Stomach bloating

Stomach bloating is a very important health concern for dogs. Stomach bloat is when a dog’s stomach fills up with air, fluid or food. This enlarged stomach places pressure on other organs and this will result in difficulty breathing, and eventually may decrease blood supply to a dog’s vital organs.

This happens because, unfortunately, dogs are born with intestines that rotate when bloated and thus tangle easily, resulting in constriction. This constriction will prevent the trapped air/food/water from escaping and being relieved, thus worsening the condition

This condition can cause rapid clinical signs and sadly, death in several hours. Even with immediate treatment, approximately 25% to 40% of dogs die from this medical emergency. Please treat this condition seriously as dogs who are vulnerable to stomach bloating will be at serious health risks.

Here are some symptoms to take note of:
Coughing
Unproductive gagging
Significant anxiety and restlessness
Whining

More severe symptoms would include:
Stomach bloating (stomach being observed as being as large as a balloon)
Unresponsive
Collapse

When severe symptoms occur, immediately seek medical attention.

Be prepared! Know in advance what you would do if your dog bloated. Keep a 24-hour vet on hand. Most vets in Singapore have standby vets who will be contacted after-hours.

Joint issues due to being overweight

There are multiple causes for joint problems in dogs. One of the most common ones I encounter are joint problems due to being overweight.

Many owners love pampering their dogs so they give them lots of love and food. Sometimes in excess. This results in their dogs being overweight, which consequently places excessive strain on their joints.

Sure, many think it’s not a big deal but cumulatively, it has severe impacts on their joint health. What happens is over the years, this unhealthy weight will cause degradation to their joints. In their final years, the dogs will experience a loss of mobility resulting in multiple problems.

I’ve observed, in my time volunteering at shelters, many dogs who, due to joint problems, are unable to walk. They end up being unable to move to drink water, eat or even move away after defecating.

Please consult your vet or myself (Sean) for an in depth understanding of the various conditions.