Do Dachshunds Bloat?

[scootersmom]

One of our local TV stations did a news story last week talking about bloat in dogs (http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm).  So naturally, when Scooter decided he was going to hop out of bed at 4am (he never does this, he knows it is forbidden) and demand to go outside, and then act like a crazy dog for an hour, pacing around and hiding from me in the bathroom, I immediately became terrified that that is just what he had. 

I listened to his tummy and he had all his normal gurgly sounds, though.  And he wasn't trying to throw up or showing any tenderness in his abdomen or anything else.  Just the pacing and hiding and fast heartbeat and again with the crazy (he kept staring worriedly at the ceiling with his ears perked up).  I kept an eye on him, all ready to race to the ER vet if necessary, but he just went back to sleep and has been fine since. 

Of course, now I cannot quit thinking about bloat and worrying about it (I am a champion worrier, as anyone who knows me well will attest to).  Have any of you ever had Dachsies who bloated, or heard of someone who had?  I'd never even heard of it before last week, which hopefully means it's not that common in our little guys...

This did not stop me from going straight to the nearest fancypants doggy treat/toy/accessory store and purchasing one of those bowls designed to get your dog to slow down while eating.  Because Scooter does inhale his (canned) food as if it is a) the yummiest most awesome thing EVER, and b) his last meal.

Am I freaking out over nothing?

[Dee Dee and Hallie]

Scooter most likely didn't bloat. Any dog can bloat and I have heard of dachshunds who have but you would know it if Scooter had been bloating. It is rare in doxies but super common in Danes (and other deep chested breeds like Irish Wolfhounds, standard poodles, sighthounds, irish setters, etc but Danes are the worst) and as you know I had the most wonderful Dane, Fred, and we went through bloat (and yes...I was terrified of it the whole time I had him and lo and behold it happened). Dane owners worry about bloat like dachshund owners worry about back problems.

Anyway bloat is an emergency situation, Fred was laying there sleeping, got up and wanted out, he was in obvious distress, his tummy swelled up to the size of a watermelon (you probably know this but both ends of their stomach gets blocked off so the stomach gets huge fast and it's VERY painful and can kill them in a short time. Another friend of mines Bernese Mt Dog bloated and the vet saved him and he survived the night but died the next day from heart failure because of the pressure of the bloat the day before). Fred was dry heaving because he felt he needed to vomit but of course nothing could come out. I rushed him to the vet, after hours of course so I was the only one there to help, we tubed him (tube down throat to try and bypass the block and let the air out) which was successful and he did survive. But it was a horrible ordeal and I was doubly afraid of it from then on with him because once they bloat, that means they are prone and will often bloat again. Fred didnt' live long enough to bloat again I"m glad he didn't have to experience that twice anyway. One thing they will do is if they have to do surgery to save them, they will tack the stomach around a rib in hopes that if they do bloat again, hopefully it will at least prevent torsion (where the stomach twists on itself).

See why I never wanted a dog again I'm freaking myself out just thinking about all he went through LOL!

Hallie lately has been acting at times much like Scooter. I haven't been able to figure it out either but it's obviously a pain or sick feeling reaction, with Hallie I suspect either it's her spine thing acting up or her tummy thing. I worry about bloat with her too because when her tummy acts up, she is in pain and I will hold her tummy and I can feel this HUGE wave pass through her whole belly, it gets really big and then goes down again, and then again...when it does that she cranks her head to the side and will cry. Drives me insane. Hate it when they start to get older. But I would be very surprised if Scooter had bloated I have not heard of a case (not that it can't happen) of a bloat that wasn't an emergency situation.

For the Danes what they suggest is not to let them tank up on water, feed three or more smaller meals a day rather than a larger one, no water close to meal time, no exercise 30 min before or an hour after eating and to eat elevated at chest level. (I did all that...Fred still bloated).

Kisses to Scooter!

[scootersmom]

I remembering wondering about Fred specifically when I was reading up on bloat.  I'm so sorry he - and you - had to suffer through the experience.  But I am very glad you were vigilant and quick to act and so you saved his life; I cannot tell you how many tragic stories I've been reading where the end result had been fatal.  (Sometimes I think I'm better off NOT investigating these things - I miss the bliss of ignorance, sigh)

I have been wondering if I should start feeding Scooter 2 small meals per day instead of just his one.  He's never had problems before, but he's not as young as he used to be (much like his mom).  I want to do all I can to keep him as healthy as possible, and give him the greatest chance of enjoying the (hopefully still quite a few) years he has left! 

I guess, on the bright side, I don't have to worry about an elevated feeding dish with a Dachshund. 

But it's like you said (and I've read).  Even if you do everything to prevent it, sometimes they will still bloat.  Or get back problems.  Or teeth problems.  Etc.  Still, I cannot in good conscience ignore what I know and go on NOT taking all the precautions I know how to take.  DILEMMA.

Poor Hallie!  It's terrible to have tummy problems - we can unequivocally state that, can't we?   Has the vet had any ideas what's causing her stomach to hurt her?   Hopefully the enzymes you're starting her on will help your sweet girl.  And Scooter sends lots of toothless kisses and and "feel better" vibes her way. 

I am hoping Scooter's late-night escapade (and my resultant near-heartattack) was a fluke, an anomaly.  My friend D insists that he (Scoot) was seeing a ghost and that's why he woke up and decided to act all doolally on me.  Oh, and here's the weird thing, I'd just awakened from a bad dream at almost the same moment as he decided to hop down off the bed and frighten me to death.  Maybe he sensed I was upset.  Who knows.  Dachshunds are very mysterious creatures, aren't they?

Thanks for listening to me on this subject and sharing your knowledge.  I feel so much better after talking to you about it!

[papbouv]

True Bloat is an emergency they will live a few hours if not taken to the vets end result is always death if not taken to a vet quickly.
Dobermans also have the deep chest so have to watch Buddy closely sometimes make him nap after eating so no running around like a crazy dog.
If your boy is eating fast it would not hurt to dived his meals up feed in the am & pm. I bought Patches a Break bowl slowed her down does not seem to be as hungry all the time. she gets a 1/8 of a cup in the am & pm and still a little overweight.
Gas pains can be very uncomfortable at times.

[scootersmom]

Thanks so much, Papbouv!

The break bowl is just what I bought Scooter.  I am hoping it helps him SLOW DOWN.

[Roberta]

someone suggested to me to put a golf ball in the bowl as it moves it stops them gulping it down
roberta

[scootersmom]

Thank you so much for passing that along, Roberta!  Scooter is now eating out of his new "Brake Fast" bowl, and he is kind of crabby about it, but it really works...hooray!

[Merion]

Depending on the size of the bowl and the dogs mouth you might want to use a bigger object.  I used a hercules bone on top of Zelda's food for 13 years.  She was really bad about it and would get food caught in her throat and sometimes had trouble getting it down or up.  This bone left about a 1" to 1 1/2" area around the edge of the bowl.  In all the years she always ate around it and never picked  it out so she could inhale her food like normal.
Merion & the ZZ's

[doxielady5569128]

Porky gets two small meals a day and I put a large tennis ball in the center of his bowl.   Its too big for him to pick out, so he has to eat around it.   He does really well that way.  If we feed him without it, he chokes on his food. 

[scootersmom]

These are all such good and creative ideas!  Clearly Dachshund owners minions are a very resourceful people!   

I am also very happy to find out that I'm not the only one whose Dachsie likes to hoover his food in an alarmingly brisk fashion.

[MindyKay]

HMMMM....  Ozzy is a "dainty" eater.  He takes about 10 minutes to eat his food.  Then, it's the "I-have-to-go-out-now-or-I-can't-be-responsible-for-what-happens" dance. :idiot:

[scootersmom]

Aw, Ozzie likes to be An Original!