My dog had sudden pain after eating. Is it gas, bloat, or emergency vet?

I'm concerned about Beth based on your description. Being restless and in pain can be a sign of bloat, which is fatal without treatment. Because I can't see her in person to rule out bloat and also due to the fact that time is of the essence when treating bloat, I think it's best she sees a vet now. Please take her into an ER vet clinic; if there isn't one in your area, there will be a vet on call for emergencies. The information to reach that vet is found on a clinic's answering machine or website.

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.

She may have had a bit of a gassed up stomach, which resolved by itself. She would likely not have slept through the night and would have been pacing. She would also not have felt happy enough to play ball today. I would watch her closely, and if you see her abdomen swell (sounds like a drum!) or if she starts panting and pacing, then she needs to be taken to a PetER right away as this would be an emergency.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The symptoms you are describing sound like an emergency. The description of heavy breathing, retching, and contracting abdomen sound like the symptoms of a gastric dilatation/volvulus, or bloat. This happens when the stomach is filled with air and can even twist on itself and is more common in large breed dogs. The condition is extremely uncomfortable, and requires immediate stabilization and possibly surgery. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate veterinary care, especially if there is torsion. I recommend getting your dog to the vet as soon as possible. There are 24-hour emergency clinics in most cities that are open overnight and will be able to stabilize your dog.

These signs may be compatible with a bloat and gastric torsion, even though now there are none showing (they can restart again). I would recommend an immediate check up as this disease represents an emergency and can lead to fatal consequences.

If she is resting quietly, not vomiting, and having no breathing issues then she is probably fine for you to just monitor her now. I strongly suggest you don't feed her anything for 24 hours but make sure she has plenty of water available to drink. If she is having any troubles then she needs to go to the emergency vet. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

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.