Pet Owner's World 2008 - (Page 20) Bloat & your dog (continued) 5. Prior to transport and during transport, treat for shock, as directed by your veterinarian. Veterinary Care. Immediate care upon arrival at the veterinary clinic will be to assess the pet’s vitals. I cannot stress how important it is for you to pass on the vitals you assessed on your pet to the veterinarian, along with what time you took them. This builds a window or timeline for the veterinarian, with details on how and when the pet has been affected. This will factor in to how aggressively the pet will be treated. The veterinarian will use clinical signs, the physical exam, x-rays and possibly sonograms to definitively diagnose gastric dilatation or gastric dilatation-volvulus. Other initial actions by the veterinarian may include a large bore catheter for delivery of fluids and drugs, ECG, readings for blood pressure, heart rate and capillary refill time, and tests for respiratory function. Initially, the veterinarian may force a tube down the pet’s throat (orogastric lavage) to decompress the stomach. If this is not effective, then he or she may try a needle thru the abdomen to release the pressure. Even if these measures are successful, surgery may be necessary to put everything back in place and assess the cellular health of the stomach. It is recommended that you request that the surgical team tack the stomach to create a threepoint restraint to reduce the severity of any future attack. Following surgery, the veterinarian will be able to tell you the pet’s prognosis. Ongoing monitoring over the next couple of days may be indicated, depending on the severity of the bloat. Surgically treated bloat with volvulus does not have a very bright prognosis, with survivability in the 10 pecent to 18 pervent range. Pets that are going to die of bloat usually die within the next 72 hours. Prevention. Even if you do everything right for a dog, it may still succumb to bloat. However, there are some things you can do if you have a dog at risk of bloat to reduce the likelihood of occurrence. 1. Feed the highest quality food you are able to procure and/or afford. 2. Feed the dog two or three times per day. Do not give one big meal per day. 3. Do not give tap water; use bottled or filtered water. 4. Do not give food within one hour before or after vigorous exercise. 5. If you must change the pet’s food, do so over a period of several days. However, if this is not possible, start the pet with two or three small meals of the new food throughout the day. Conclusion. Recognition in the earliest stages of bloat is necessary for the best chance of a pet’s survival. If you are the pet parent of a dog that has a genetic or physiological disposition to bloat, then have a candid conversation with your pet sitter and other pet-care professionals that interact with your dog; e.g., groomer, etc., about the dangers of bloat. Consult your veterinarian for information on what precautions you can take and what immediate actions are best for your specific situations. Quick actions for survival can mean the difference between life and death, quick recovery and prolonged treatment, full recovery and limited life-ability. In any emergency situation, do the best you can, “use your head, and be careful with your hands.” Thom Somes, “The Pet Safety Guy™” is a nationally renowned speaker, author and professional trainer. He is the founder and president of Pet Tech Inc., the first international training center dedicated to pet first aid and care for dogs and cats. Pet Tech’s programs are the official pet first aid training for Pet Sitters International. To locate an instructor in your area, check the Pet Tech Web site at www.PetTech.net or e-mail info@pettech. net. Contact Pet Tech at P.O. Box 2285, Carlsbad, California, 92018, phone (760) 930-0309. 20 2008 • Pet Owner’s WORLD http://www.PetTech.net
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