20 Signs Of Bloat In Dogs

Perhaps the most obvious sign and symptom of bloating in dogs is a swollen abdomen. Distension results from the filling of the stomach with gas, food, or fluid that brings about sudden distension. By touching your dog's abdomen, you might feel that it is unusually hard, which acts as a major warning sign that there may be a problem.

Dogs with bloat will normally pace around, pacing up and down, quite clearly indicating that there is a problem. The pacing is usually up and down, as if the dog were trying to lie down comfortably but just couldn't.

Restlessness in dogs can be manifested in an inability to settle, drooling, and acting very anxious are other characteristics. Continuous movement and efforts to try to relieve themselves from the discomfort are their ways of telling you that they need help.

Classic and alarming, nonproductive retching is one of the clearest signs of bloat in dogs in which your dog will attempt to vomit but won't bring anything up. This futile attempt to vomit is a very clear indication that something is seriously wrong.

The most dangerous is bloat, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), which is a potentially fatal condition needing immediate veterinary treatment. The stomach twists, thus capturing gas and preventing the passage of its contents. 

Drooling in dogs can be a very disturbing symptom and usually points to the fact that your dog may have some health problems. Classic signs include nonproductive retching, where your dog tries to vomit but nothing substantial comes out. This alone could be very worrying, especially if it is accompanied by gagging and retching.

This may have a huge effect on the respiratory system of your dog since pressure is applied to the diaphragm. The increased pressure will hinder the normal movements of the diaphragm; hence, breathing will be very hard for your dog.

If your dog has trouble breathing, monitor him. Difficulty in breathing might escalate to danger within a very short time if not treated. Be sure to watch for agitation, too, or an extended neck or a bluish tint to the gums, which is a sign of oxygen deprivation.

Always rush your dog to a veterinarian if it shows such symptoms. Timely intervention may relieve pressure on the diaphragm, restore normal breathing, and prevent further complications related to bloating.

Weakness can come about rather suddenly and can be frightening in dogs, especially if it is related to bloat. This can very quickly and seriously impact a dog's health, leaving them weak, unable to stand up, or even walk around as usual.

Your dog's gums are the window to his overall health, and one quick check can tell you a lot, especially if your pet has bloat. Ordinarily, healthy gums are a vibrant pink color and if you find your dog's gums to be pale or bluish, that is a dangerous red flag.

This discoloration, in many cases, means poor blood circulation, which again is a common effect since the expanded stomach restricts blood flow. 

A racing heart is an indicator of distress in the bloating dog, and immediate action is required. If a dog's heart is racing, then that could be a very good indication that their body is under extreme stress and struggling to function normally. 

Feel for a steady, rapid beat. You can also feel the femoral artery on the inside of the thigh for a pulse. An insistent increase in heartbeats, especially when combined with other signs and symptoms of bloat, is an indication for immediate veterinary attention.

One symptom that will hasten bloat recognition is a rapid heartbeat which might save your dog's life, so keep looking out and act quickly.

Dogs that have bloat usually exhibit very strong signs of abdominal pain. One of the earliest manifestations may be vocalization in which a bloat-affected dog may yelp or whine, especially upon touch or pressure application on their abdomen. 

Beyond the vocal cues, watch for behavioral changes that indicate pain. Your dog may become unusually still, hunched in a posture, restless, and unable to lie comfortably in any one place. These are their ways of dealing with pressure and pain going on inside their abdomen.

Anxiety and restlessness are very common in bloating dogs. If your normally sedate dog suddenly becomes restless, unable to lie down or get comfortable, that's often a dead giveaway that something is wrong.

You may see your dog pacing back and forth. It can't seem to get comfortable. Of course, that will depend on the degree of extreme discomfort your pet is experiencing. Other common signs and symptoms include excessive panting, whining, or any other such symptoms that may indicate distress.

One very important indication that your dog is suffering from bloat is if they are unable to lie down. This could be due to acute discomfort and resultant pain in the condition. You may notice that your dog will try to lie down, only to get up almost instantaneously. 

Such restlessness is a surefire indicator that the dog is in distress while trying to lie down comfortably, which is a very common response to abdominal pressure inflicted by bloat. A dog who is experiencing pain may stand in unusual postures or lie down peculiarly.

If your dog stands hunched with its back arched and its belly tucked in, then it means more than that quirky stance, it’s a way of signaling pain. Commonly, this posture would mean the dog is attempting to take some pressure off the stomach area or abdomen due to some sort of painful condition, such as bloat.

Dog Whining could indicate more than attention seeking, especially if these sounds are uncharacteristic. Dogs often vocalize such noises due to pain or discomfort. 

Bloating can be quite uncomfortable and painful, so whimpering or whining is a means for your dog to try to signal that something is wrong. These whimpers or whines differ from those noisy, playful, or attention-seeking noises in their air of seriousness, which puts across the feeling that something has gone haywire.

If you can identify this behavior, mainly conjunct with other signs such as a distended belly or restlessness, then it could be bloated.

When a dog starts licking in excess, be it their lips, air, or even nearby objects, it's more than just a quirk. It is very often a subtle, telling sign that something might be seriously amiss. For the record, excessive licking can suggest nausea or pain, common in conditions such as bloat.

Licking is a dog's way of coping with being uncomfortable. This also might be a sign of internal distress, meaning their stomach is bothering them, or they have discomfort or pain. Pay close attention if you observe this in conjunction with other symptoms.

As far as bloat is concerned, excessive licking is an indicator of a warning sign that needs the vet's immediate attention. Early treatment is necessary to handle whatever is causing the problem and to make sure your dog is all right.

Apart from physically affecting a dog's health, bloat may also drastically change its behavior. Normally placid and very calm dogs may become irritable or show sudden fits of aggression. 

This is not typical aggression for them but a reaction towards the acute discomfort and pain caused by the condition. The amount of distress caused by bloat may make even the gentlest dog disproportionately hostile.

On the other hand, if your pet is very energetic and playful, then it may suddenly become very withdrawn or lethargic. In either case, such a change of character is bound to indicate that something has gone wrong.

If your normally active dog suddenly has no interest in the things they love doing or even appears not to respond at all, this must be taken seriously, and you should seek veterinary attention immediately.

Loss of interest in food or water is mostly a red flag, especially if such a loss of appetite is accompanied by other symptoms pointing to bloat.

A drop in appetite could be because of minor problems in a healthy dog. With bloat, it's even more alarming. The stomach swelling may cause such violent pain that even the food-loving dog wouldn't even want to look at his favorite treats. 

If the eating patterns of your dog change radically, more so if they are also showing other symptoms of bloat, then it is quite necessary and urgent to see a vet. 

In more advanced bloat, the pressure upon your dog's internal organs can lead to a serious and life-threatening condition called shock. The main signs of shock are a weak or irregular pulse. 

Probably one of the most frightening signs in the worst cases of bloat is collapse. A collapsing dog with bloat is one of the worst scenarios of GDV. This, therefore, acts as a red flag, signaling a very critical need for immediate veterinary intervention.

A collapsed dog indicates that blood flow and oxygenation to the critical organs are at a very low level. Most of the time, this happens when the swollen stomach bounces back onto the heart and other critical systems.

This, therefore, calls for haste. Every moment counts in such an emergency; therefore, rush your dog to a veterinary clinic. Prompt treatment will help improve the chances of survival and recovery.

One thing that a pet owner should realize is that bloat is a very serious and even life-threatening condition that goes with shock. It is a state of bad perfusion that will end in rapid death if not treated correctly.

Some easily recognizable signs, among others, exhibited first by a shocked dog are cold extremities, for example, icy paws or a cool, damp nose. This is because blood flow is diverted away from the peripheral areas and directed towards the vital organs.

Another major indicator is rapid, shallow breathing which could happen when your dog is in distress because he has no oxygen circulating within the blood. Another very common problem is disorientation; he may act dazed or even be unable to respond to usual commands and acts.

One of the scariest symptoms of bloating dogs is a behavioral change. Maybe your bubbly and playful dog suddenly becomes withdrawn and indifferent. 

Dog depression is a common feature of bloating in which they act uninterested in the things they used to do. They may appear lethargic, trying to avoid interaction, and be disinterested in their environment. 

In case of sudden loss of responsiveness or mental absence of your dog, seek veterinary help immediately. Early detection and treatment may make a difference.