Spay, bloat, and stomach tacking questions

[Madisonhunt]

Hello everyone! Questions regarding bloating and stomach tacking.

1. I plan to spay my girl shortly after 18 months old. Is this still too young?

2. While she’s under I do plan to have her stomach tacked. I have read all of the pros of this but are there any cons/risks that I should be aware of before me doing this?

3. Please give me any and all tips you have for bloat prevention. I feed her 3X a day with a slow feeder and wait one hour minimum after eating for play/training. This is my first dobie and I want to do whatever I can to prevent bloat. My older medium size dog has never had it so I have not had to worry about it until this pup. I’ve also heard she should not have water for a period of time after play? Is this really something that can cause it?

4. This might be a “per dog” question but curious if I’m feeding her too much. I feed her 1 cup 3X a day (so total of 3 cups). Is this too much for 4.5 month old? She is always still hungry but if I feed her less than that she will get pretty thin and when I have backed off to 2-2.5 cups my vet said she would not want her any leaner. She is an EATER!

 

[JanS]

I plan to spay my girl shortly after 18 months old. Is this still too young?

For males it is and many breeders prefer that you wait until 24 months regardless if it's a male or female. Females do mature faster than males so IMO, 18 months wouldn't be horrible for a female.

While she’s under I do plan to have her stomach tacked. I have read all of the pros of this but are there any cons/risks that I should be aware of before me doing this?

I don't know about the cons and I plan to have the tack done when our girl is spayed.

Please give me any and all tips you have for bloat prevention. I feed her 3X a day with a slow feeder and wait one hour minimum after eating for play/training.

That's about all you can do since bloat is a nasty thing that can rear its ugly head at any time. I always keep Gas-X on hand since that can be a helpful first step if you see them bloating and before you can get to the vet.

curious if I’m feeding her too much. I feed her 1 cup 3X a day (so total of 3 cups). Is this too much for 4.5 month old? She is always still hungry but if I feed her less than that she will get pretty thin and when I have backed off to 2-2.5 cups

That's not too much for a rapidly growing pup, which she is at this age. All of our pups have eaten way more while they're growing, then you can cut them back if they start looking plump, or increase it if they look thin. There is a lot of adjusting during growth spurts so the package directions mean nothing to me.

 

[Madisonhunt]

For males it is and many breeders prefer that you wait until 24 months regardless if it's a male or female. Females do mature faster than males so IMO, 18 months wouldn't be horrible for a female.

I don't know about the cons and I plan to have the tack done when our girl is spayed.

That's about all you can do since bloat is a nasty thing that can rear its ugly head at any time. I always keep Gas-X on hand since that can be a helpful first step if you see them bloating and before you can get to the vet.

That's not too much for a rapidly growing pup, which she is at this age. All of our pups have eaten way more while they're growing, then you can cut them back if they start looking plump, or increase it if they look thin. There is a lot of adjusting during growth spurts so the package directions mean nothing to me.

All of this is so very helpful! Thank you!

One thing I like about my vet is that she didn’t try to push me to get her spayed early or late. She just told me some of the risks like breast cancer for the females. She gave me info on different age ranges. There are just so many different opinions.
I never thought about gas x! Is there a limit I should be aware of if I ever have to give her any?
That makes me feel a lot better because this girl would never stop eating if I gave her the chance, haha!

 

[MyBuddy]

This might be a “per dog” question but curious if I’m feeding her too much. I feed her 1 cup 3X a day (so total of 3 cups). Is this too much for 4.5 month old? She is always still hungry but if I feed her less than that she will get pretty thin and when I have backed off to 2-2.5 cups my vet said she would not want her any leaner. She is an EATER!

Our Annie is 4 months old and she is fed about the same as you. I use a 3/4 cup scoop for her kibble, but also use toppings like cottage cheese (that my vet suggested ) and Stella and Chewy's Frozen raw patties ( the small patties and she gets about a half at each feeding) Her last weigh-in was almost 32 lb. And I think she looks great! We'll be weighing her again today and posting in the puppy forum. But like @JanS said, they are a growing puppy and you just have to watch her waistline and adjust as needed.

That makes me feel a lot better because this girl would never stop eating if I gave her the chance, haha!

Ha, Annie seems like too! Every meal is a joy to her! And that's great cuz it's good to have a happy eater! And I feel different toppings keep her meal interesting to her. You just have to know when to cut back.

 

[JanS]

I never thought about gas x! Is there a limit I should be aware of if I ever have to give her any?

I've only given it once and I just gave her (our prior female) one tablet.

One other thing I do with both of these dogs is use a slow feeder bowl so they can't gulp the food down as fast and such in a bunch of air at the same time.

Pet Supplies, Accessories, and Pet Food - Pet Stores | PetSmart

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[JanS]

Here is a thing that popped up in my FB memories about early spay/neuter, if it's of any help.

 

[Madisonhunt]

I've only given it once and I just gave her (our prior female) one tablet.

One other thing I do with both of these dogs is use a slow feeder bowl so they can't gulp the food down as fast and such in a bunch of air at the same time.

Pet Supplies, Accessories, and Pet Food - Pet Stores | PetSmart

PetSmart pet stores offer quality pet products, pet food, and accessories. Find pet service locations for pet grooming, dog training, and boarding.

www.petsmart.com

Oh yes, that was my first investment when I brought her home. She gobbles everything up so fast

 

[Madisonhunt]

Here is a thing that popped up in my FB memories about early spay/neuter, if it's of any help.
View attachment 147569

VERY HELPFUL! Thank you!

 

[jackmars]

Hello everyone! Questions regarding bloating and stomach tacking.

1. I plan to spay my girl shortly after 18 months old. Is this still too young?

2. While she’s under I do plan to have her stomach tacked. I have read all of the pros of this but are there any cons/risks that I should be aware of before me doing this?

3. Please give me any and all tips you have for bloat prevention. I feed her 3X a day with a slow feeder and wait one hour minimum after eating for play/training. This is my first dobie and I want to do whatever I can to prevent bloat. My older medium size dog has never had it so I have not had to worry about it until this pup. I’ve also heard she should not have water for a period of time after play? Is this really something that can cause it?

4. This might be a “per dog” question but curious if I’m feeding her too much. I feed her 1 cup 3X a day (so total of 3 cups). Is this too much for 4.5 month old? She is always still hungry but if I feed her less than that she will get pretty thin and when I have backed off to 2-2.5 cups my vet said she would not want her any leaner. She is an EATER!

Madison,

My dog recently passed away from bloat at 10.5 years old. It was his second case of bloat, his first being at 7.5 years (GVD). He was a male mastiff type dog.

1) I don't know the answer to your first question and am unsure how the age of spaying would affect the chances of bloat for your dog.

2)Aside from the upfront cost, I think a gastropexy is a great idea as a prophylactic measure if the dog develops bloat. The pexy will almost eliminate the possibility of the stomach flipping (also know as torsion or volvulus). When the stomach just bloats it is know as simple bloat or GD, when the stomach both bloats and flips it is known as GVD and is the more serious of the two situations. However just a severe GD can be enough to kill a dog by cutting off blood supply and crushing organs as I now know. If the stomach doesn't flip they might only need to decompress his stomach vs decompress and operate to reposition his stomach and organs. My dog had a partial twist of his stomach and did well post op. My dog had a pexy done when he went under for GVD surgery but still died 3 years later, however I don't know if his stomach flipped or not the second time.

3) Prevention is ideal and there are things you can control but you can't control everything. I think feeding the dog wet food with a bit of kibble, or wet food rice and a bit of kibble would be okay. Raw chicken is probably okay too, the main point is not to make kibble the primary food source because when it interacts with water it expands and can cause bloat from what I understand.

I would never feed the dog before 1-2 hours after it is excited or has exercised vigorously. The same goes for water. I would give the dog just enough water let it calm down wait give a little more etc. after vigorous exercise allowing the dog to calm down and cool off before letting him drink too much. This was the fatal mistake I made. WATER GULPING CAN ABSOLUTELY CAUSE BLOAT.

My dog got overheated and was panting for a long while, when I got back home I covered him with a wet towel to cool him. His respiration slowed, but I didn't consider the dangerous of him drinking water after all that panting. When I went back in the house he had access to his water bowl, and shortly after bloated. When the dog drinks or eats try to ensure it is in a calmer state or there has been sufficient time before or after exercise.

My dog's stomach would mildly bloat often, it seems especially after a session of heavy panting. Your dog's stomach probably will do. You can tell by looking at the dogs flanks where you will see some puffing. That is not severe bloat but you will want to keep the dog quiet and comfortable, massaging the gas out of the dog so it doesn't escalate. If the dog has severe bloat you will ABSOLUTELY KNOW, it will look like she swallowed a basketball. The risk goes up with age for bloat. The risk is higher in male dogs.

4) I would look into wet food and sprinkling kibble. I wouldn't just feed the dog kibble. You can also decompress the dog's stomach in an emergency yourself using a trochar if you can't get her to the ER in time. Had I know this previously I would have tried to decompress my dog myself.

Hope you never have to go through bloat.