A dog that is pacing, restless and has unproductive attempts to vomit - These are the classic symptoms of a condition referred to as "bloat." Be on the lookout because this is a real combination of symptoms that spells out EMERGENCY.
Bloat is a common problem in large-breed deep-chested dogs, but it can also occur in smaller dogs.
Basically what happens is this - the stomach twists causing the blood supply to the stomach to be compromised, which leads to tissue death. As tissues are damaged, toxins are released and a sequence of events occurs that, if left untreated, leads to death.
If you ever notice these symptoms in your dog, call your local veterinarian or emergency clinic as soon as possible.
This is a condition that is fairly common and often occurs in the evening or nighttime hours. It is also a very expensive condition to treat. I was at a local emergency clinic the other night and they had two dogs with bloat there at the same time.
Buster, an 11-year-old mixed breed, was euthanized because his owners didn't have the money to treat him. The other dog was a 6-year-old
German shepherd who was treated and saved with surgery. She was doing well when I last spoke to the clinic.
It is not uncommon for this hospitalization, treatment, surgery and care to cost over $2,000.00 and as much as $5,000.00.
If coming up with the necessary funds to treat our dog would be difficult, you should consider
pet insuranceGo to
petinsurance.com and get your free quote.
Also, keep the phone numbers of your vet and the emergency clinic on your fridge or in some central location where you can easily find it in case of an emergency. Most pet owners become very upset and flustered when something happens and having the number handy can really help.
Until next time,
Dr. Jon
P.S. I know I talk about
pet insurance off and on. I really do believe in it. I've seen it save many dogs lives by allowing its owners to afford to do the best they can for their pet.
So...take a minute and find out if it is right for you. Go to
petinsurance.com
