Bloat in Dogs: Warning Signs, Causes, & Surgery Cost

Bloat in dogs is a medical emergency involving the stomach that may require intravenous (IV) fluids or immediate surgery, and emergency vet costs are usually high. Dog bloat surgery can cost around $2,000 to $7,500 or more, depending on your location, vet, and the severity of your dog’s condition.¹

Untreated bloat can progress to gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), which is life-threatening.² If you suspect your dog has bloat, it’s recommended you contact your veterinarian immediately. Bloat and GDV are often treatable with fast intervention.²

What Is Bloat in Dogs?

Bloat is a condition in which a dog’s stomach stretches painfully with gas, causing gastric dilation. Any dog can be affected, but it’s more common in large, deep-chested dogs.³ With bloat, the stomach becomes distended and can cut off blood flow to the abdomen and the stomach itself.²

Gastric dilatation and volvulus

GDV is when a dog’s distended stomach progresses into a twisted or flipped stomach. This cuts off blood flow to the bottom half of their body, sealing off the entrance and exit of the stomach so that food can’t pass into the intestine. If bloat progresses to GDV, immediate medical attention is required to have the chance to save the dog’s life.^2,3

Bloat doesn’t always progress to GDV. However, it can still be life-threatening if left untreated.² If you suspect your dog has bloat, contact your veterinarian. They can help you determine if your pet should be seen right away. If it’s after business hours, an emergency vet can provide guidance based on your dog’s symptoms.

Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs

Bloat can be a painful condition and your dog may show signs of distress. Here are some common ones to look for:²

• Dry heaving
• Pacing or the inability to get comfortable
• Panting
• Drooling
• Swollen stomach
• Anxiety
• Looking at their stomach

As the condition worsens, your dog may also exhibit signs of shock:⁴

• Collapse
• Pale gums
• Rapid heartbeat
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness

What Causes Bloat in Dogs?

We don’t know exactly what causes bloat in dogs. However, certain factors increase their risk of getting it:^2,4

• Large and deep-chested breeds
• Eating or drinking too fast
• Exercising immediately after eating
• Eating from a raised bowl
• A family history of bloat
• Eating one big meal per day
• Older dogs
• Male dogs

Treatment for Bloat in Dogs

Immediate emergency care is crucial for dogs with bloat or GDV. Keep your dog warm and still on your way to the animal hospital, since they may be in shock. When you arrive, your vet will likely start your dog on IV fluids. Then, they can take X-rays to properly diagnose your dog and to see how severe their condition is.²

The first step to treating bloat is reducing the pressure on the stomach. Your vet has two options for doing this. Depending on how twisted your dog’s stomach is, the vet will either thread a tube down their throat or insert a large-gauge needle directly into their stomach. Both methods can help release the gas buildup.³

If your dog’s stomach is twisted, the vet will then have to perform emergency GDV surgery to untwist it. During the surgery, they may also remove any dead stomach tissue and perform a gastropexy. This is when the vet sutures the stomach to the abdominal wall. Attaching the stomach to the body wall helps prevent volvulus in the future.³

How To Prevent Bloat in Dogs

Some vets recommend that dogs who are more susceptible to bloat get a prophylactic gastropexy. This is a preventative surgery vets can do at the time of spaying for female dogs or neutering for male dogs. Rather than waiting for the stomach to twist, the vet will suture it to the abdominal wall, so the stomach is less likely to twist enough to cut off blood flow in the future.³

There are other non-surgical steps you can take to reduce their risk:²

• Wait at least one hour after meals for exercise or playtime.
• Feed your dog smaller meals throughout the day instead of one to two large ones.
• Don’t allow your dog to overdrink water.
• Don’t use raised bowls unless advised by your veterinarian.

FAQs About Bloat

Here are some common questions dog parents have about bloat.

What breeds are most prone to bloat?

Large, deep-chested breeds have a higher likelihood of getting bloat. This includes breeds like:³

• Great Dane
• Saint Bernard
• Weimaraner
• Irish setter
• Standard poodle
• Basset hound

However, any dog can get bloat, even small ones.

How much does it cost to treat bloat?

Costs range from $2,000 to over $7,500 on average.¹ It will depend on how severe the condition is and whether emergency surgery is needed.

MetLife Pet Insurance could help you cover some of these costs. For example, when Sylvester, a golden retriever from New York, needed emergency GDV surgery, it cost his parents $5,900. We reimbursed them for over $4,650.⁵

Are there other reasons a dog’s stomach could swell?

Yes, there are. But it may be impossible to tell what’s causing your dog’s distress without further imaging and testing. Due to the potential life-threatening nature of bloat, if you suspect that may be causing your pet’s symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian.

Pet Insurance May Help Cover Canine Bloat Costs

Emergency GDV surgery with a gastropexy is an expensive procedure. However, GDV is life-threatening, and often the only other option is to euthanize if treatment isn’t affordable — a heartbreaking decision no pet owner should ever have to make because of costs.

Whether your dog is at a higher risk and you opt for a prophylactic gastropexy, or your dog needs GDV emergency surgery, pet insurance may help make expensive vet bills more affordable. Learn how pet insurance works or fetch your personalized quote today.