthy dogs- and dogs who are prone to bloat are NOT truly healthy.

In the situation you describe - if this is the dog's first case of bloat, I wouldn't automatically decide not to breed him based on this fact alone.

Just my two cents.

[cally01]

We have never had a Newfoundland dog that bloated and they are a common breed prone to bloat. Cassie (our oldest Newf) had many cases of bloat in her lines. Her brother bloated/torsioned twice first time they stapled one side of the belly then he flipped the other way. Who knows what caused his bloating episodes perhaps the poor quality kibble fed, stress etc. Cassie has never bloated or even had gas and she is going on 12 years. Plus, the male that bloated twice sired a few litters before his incidents and none of the pups ever bloated.

For my Rottweiler Athena she started bloating when we bought a new house. The stress of moving, having to live with other dogs...the food I was feeding was Innova Chicken and Turkey I found out that Turkey can cause gas. I think for Athena I had her on Yucca root for too long and it caused stomach problems for her which the first cause of stress and eating kibble made her bloat. I switched to a raw food diet steer clear of cruciferous vegetables as I have found these veggies will cause her to bloat even on a raw diet. She is very sensitive and cannot get rid of gas as a normal dog would.

Genetics have a lot to do with it as the dogs body is built in a way that the stomach is more inclined to flip. But, food, environment, stress are major factors as well. I think sometimes breeders are looking for that perfect look and chest depth etc and this poor conformation which is sought after in the show ring is not healthy for the dog in general...thats just my opinion :)

We had a Stnd Poodle that used to bloat only during very stressful times. My Sister has taken emergency first aid for dogs and was with the Royal life saving committee for many years so she is great to have around in times of emergencies :)

I keep nux vomica a homeopathic remedy for gas on hand at all times. This way when I see Athena showing signs of bloating I give her 5 pellets. This helps her immensely and stops the bloating from going any further. I was getting really worried that she may torsion, but, with precautions and having this homeopathic treatment on hand I feel I much better and safer.


I would never give my dogs any of those gas remedies from the pharmacy as they can cause more problems in the long run.

[Skip]

Originally Posted by kclinch

How do some of you breeders on the forum feel about breeding dogs who have bloated in the past?

It has been a topic of discussion at the vet clinic where I work, as a GSD breeder had one of his males bloat the other day(not gastric torsion, just a really, really, really bad case of gas). The dog is 2 yrs old, out of great lines, Schutzhund 1, AD, BH, OFA good, etc....

A friend of mine and I were talking and she thinks that the dog should never be bred because of this.

How does the forum feel.

Just asking for my own education here. I thought bloat WAS gastric torsion, and that is what is the real medical emergency...ie the twisting of the stomach that cuts off circulation. Am I mistaken?

[kclinch]

Originally Posted by Skip

Just asking for my own education here. I thought bloat WAS gastric torsion, and that is what is the real medical emergency...ie the twisting of the stomach that cuts off circulation. Am I mistaken?

Skip,

It is and it isn't.

Bloat is caused by too much gas or fluid in the stomach. This gas can extend the stomach causing gastric dilation. If the stomach partially rotates its called gastric torsion. If it fully rotates its called gastric volvolus. Each can be a life threatening problem.

BLOAT FACTS:

1. Dogs with bloat nearly always are between four and seven years of age. Two-thirds are males.

2. It usually affects dogs of the larger, deeper-chested breeds: Great Danes, German Shepherds, St. Bernards, Labrador Retrievers, Irish Wolfhounds, Great Pyrenees, Boxers, Weimaraners, Old English Sheepdogs, Irish Setters, and others of large size (58 pounds was the average size in one study) It rarely occurs in small breeds.

3. Dogs who bloat tend to eat large quantities of dry kibble.

4. They exercise vigorously after eating and tend to drink water in large amounts after meals.

5. They may have a history of digestive upsets (gastritis).

6. There may be a familial association with other dogs who have bloated.

SIGNS OF GASTRIC DILATION

The signs are excessive salivation and drooling, extreme restlessness, attempts to vomit and defecate, evidence of abdominal pain (the dog whines and groans when you push on the stomach wall) and abdominal distention. Its important to know the history of the dog. Has it eaten recently? Drunk water? Has it been running or exercising within 2-3 hours of eating?

If the dog is able to burp or vomit you can usually rest assured that the gut is not twisted. This can be treated at home. Give Mylanta by mouth. Dosage for a small dog is 6 ounces; Medium dog is 8 ounces; large dog 12 ounces. Make sure you walk the dog after giving the Mylanta until the bloat is relieved or until you can contact a veterinarian. If the bloat is relieved at home, it would still be a good idea to contact your vet to let them know the dog bloated. IF YOU ARE UNSURE, RUSH THIS DOG TO THE VET IMMEDIATELY. THIS COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN LIFE AND DEATH FOR YOUR DOG. Once a dog bloats, it will usually bloat again in the future.

SIGNS OF TORSION OR VOLVULUS

The initial signs are the same for Gastric Dilation except more severe. The distress is more evident. There could be rapid breathing, pale gums and the dog may collapse. The shock like symptoms are due to the strangulation of the blood supply to the stomach and spleen. RUSH THIS DOG TO THE VET IMMEDIATELY. Surgery is needed to relieve a torsion or volvulus. The chance of a recurrence is about 15 percent.

Some Websites:
Great Dane Links: BLOAT

[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.