How to Diagnose the Symptoms of Bloat in Great Danes

Is your Great Dane restless, drooling, or trying to vomit with nothing coming up? Is the belly swelling? These can be signs of bloat, also called GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus).

Great Danes are the breed most often named as high risk for GDV. It is a true emergency: a dog can die within hours without treatment.

Bloat can't always be prevented, but you can lower the risk. Most importantly, learn the signs so you can get to a vet fast. Diagnosis happens at the clinic, not at home.

What is Bloat in Great Danes?

Bloat is a life-threatening medical and surgical emergency. The stomach fills with gas (dilatation) and can then twist on itself (volvulus).

Once the stomach twists, gas and fluid can't escape. The swollen stomach presses on major blood vessels, which cuts blood flow to the heart and can send the dog into shock.

The spleen can also twist along with the stomach and lose its blood supply. Bloat is extremely painful and can kill in a few hours without treatment.

What Causes Bloat in Great Danes?

The exact cause is still unknown. Vets aren't sure whether gas buildup triggers the twist or the twist causes the gas buildup, and research continues.

What Factors Increase the Bloat Risks?

The Merck Veterinary Manual and the American College of Veterinary Surgeons list these risk factors:

Age: Risk rises as dogs get older.
Body shape: A deep, narrow chest is a proven risk factor.
Family history: Dogs with a parent, sibling, or offspring that had GDV are at higher risk.
Personality: Aggressive or fearful dogs, and stressed dogs, have higher rates.
Weight: A lean body condition is linked to higher risk.
Eating habits: One large meal a day and eating fast both raise the risk.
Sex: Merck notes there is no sex predisposition.

Remember that several of these risk factors were first identified in a study led by Dr. Larry Glickman, a veterinary epidemiologist at the Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, which followed large and giant breed dogs over several years.

Is Bloat in Great Danes Curable?

Yes, many dogs survive when they are treated quickly. Treatment usually means stabilizing the dog with IV fluids, releasing the gas from the stomach, and then surgery to untwist the stomach and check the organs.

Even with treatment, the ACVS reports a mortality rate of about 15%. Dogs that had signs for more than 6 hours before treatment do worse, so every minute counts.

Symptoms of Bloat in Great Danes

Bloat can develop without warning and get worse quickly. Spotting the early signs gives your Dane the best chance.

Stomach Swelling

A swollen belly that feels tight or sounds hollow, like a drum, can mean gas in the stomach. In a giant, deep-chested dog, swelling may be hard to see at first.

If you think your Great Dane's belly looks bigger than normal, call the vet right away instead of waiting for other signs. Treating bloat early improves the chances of survival; read more about how vets treat bloat early.

As pressure in the stomach rises, it cuts off blood flow to the stomach wall and other organs. This leads to shock, organ damage, and death if not treated.

Pale Gums

Lift your dog's lip and look at the gums. Healthy gums are pink. Press a finger on the gum and let go: the color should return within about two seconds.

Pale, white, gray, or bluish gums, or color that is slow to return, are signs of shock. Get emergency care immediately.

Rapid Pulse and Breathing

A dog with bloat may breathe fast and hard, or pant heavily at rest. The heart rate may be fast and the pulse weak. Ask your vet what normal resting rates look like for your dog so you can recognize a change.

Excessive Saliva

Heavy drooling is a classic sign. When the stomach is twisted, swallowed saliva has nowhere to go. Excessive saliva often comes with nausea.

Unproductive Retching

Retching or trying to vomit with little or nothing coming up is one of the most urgent signs of bloat. Often only foamy saliva comes out.

Pacing and Restlessness

Bloat is painful. Your Great Dane may pace, stretch, look anxious, or be unable to lie down comfortably.

Remember that a dog can die of bloat quickly. If you see these signs, go to your vet or an emergency clinic now. This is never a "wait until morning" situation.

How is Bloat Diagnosed in Great Danes?

How to Diagnosis Bloat in Great Danes

Your job at home is to recognize the warning signs. The diagnosis itself is made by a veterinarian.

Monitor Your Great Dane's Behavior

A dog with bloat often looks uncomfortable and anxious, with a swelling belly. The distress gets worse as bloat progresses, and the dog may collapse as shock sets in.

Bloat is often seen after a big meal, but it can happen at any time.

Call your Veterinarian

If you suspect bloat, call your vet or the nearest emergency clinic and head there immediately. Do not give any medicine at home. Read more about outcomes for bloat, and remember that early treatment is what saves lives.

Physical Examination

The vet will check your dog's belly, heart rate, pulse, and gums for signs of shock. To relieve pressure, the vet may pass a tube into the stomach or insert a needle through the skin to release the gas.

Additional Testing

An X-ray of the abdomen confirms whether the stomach is just full of gas or has also twisted. Blood tests help the vet judge how sick the dog is.

Dogs with a twisted stomach need surgery. During surgery the vet untwists the stomach, checks the stomach and spleen for damage, and usually performs a gastropexy to help prevent the stomach from twisting again.

What Raises the Risk of Bloat Day to Day?

Vets are still unsure of the exact cause, but these habits and conditions are linked to higher risk:

Feeding one large meal a day
Exercise right before or after eating
Eating very fast
Feeding from a raised food bowl
Having a close relative that had bloat
Stress
Dry foods that list fats or oils among the first four ingredients

How do I Prevent Bloat in my Great Danes?

Feed two or three smaller meals a day instead of one big one. Merck also advises restricting exercise before and after meals, reducing mealtime stress, and not raising the food bowl.

A slow-feeder bowl can help a fast eater. When choosing a food, the ACVS notes that dry foods with oils or fats among the first four ingredients were linked to higher risk; see our guide to what low-fat diet options look like.

Should I give my Great Danes Gastropexy?

Gastropexy is surgery that attaches the stomach to the inside of the abdominal wall. It doesn't stop the stomach from filling with gas, but it should prevent the life-threatening twist.

Many veterinary surgeons recommend preventive gastropexy for at-risk breeds such as Great Danes. It can often be done at the same time as a spay or neuter, so ask your vet about it early.

What Dog Breeds Are More Prone to Developing Bloat?

Any dog can bloat, but large and giant breeds with deep chests are at higher risk. Breeds commonly affected include Great Danes, German Shepherd Dogs, Weimaraners, Saint Bernards, Irish Setters, Gordon Setters, Standard Poodles, and Basset Hounds.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What Foods lead to Bloat in Great Danes?

No single food is proven to cause bloat. One study linked dry foods that list fats or oils among the first four ingredients to higher risk. Feeding one large meal a day also raises the risk.

What should I do if my Great Dane has a Bloated Stomach?

Treat it as an emergency and go to a vet or emergency clinic right away. Do not give pain relievers, other medicines, food, or large amounts of water at home, and do not try to treat it yourself.

Can Great Dane Bloat Cure on its Own?

Do not wait to find out. You can't tell at home whether the stomach has twisted, and a twisted stomach (GDV) is fatal without treatment. Any suspected bloat needs a vet right away.

Bloat often starts without warning. Your Great Dane may pace, try to vomit without bringing anything up, or drool. As it gets worse, dogs may have a rapid heartbeat, pale gums, and collapse.

Does Dry Dog Food Cause Bloat in Great Danes?

Dry food alone isn't proven to cause bloat, but Merck lists a dry-kibble-only diet as a risk factor. Feeding one large meal a day, eating fast, and exercising around meals also increase risk.

How Long Does Bloat Last in Great Danes?

A twisted stomach does not resolve on its own and can kill within hours. Even simple gas buildup can't be told apart from GDV at home, so any suspected bloat needs a vet the same day, right away.

Why is my Great Danes Belly Bloated?

A swollen belly can mean the stomach is filling with gas. It can also have other causes, such as fluid in the abdomen. A tight, swollen belly with retching or restlessness is an emergency.

How do I Treat Bloat in my Great Danes at Home?

You don't. There is no safe home treatment for bloat. Bloat needs emergency veterinary care, and delays lower the chance of survival.

Is it possible for Great Danes to Bloat if they Drink too much Water?

Gulping large amounts of water, especially right after hard exercise, may add to the risk. Let your dog cool down, then offer water in smaller amounts.

Wrapping up

We can't prevent every case of bloat, but smaller meals, calm mealtimes, and preventive gastropexy can lower the risk for your Great Dane. If your dog shows signs of bloat, go to your vet or an emergency pet clinic immediately.

Check out these guides:

Sources

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus, American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Gastric Dilation and Volvulus in Small Animals, Merck Veterinary Manual