Get her to a vet pronto. Yes, dogs can bloat and torsion and die from it. And they don't always have all the typical symptoms like retching, etc. You may have caught it early.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bloat

And yes this would be a visit to the 24 hour emergency clinic tonight. Do not wait until morning.

I called my vet at home, and discussed her situation. He thought that because was showing no signs of distres, she wasn't in any immediate danger and that i should call him in the AM if she still had a big belly.

Again, suggestions>???

Liver problems can also cause a bloated belly. Make sure the vet does bloodwork to check for that if he doesn't find another cause.

So, how is she... did you take her to the vet? What happened.

I hope all goes well with your dog. Keep us posted on how she's doing.

Sally

I had this happen to my girl, and I freaked, made an appointment for the vet later that day. Called back an hour later because she was worse, to see if I could come in then. I thought for sure it was bloat. She was rock hard, shaking, her belly looked gigantic, and she wouldnt eat much. She was whining and barely moving. I was prepared for her to die. Well 300 dollars, an xray, 2 aenimas later, it turns out it was grass clippings that she couldn't pass and had been in her for a few days. We had been gone, and a friend was watching her. My dog WONT poop in new surroundings, she gets stressed. So she may have been able to pass the grass, but she held her poop in for 3 days.

She had been bloated like that too, for 2 days before I took her in because she was very very happy, and her little belly always gets big if she hadn't pooped in a while. I thought nothing of it since she was running, jumping, begging for treats and just go go go, until she kept getting bigger and started getting distressed. So perhaps your dog ate something, too??

What kind of dog?? From what I've read bloat is much more common in bigger, barrel chested dogs. But I don't think that means it can't happen in smaller dogs.

Many years ago my Bassett Hound died from bloat. It all happened very quickly, within a few hours.

this is a very serious possible situation. I would not wait this one outand I am shocked your vet thought you should. A hard stomach is a tell tale sign of a major problem brewing.

Thanks to everyone who responded. This AM, Sadie went outside and took a really BIG dump, and came back her usual svelt self.

Someone asked what kind of dog Sadie is. God alone knows---she's a pound puppy, and the folks who brought her in *said* she was a Border Collie/Aussie cross. They were either drunk or lying. (*grin*)

Imagine one of those long, stiped watermelons. Imagine it has four Naiomi Campbell supermodel legs. imagine it's got a tail that looks like an extension cord. imagine it's got a really thick, meaty neck which supports a head the size and shape of a brick, adorned with two really big, triangular ears that stand half-way up, then fold over. Imagine the whole package spotted, speckled, flecked, and daubed with various shades of black, blue, grey, and white.

Imagine the Energizer Bunny, on crack.

THAT'S my Sadie!!! (*grin*)

When ever something happens to one of my three dogs, I always ask myself a very important question. I am not one of those that will rush to the vet every time my dog gets diarrhea.

That question is: Is the situation life threatening, or does it have the potential to get that way?

In this situation, I would have rushed my dog to the emergency clinic if my regular vet could not take a look pronto.

I believe bloat is more common in deep chested dogs, however any dog can get it. You need to find out what happened and why. You could have a very serious problem on your hands.

SG

She sounds adorable. I'm glad she's better...or at least it sounds like she's doing better. How is she today?

Sally

Sadie's fine---I really think she was just full of it. (*grin*)

It does worry me, after hearing all these horror stories, that my vet dismissed the situation so lightly. I've been using this guy for 15 years, but y'all have me wondering if I should be considering changing to someone else. I also have a 15-year-old Aussie who's health isn't the best in the world---she has arthritis and a skin condition, and has had gall bladder problems off and on for years. This guy has seemed to work very hard at caring for her, but maybe someone else could do more...

Normal constipation is not going to show like what you descibed. If this were my dog I'd be having some diagnostic tests done ASAP of the digestive tract. The fact that you saw the bloating occurring sounds to me you very well could have escaped a very near death with her. BTW did you happen to check the stools for blood, or even black blood ( tar looking)something foreign or the consistency of such?

I am so happy to hear that Sadie is OK.

Based on the information you gave, I agree with cindydexus, you may well have escaped a very near death. I would want to know why your vet did not consider the symptoms you described lifethreatening. I would also consider asking him if he has ever seen or treated a case of bloat. His answers may help you decide whether or not to change vets.

Bloat in dogs is a life-threatening condition. My layman's understanding is that the stomach fills with gas, twists closed on its own axis, and after that point the internal organs begin to die from blood loss. If untreated, collapse and death follow within hours. Whether your pet lives depends on recognizing the symptoms and getting them into emergency surgery fast enough to repair the torsion and to prevent so much internal organ death that survival is impossible.

As a dog owner whose beloved mastiff died of complications from bloat, even though we rushed him to the emergency vet, I would strongly suggest that you ACT IMMEDIATELY to have Sadie evaluated. No one knows why, but dogs who survive an attack of bloat are extremely prone to a second attack.

As spiritual_gardner remarked, you need to find out what happened and why. In addition, if Sadie were my dog and ever presented similar symptoms again, I would rush her immediately to the vet (regular or emergency).

Glad Sadie's fine.

I do wonder, is there any history of her having had access to, or having had, a particularly large meal? Dogs who have the opportunity to gorge on anything, get a stomach full, can present some quite astonishing dimensions; this situation is quite capable of resolving itself so long as the dog isn't put into an exercise situation, for example.

Bloat and torsion indeed horrific conditions, good plan to talk to your vet more about these.

You mentioned a few key items, like being gone for a few days... this could stress the dog... how much food was the dog sitter feeding... did she eat anything odd like a couch cushion while you were gone or an entire bag of dog food (my dog did that once.)... I think if you can positively identify a binge eating reason for the huge hard belly, then you probably could forgo the vet visit....however if you cannot accurately ID the cause of the huge belly, then I would get her checked by a vet and possibly get a second opinion. Ask a few friends who their favorite vet is and why.

Your pet sitter needs to fess up to any possible problems, just to make sure your dog doesn't have a problem. A good vet will talk to you about things you can do prevent bloat, if that is what it was...