Bloat is a very serious health risk for deep -chested dogs like Weimaraners. Very few Weimaraner or dog owners know about bloat. According to internet sources, it is the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer. It is prevalent in deep-chested dogs: Weimaraners, German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Dobermans.
The technical name for bloat is "Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus" ("GDV"). Bloating of the stomach is often related to swallowed air (although food and fluid can also be present). It usually happens when there's an abnormal accumulation of air, fluid, and/or foam in the stomach ("gastric dilatation"). Stress can be a contributing factor also. Bloat can occur with or without "volvulus" (twisting). As the stomach swells, it may rotate 90° to 360°, twisting between its fixed attachments at the esophagus (food tube) and at the duodenum (the upper intestine). The twisting stomach traps air, food, and water in the stomach. The bloated stomach obstructs veins in the abdomen, leading to low blood pressure, shock, and damage to internal organs. The combined effect can quickly kill a dog.
Although there is no proof that digestive problems can cause bloat, there are many correlations. Bloat and stress seem to be associated when bloat is present. In our opinion, a Weim with a digestive imbalance is bound to be more susceptible to eating problems than one who has no digestive problems. Veterinarians point out that it is difficult to establish any one thing that seems to precipitate bloat.
Experts involved with Weimaraner rescue site their percentage of bloat cases higher than for the normal Weimaraner population. This is most likely due to stress, poor diet, and poor care. One can only imagine all of the things that happens to some of these Weimaraners before they end up in rescue. We thank the rescue organizations for their mission to place every displaced Weimaraner. Also for working to educate the general public about the breed, the pitfalls, and potential health issues such as bloat.
When one studies on bloat and reads about taking precaution they find a list of suggestions. One preventative measure that is often recommended is to use enzymes to improve gut health.Our solution is to use Fastrack® Direct-fed Microbials The Natural Way to keep the gut balanced and using the quality puppy chow we feed. The unique combination of natural, live lactic acid-producing bacteria, FOS, yeast, enzymes, vitamins and specialized proteins in the Fastrack® products helps to ensure a healthy digestive tract.
We thank the various rescue organizations for their indepth information on bloat in Weimaraners. Also for the time and effort to find a home for every displaced Weimaraner.
Bloat is a very serious health risk for deep -chested dogs like Weimaraners. Very few Weimaraner or dog owners know about bloat. According to internet sources, it is the second leading killer of dogs, after cancer. It is prevalent in deep-chested dogs: Weimaraners, German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Dobermans.
