Glad to see your post on Facebook. I had first-hand experience with Winston at around the age of 2 or 3 around 10 years ago. This is something that I had never heard of until Winston was rushed to a pet ER after hours and was in the fight for his life.
No one knows what triggers this horrible event, so I am going to lay out the environmental factors and elements that might establish a pattern to the person that might document theses cases.
Winston was a healthy, intact 81 pound male who was brought to a specialist regarding a rear knee issue (ruptured ACL) and was sedated for x-rays. After the completion of this procedure, Winston was brought home after the sedation wore off.
Well after Winston was home, I left the house for dinner and came home, in which case Winston took a drink of water from his NON-elevated food and watering dish and I proceeded to let him outside into the backyard. Winston soon went into distress since he began repeatedly attempted to vomit. This was a vicious cycle that caused him to briefly pass-out and cause pain. My partner was instructed to call the specialist's office since I had noticed they had a 24 hour emergency service in the facility next to the specialist's office. We loaded Winston in the car and rushed him down the Interstate going over 100mph as Winston was in pain and deteriating QUICKLY. By the time we arrived at the ER, staff was standing by and we loaded him on a gurnee. At this time Winston's abdomen swelled and was tight to the touch!
The doctor put Winston under gas sedation and performed an x-ray and told me that he needs emergency surgery and that I should visit him before he goes fully under. They had to unravel Winston's intestines as his stomach gassed-up like a over fissing soda causing his stomach to float and rotate. This rotation cut off his esophagus and small intestines which prevented him from vomiting/burping and pass gass.
Winston, by the grace of God, survived the life saving surgery and beat the 50/50 chance of survival for the next 24 hours. He was a tough fighter and was so brave after the lengthy recooperation. For about a year, Winston would experience seizures that would suddenly come on him causing a sudden head bobbing symptom that would go away by distracting him with his favorite treat.
He miraculously lived 9 years, 22 days from his 10th birthday. His birthday would have been tomorrow (24th). He went to the otherside of the rainbow 2 years ago this month :-(
In summary, here are the signs and symptoms that I witnessed Winston with Bloat:
1. Constantly trying to vomit (aggressively dry heaving) with lots of foamy mucous.
2. Expanding abdomen and serious pain.
3. Blood expelling from the rectum (this was at the veterenarian's office.
My new kid Elliott, has an adjustable, elevated food and watering dish. He eats when I eat so as not to stir him up during feeding and after feeding. He is rambunctious after he eats, so I try and keep him from getting hyper after he eats or drinks. Again, no one conclusively knows what causes Bloat. So I try my best to not worry excessively about it and use caution around feeding time. I never thought how great to hear my bulldog burp and fart, as that is an immediate indication that all is well. Mike[/QUOTE]
Mike, thank you for an extremely educational & heartbreaking post from your personal experience.
My sincere condolences on your loss of brave Winston. GOD bless!
No one knows what triggers this horrible event, so I am going to lay out the environmental factors and elements that might establish a pattern to the person that might document theses cases.
Winston was a healthy, intact 81 pound male who was brought to a specialist regarding a rear knee issue (ruptured ACL) and was sedated for x-rays. After the completion of this procedure, Winston was brought home after the sedation wore off.
Well after Winston was home, I left the house for dinner and came home, in which case Winston took a drink of water from his NON-elevated food and watering dish and I proceeded to let him outside into the backyard. Winston soon went into distress since he began repeatedly attempted to vomit. This was a vicious cycle that caused him to briefly pass-out and cause pain. My partner was instructed to call the specialist's office since I had noticed they had a 24 hour emergency service in the facility next to the specialist's office. We loaded Winston in the car and rushed him down the Interstate going over 100mph as Winston was in pain and deteriating QUICKLY. By the time we arrived at the ER, staff was standing by and we loaded him on a gurnee. At this time Winston's abdomen swelled and was tight to the touch!
The doctor put Winston under gas sedation and performed an x-ray and told me that he needs emergency surgery and that I should visit him before he goes fully under. They had to unravel Winston's intestines as his stomach gassed-up like a over fissing soda causing his stomach to float and rotate. This rotation cut off his esophagus and small intestines which prevented him from vomiting/burping and pass gass.
Winston, by the grace of God, survived the life saving surgery and beat the 50/50 chance of survival for the next 24 hours. He was a tough fighter and was so brave after the lengthy recooperation. For about a year, Winston would experience seizures that would suddenly come on him causing a sudden head bobbing symptom that would go away by distracting him with his favorite treat.
He miraculously lived 9 years, 22 days from his 10th birthday. His birthday would have been tomorrow (24th). He went to the otherside of the rainbow 2 years ago this month :-(
In summary, here are the signs and symptoms that I witnessed Winston with Bloat:
1. Constantly trying to vomit (aggressively dry heaving) with lots of foamy mucous.
2. Expanding abdomen and serious pain.
3. Blood expelling from the rectum (this was at the veterenarian's office.
My new kid Elliott, has an adjustable, elevated food and watering dish. He eats when I eat so as not to stir him up during feeding and after feeding. He is rambunctious after he eats, so I try and keep him from getting hyper after he eats or drinks. Again, no one conclusively knows what causes Bloat. So I try my best to not worry excessively about it and use caution around feeding time. I never thought how great to hear my bulldog burp and fart, as that is an immediate indication that all is well. Mike[/QUOTE]
Mike, thank you for an extremely educational & heartbreaking post from your personal experience.
My sincere condolences on your loss of brave Winston. GOD bless!