Bloat or stomach torsion is a very serious condition that can occur in any breed of dog. Without proper attention, it can lead to death. Some breeds are more prone to bloat and also predisposition to bloat can be passed on from the parents to the puppies genetically.

When a dog bloats, the stomach expands many times its normal size and causes tremendous abdominal pain. The cause of the stretching is the stomach filling with gas and food known as gastric dilatation. This leads to the twisting of the stomach and cutting off of blood supply and the exit routes for the gas inside. If not treated immediately, the dog can die within a matter of hours.

Symptoms of bloat may include the following:

• Extreme restlessness
• Excessive salivation and drooling
• Pacing
• Whining
• Rapid breathing and panting
• Cold and pale mouth membranes
• Collapse
• Trying to vomit or defecate without success
• Abdominal pain
• Enlarged abdomen

Factors that can increase the risk of bloat include the following:

• Raised feeding/food bowls (110% risk increase)
  
• Fast eater - dogs that eat fast are at greater risk of developing bloat
  
• Age - older dogs are at greater risk of developing bloat (20% risk increase for each year increase in age)
  
• Feeding a large amount per meal
  
• Dry dog food that has fat as the top four ingredients
• Having a first degree relative with bloat (GDV) (e.g. sire, dam, litter mate, offspring) (63% risk increase)
• Breeds with a deep and narrow chest are at higher risk (higher chest depth/width ratio) 

These are the top dog breeds with a risk of developing GDV or bloat:

1. Great Dane
   
2. Saint Bernard
3. Weimaraner
4. Irish Setter
5. Gordon Setter
6. Standard Poodle
7. Basset Hound
8. Doberman Pinscher
9. Old English Sheepdog
10. German Shorthaired Pointe
11. Newfoundland
12. German Shepherd
13. Airedale Terrier
14. Alaskan Malamute
15. Chesapeake Bay Retriever
16. Boxer
17. Collie
18. Labrador Retriever
19. English Springer Spaniel
20. Samoyed
21. Dachshund
22. Golden Retriever
23. Rottweiler
24. Miniature Poodle

How to prevent bloat?

Feeding less food per meal is one way to reduce the risk of bloating. Also, buying special bowls designed to slow down quick eaters may help. Feeding a high quality dog food will allow you to feed less per meal and reduce the risk of bloat. Avoid giving your dog food that has too much fat, especially fat in the top four ingredients.

If you suspect that your dog has bloat, take him or her immediately to the veterinarian as they may need to perform surgery to save your dog. The faster you take your dog to the veterinarian, the better the chances that your dog will recover successfully.

Useful links on bloat:

Perdue University

BLOAT: The life threatening canine emergency

BLOAT: THE MOTHER OF ALL EMERGENCIES

There are many brands to choose from when buying your dog dry food or kibble, but not all of them have the same ingredients, and not all of them provide the necessary nutrients for the dog to flourish. Many brands considered popular by the public are not the best choice when you want to feed your dog healthy food. Dog food that is of poor quality can cause numerous health problems to your dog later in life such as allergies, liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, etc.

Many of them use fillers (e.g. corn, wheat, soy, beat pulp, etc.) and by-products (intestines, chicken heads, lungs, livers, kidneys, duckbills, chicken and turkey feet, feathers and bone, etc.) that just add to the volume of the food and lower the cost of manufacturing the food, but in no way benefit your dog. If the first ingredient on the label of the food is not meat, stay away from that food. Dogs need meat as the primary ingredient in their diet to develop properly and live a happy and healthy life. Dogs that are fed low-quality dry food will also excrete more waste and do it more frequently since foods that are of lower quality contain more ingredients that are not completely digestible (fillers and by-products) or absorbable by your dog's digestion system.

Even if the first ingredient is meat, it still does not mean that it is a quality dry food because it can contain all fillers and by-products for the remainder of the ingredients. Also, when they put meat as the first ingredient, you would think that the food consists of mostly meat then everything else. This is not always true. They measure the meat in its raw form while it still contains water, but when they dry it, the meat content in weight is much lower than what it was before they dried it. As a result, the amount of actual meat content is usually lower than what companies state on the label and meat will usually drop below the first position on the ingredients list if we consider how much meat there is in its dried and final form.

Here is a list of some quality dog food brands that I have found after doing some research on the Web:

1. EVO (www.evopet.com) - EVO dog food is completely grain-free. EVO has the highest protein content of any meat-based dry pet food on the market and uses whole, fresh meat sources such as turkey, chicken and herring meal.
2. Orijen (www.orijen.ca) - diet mirrors the foods and nutrients that dogs would find hunting in the wild, keeping in mind that today’s lifestyle of regular meals and less exercise means that our companion pets require fewer calories.
   
3. Eagle Pack Holistic Select (www.eaglepack.com) - human food sourced meat meal based formulas, whole grains, quality of life ingredients and custom supplements for unprecedented health.
4. Natural Balance (www.naturalbalanceinc.com) - all-natural, complete, and balanced nutrition.
5. Wellness (www.wellnesspetfood.com) - deboned meats, free of added hormones and steroids, wholesome grains and fresh fruits and vegetables to provide the perfect balance of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in the healthiest way possible.
   
6. Diamond Naturals (www.diamondpet.com) - each formula is corn–free, soy–free and wheat–free with all–natural ingredients.
   
7. Taste of the Wild (www.tasteofthewildpetfood.com) - a grain-free formula for all life stages.

The above dry dog food brands are better and usually cost more than the other brands mainly because they use all-natural ingredients, have higher meat content, and use less or no fillers at all. Before switching your dog's food, make sure you do it gradually and if your dog has a sensitive stomach or is prone to allergies, then make sure that you get the food that is specifically formulated for your dog's needs.

If you want to feed the best quality food to your dog, then reduce the amount of kibble you feed your dog or stop feeding kibble altogether and start feeding your dog raw food. Dogs that are on raw diets that include raw meat, fruits and vegetables are usually a lot more active and look healthier than dogs eating dry food only. If you have the time and dedication to do research on what you need to feed your dog to provide a full and balanced diet, then a raw food diet is the way to go.

If you want more information on choosing dog food brands and dry food in general, visit this website: http://www.dogfoodproject.com

Dogs love rawhide bones, but are they really safe for them? Rawhide bones are readily available at your local pet stores and dogs love to gnaw or chew on them. They can also help your dog maintain healthy teeth and gums. Most people will tell you that they are safe if you carefully monitor your dog while he is chewing but even then they can be dangerous to your dog. How so you may ask?

Rawhide bones are bones made from animal skin, typically cattle. Rawhide bones are sometimes made by mixing cattle skin with pig skin. They can easily splinter when dry, and if your dog is a fast chewer and especially of larger size, he can bite off larger pieces that are sharp and that can perforate your dog's throat, stomach or bowel. It is very important that when giving your dog a rawhide bone, that you buy one that that is larger than the dog's mouth to prevent ingestion of whole pieces that had not been chewed properly and choking. Rawhide also expands when wet, so if your does not properly chew the rawhide before swallowing, the rawhide can expand in his intestines and cause a blockage. The intestinal blockage can lead to the dog's death if left untreated. Many dogs with sensitive stomachs will have problems digesting rawhide as a result of its tough and thick composition. Fast chewers or any larger breed dogs should not be given rawhide bones unless you are confident that they can safely ingest them and have no stomach discomfort afterward.

If you are looking for alternatives to rawhide bones, there are many. You could give your dog nylon bones to chew on them which are also healthy for their teeth and their gums. Nylon bones scrape away plaque, control tartar build-up, and maintain gum health by massaging the gums. Nylon bones will also stimulate your dog's mind and keep them busy for hours. This is especially important for dogs that constantly have the urge to chew to stop unwanted chewing behavior around the house. Nylon bones will also relive your puppy's teething pain and stimulate growth of adult teeth.

You could also try giving your dog real bones, but again you run the risk of the bone splintering and causing perforation of the intestine which can be a serious condition. Even though real bones are somewhat safer than rawhide bones, there is still the danger of sharp pieces breaking off and, as a result, many dog owners are against giving your dog real bones. Another substitute to real bones and rawhide bones are dental sticks made in different varieties, flavors and by different manufacturers. Just visit your local pet store and you will see a large assortment of these products. They will keep your dog's chewing needs satisfied while also cleaning his teeth and freshening his breath. You will see that they sell them in different textures, from soft to chewy to hard. You can choose the texture that best suits your dog's chewing habits and preferences.

If you are looking to give your dog rawhide bones, just know the dangers associated with rawhide bones. We are not saying that you should not give to any dog rawhide bones, but for some dogs there are better alternatives that are safer and provide the same benefits of rawhide bones - mind stimulation, reduce boredom, healthier teeth and healthier gums.

Dogs have a different metabolism compared to humans, and as a result, foods that are not harmful to humans can be potentially deadly or toxic to dogs. Here is a list of foods that should not be fed to your dog:

Alcoholic beverages - intoxication; can also cause coma and death if consumed in larger quantities

Avocado - toxic to cats and dogs; will trigger fluid accumulation in the lungs and chest, leading to difficulty breathing and death due to oxygen deprivation; fluid accumulation can also occur in the heart, pancreas and abdomen

Baby food - some baby foods contain onion powder which is toxic to dogs

Bones from fish, poultry, or any other meat sources - the sharp edges of the bones themselves can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system

Cat food - contains too much fats and protein for dogs' digestive systems

Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine - poisonous / toxic to dogs; contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline; affect the heart and the nervous system

Citrus oil extracts - can cause vomiting

Fat trimmings - possible to cause pancreatitis

Grapes and raisins - contain a toxin which can do damage to the kidneys

Hops - can cause panting, elevated temperature and heart rate; can result in seizures and death

Human vitamin supplements containing iron - can damage liver and kidneys and digestive lining

Large amounts of liver - can cause Vitamin A toxicity affecting muscles and bones

Macadamia nuts - contain a toxin which can affect the digestive and nervous system and muscles

Marijuana - affects the nervous system; can cause vomiting and affect heart rate

Milk and other dairy products - most dogs do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk - causing diarrhea; lactose-free milk products are available for pets

Moldy or spoiled food, garbage - contain multiple toxins that can cause vomiting and diarrhea

Mushrooms - can contain toxins that can cause shock and result in death

Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) - damage red blood cells causing anemia - lack of oxygen and energy; garlic is less toxic than onions

Persimmons - can cause intestinal obstruction and inflammation of the small intestine

Pits from peaches and plums - can cause obstruction of the digestive tract

Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems - contain toxins; can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems

Raw eggs - decrease the absorption of biotin - Vitamin B; this can lead to skin and hair coat problems; may also contain Salmonella

Raw fish - can result in a thiamine (Vitamin B) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in some cases, death; more likely to occur if raw fish is fed regularly

Salt - if consumed in large quantities, can lead to electrolyte imbalance and result in damage to the kidneys

Sugary foods - lead to obesity and dental problems; can also cause diabetes

Table scraps - they should never be more than 10% of the diet; fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed; can contain ingredients that can cause allergies in dogs

Tobacco - contains nicotine which affects the nervous and digestive system; can cause increased heart rate, collapse, coma, and even death

Yeast dough - expands and produces gas in the digestive system - results in pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines