
Simple bloat, where the dog’s stomach has not twisted, can sometimes be managed without medication, but may require fluids or other treatments. If bloat is treated immediately, it is often curable. Is Bloat in Dogs Curable?Īll cases of bloat require immediate medical attention to determine the severity. This is a very serious health emergency and, if untreated, a dog with GDV will die within hours. In extreme cases of GDV, a dog’s stomach can rupture, and the spleen can also be injured. This degree of bloat cuts off blood flow to the stomach and the lower half of the body, making it impossible for food to pass into the intestine.

This is called gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) and is considered one of the most painful, severe emergencies in veterinary medicine. In severe cases of bloat, a dog’s stomach twists and fills with gas. Bloat can also put pressure on the diaphragm, a thin muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen, leading to trouble breathing. This may cause injury (even death) of the stomach wall and, without treatment, eventually other organs. When bloat occurs, your dog’s stomach begins to expand, or distend, and cuts off blood flow to the abdomen as well as the stomach itself. From the stomach, the food moves into the small intestine and down the gastrointestinal tract. When a dog eats, food enters the stomach from the esophagus, then is broken down by digestive enzymes. The stomach is located in the upper abdomen and normally contains a small amount of gas, food, liquid, and mucus. Depending on the severity, bloat can be fatal if not treated within an hour or two.

While it is more common in large breed or deep-chested dogs, any breed can develop bloat. Bloat is a condition in which food or gas stretches your dog’s stomach, causing abdominal pain.
