My dog has a bloated stomach for weeks. Should I worry about GDV?

GDV is a condition that most often occurs in large breed, deep-chested dogs and only rarely in small to medium breed dogs. With GDV you will typically see them trying to vomit but nothing comes out. They can breathe heavily, be weak and collapse. I think is it unlikely that Diamond has GDV. She could be bloated and gassy from eating too much or eating something she's not used to having. You could try fasting her overnight and then give her a bland diet of plain boiled chicken and rice in the morning and see if that helps. If she continues to be gassy and bloated and especially if she develops vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or poor appetite, I would take her to your veterinarian for further evaluation.

It does not sound like GDV to me. I'm concerned it has to do with Yezler's heart failure. Fluid back up from heart failure can lead to an enlarged stomach due to fluid collecting in that area. I would take him into a vet now to get this checked out. I recommend an echocardiogram and a discussion about medication for his heart disease. Please take him into a vet immediately. Best of luck.

I personally would return for an x-ray and/or ultrasound. Bloating like that is not normal. I'm glad it is not a GDV but there could be an abdominal mass or an enlarged organ (spleen, liver) that may be pushing the side of the abdomen out. They are often not overly ill with an abdominal mass unless it gets to the point of pushing on the stomach or colon causing discomfort and pain. It is better to be safe than sorry. If this was just gas it should have subsided by now on it's own. If you don't want to take him back that is completely up to you. All you can do then is just monitor him for any worsening signs.

As long as she is acting ok you could monitor her for additional signs. If she starts retching, seems uncomfortable, starts drooling, is painful, or the distension persists then she should be examined by a vet. Your vet can take an X-ray to evaluate her abdomen and determine the exact cause of her problem.

Sheena should be evaluated by a veterinarian right away! If her belly is swollen she could be suffering from bloat (stomach full of air), a GDV (where the stomach bloats and turns on itself) or she could have fluid in her belly or uterus (pyometra). All of these conditions are very serious and require immediate veterinary care. I hope Sheena is doing ok! Please let us know if you have more questions.

Symptoms of GDV in a dog are unproductive retching, bloated appearance, pain, stress, increased breathing rate, "bowing" or "playful puppy" pose, among others. If you have this concern, Scotty needs to see a vet immediately for evaluation and surgery if he has a twisted stomach.

She is probably suffering from a severe bloat, you MUST take her to the emergencies URGENTLY as GDV is one of the main options and it is a condition that will kill your dog within 2-4 hours if it is left untreated.