Newfymum Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Hi Everyone... im desperately searching for a clue or someone else who has experienced this... My 3.5 year old Newfy has reoccurring bloat she has the vets stumped. History She filled with gas around September last year but was not uncomfortable at all and just burped it out.. she was then fine until she came into season in January and started doing it every few days and again burping it out. We decided to do gastroplexy about March and while in there found a plastic sherbet container which could only have been in there since Christmas... but thinking great we found the problem... unfortunately not... again she was bloating every few days. About a month later she had what I call true bloat we had to release the gas via needle to her stomach and she stayed at the vet 2 days and came home... we made the decision to spey her and do a bit more of an exploratory surgery. We found a bit of scarring in the intestines which is probably not helping but I don't think its the cause I think its more of a result of the constant bloating. We have tried all the methods of reducing the risk as well as several medications, natural therapies, foods and routines but unfortunately nothing is helping. She now bloats every day for most of the day still burps or farts it out but I fear there is only so long she will be able to do this for. She has learnt if she relaxes and goes to sleep the gas will release which is good I just wish I could figure out what is causing it or someway of helping. We have spoken about going in to remove the scar tissue but I really don't like the idea of another surgery especially as there are no guarantees it will work. Thanks everyone Sam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 what an awful worry ..No helpful ideas from here , just s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vehs Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Poor bugger What are you feeding her now? Is she uncomfortable when she bloats? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfymum Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 Shes been on hills ID but im in the process of slowly changing her over to Blackhawk (soaked)... considering trying just chicken mince and vegies but as I say I have tried so many different foods I honestly don't think it is the food. She does get uncomfortable but not like with true bloat... she will go outside and have a poo or just lie down and it releases. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vehs Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 would probiotics make it worse or possibly help? maybe she's having trouble with the grains (no expert on dog digestion, I'm actually thinking of my fiances IBS! LOL) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfymum Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 She is on probiotics as that does seem to be something that is often overlooked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 So what has changed since Sept?? I gather it wasn't an issue prior to that ?? My first thought would be an IBS or some food issue that is setting her off each day . I can't drink full milk & would suffer similar style symptoms can drink low fat no issues . I would seriously by doing a food diary of everything she gets including any treats , D you feed once or twice?? We stopped feeding BH as it was no longer agreeing with our dogs . Have you asked the breeder?? You could try giving a gas eaze although i would ask your vet . We keep it on hand incase of bloat whilst travelling never had to use it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 is she a gulper when eating? Does she swallow a lot of air? If so can you use a slow down feeding bowl and see if that makes a difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yonjuro Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Poor girl, I hope you get to the source of the problem. Corn in foods can really build up gas in some dogs, I notice the Hills I/D has corn as the first ingredient, but I don't think Blackhawk does. I know you mentioned that you don't think it is food related but it might be worth looking into the foods you have previously tried and whether they contain corn as most do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alyosha Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Are you able to cut out any dry, kibble type foods? Or go grain fee. There is an acupressure point in the stifle/knee that is reputed to work very well at relieving bloat. Have you heard of/tried it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nekhbet Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Take a fecal culture and see what bacteria are growing in there. She could have picked up something thats colonising and creating gasses that shouldn't really be there in that amount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfymum Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 Thanks everyone... its very frustrating.. I have tried most of your ideas... I am going to give home made food a try again though. She isn't a gulper she eats very slowly she is on 4 small meals a day and we have worked our way up to that it doesn't seem to be food related though as she gets fed 4:30 in the morning she copes ok with that then again at 7:30 and again at 11 then she gasses up and releases all day until around 9:30pm depending on how badly she will get another feed at about 4:30 ive tried all different variations on this and different foods from plain chicken alone to premium holistic food and nothing has changed... she doesn't get anything other than the food she is on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 What about if those first three meals were more spread out so they can be digested more before more is stacked on top? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfymum Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 Tried it ... the reason I do it that way is she copes better with food in the morning... if she eats later she bloats badly and then I obviously cant feed her again while she is bloating. only a month ago she could have thew first 2 meals without any gas but now its only the first one.... I have to get food into her when I can as she went from 51kg in January to 38 only a month or so ago so I have to take the opportunity when I can. She has finally started putting weight back on enough that I can play around a bit more with her food Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Does she bloat even if you don't feed her? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfymum Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 (edited) yes.... even if I stop feeding at 11 she will still bloat all afternoon and night until about 9:30 long after her stomach is emty... she isn't running around either she is very quiet. Edited August 29, 2013 by Newfymum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 But does she only start bloating after she is fed? As in if you left her hungry and didn't feed her that morning at all would she still blow up? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfymum Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 I haven't tried it but I believe she would.... I wouldn't want to try it at this stage either not when she is finally getting some weight on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jed Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Gastroplexy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelpiecuddles Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 I guess I was just thinking along the lines of working out whether it is activity based(she gets up for the day and moving around, etc sets it off) or whether it is food based(she eats and then the bloat starts. If it's the former then as you say the food isn't the issue but if it's the latter then it's worth continuing to experiment with food options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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