Bloat — the one that kills fastest

The stomach fills with gas and then twists on itself, sealing both ends. Nothing can come out. The swelling compresses major blood vessels, the stomach wall begins to die, and the dog goes into shock. This is not an upset stomach and it does not resolve.

· Retching or heaving that produces NOTHING — the single most recognizable sign
· A hard, swollen, drum-like belly, usually behind the ribs on the left
· Restlessness, pacing, unable to settle or lie down
· Drooling heavily
· Standing with elbows out and neck extended
· Pale gums, rapid breathing, collapse — these are late

Go to an emergency vet NOW. Call them from the car so they are ready. Do not wait to see if it passes, do not give anything by mouth, and do not try to relieve it yourself. Minutes matter here in a way they do not for almost anything else.

Deep, narrow-chested breeds most of all: Great Danes, Standard Poodles, Weimaraners, German Shepherds, Setters, Saint Bernards, Basset Hounds, Boxers, Dobermans, Bloodhounds, Akitas. Risk rises with age, and having a close relative who bloated raises it further.

· Prophylactic gastropexy — tacking the stomach to the body wall, usually done at spay or neuter in high-risk breeds. It does not prevent the bloating but it largely prevents the twist, which is the part that kills.
· Feed two or three smaller meals rather than one large one
· Slow a fast eater with a slow-feeder bowl
· Avoid hard exercise for an hour either side of a meal

Raised feeders were long recommended and some research has associated them with INCREASED risk in large breeds. The evidence is not settled. If your dog has no medical reason for a raised bowl, there is no strong reason to use one.

Knowing the signs is the whole intervention, and it costs nothing. There is nothing to buy on this page.

· American College of Veterinary Surgeons (acvs.org) — gastric dilatation-volvulus, including gastropexy
· Merck Veterinary Manual (merckvetmanual.com) — the standard clinical reference, free online
· Cornell Riney Canine Health Center (vet.cornell.edu) — owner-facing summaries
· Purdue University bloat research — the source of much of the breed and risk-factor data