Q: My beloved German shepherd, Daisy, died a month ago from bloat. I'm heartsick and blame myself. I had no idea that feeding her once daily, as I had been doing, might contribute to her death.

A: Bloat, also known as gastric dilatation volvulus or GDV, is a dog-specific disease that happens when the stomach fills with air and twists. It's not known which happens first, the twisting or the gas buildup, but it's clearly a major emergency.

Bloat happens mostly to large and giant breeds of dogs, middle-aged or older, though it can strike any dog of any breed at any age. Symptoms may include retching, drooling, panting and other signs of distress. The abdomen appears distended in most, but not all, cases.

Any dog showing these signs should be rushed to the vet. Minutes count. If a dog doesn't receive medical care in time, the twisting can pinch off major blood vessels, killing stomach tissue. Shock will ensue, and deadly heart rhythms can occur.

Removing the gas and addressing the shock and arrhythmias are crucial, but surgery is almost always on the menu, too, making this an expensive emergency, indeed.

It's not clear what causes bloat, and there's no proof that once-daily feedings contribute to its development, so there's no reason for you to blame yourself.

These are the known risk factors:

• Being a large or giant breed dog.

• Being middle-aged or older.

• Having parents or litter mates who bloated.

• Eating rapidly.

• Eating from a raised food bowl.

Veterinarians can only advise you to feed at ground level and minimize speed-demon eating habits with special bowls. Beyond that, a surgical technique called a gastropexy may prevent bloat in at-risk dogs. Ask your veterinarian about this relatively simple procedure, and stop blaming yourself.

Dr. Patty Khuly has a veterinary practice in South Miami and blogs at www.dolittler.com. Send questions to khulyp@bellsouth.net, or Dr. Dolittler, Tropical Life, The Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, FL 33132.

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