Bloat

[Kodabear]

I have the bloat chart up on my fridge just in case. I am extremely worried that Koda is prone to bloat because she drinks a great deal of water and then coughs it up. This happens all the time. I also have a special water bowl that helps slow her down when she drinks but the water coughing up happens ALL the time. Should I be worried? I am always on the lookout for signs of bloat. I just hope that she isn't more prone to bloat than most giant dogs.

 

[Jeannie]

Is the water cold? Mine will spit up the water if it is cold.

 

[Kodabear]

It's lukewarm water. She does this like 6-8 times a day.

 

[NewfLove]

I don't have any suggestions on the water - sorry - but I always worry, too! To alleviate some of the potential, when Darcy was spayed, we did a gastropexy and I sure rest a little easier now. I'm sure you have considered this.

 

[R Taft]

My Abbey used to do that, make a lovely mess on the floor too. She lived to be 8 years old without bloat. Her death was totally unrelated........
However my friend had a newfie who did something similar and her dog had a Mega-oesophagus.
I would just have a chat to a vet if it was me.

 

[NessaM]

Lisa - when Koda coughs up the water, is it an active coughing/vomiting - or a passive regurgitation? Does it seem like she works and retches to cough the water up? If so, then she's probably just drinking too much or too fast.

If she regurgitates with no warning and no retching, then it might be a good idea to chat with your vet about Mega-Esophagus just in case - frequent regurgitation of water and/or food is a symptom.

 

[Kodabear]

Thanks everybody, I hadn't heard of Mega-Esophagus. I think I would lean more towards the active coughing/vomiting I will focus on her more next time she does it. Hopefully it's just her gulping the water down to fast and not an indication of a worse condition.

Dianne, I will ask my vet about the gastropexy, I actually haven't heard about it. We won't be spaying her for another few months.

 

[YorkvilleNewfie]

I think I've told you this before, but my Mila does this too. As with Koda, it's related to drinking too quickly. It largely only happens when she hasn't had a drink in a while, like the first bowl that I give her right when I wake up in the morning. Though I will say it definitely doesn't happen as frequently as it does with Koda. I think I would be tempted to speak with my vet about the frequency with which it happens.