Bloat is a severe illness that can come on quickly in dogs and is often fatal even with surgical treatment. If is known as Gastric-Volvulus and generally occurs in dogs with long, deep chest cavities such as the Rottweiler, Boxer, Rhodesian Ridgeback, etc. It can, however, occur in other breeds so it’s important to know about signs, symptoms and causes in order to protect dogs like the Papillon. The illness may occur when unusual amounts of air, fluid, gas, food or even foam forms in the stomach. The pressure can cause the stomach to swell, which in turn blocks blood flow to vital organs such as the heart. It can lead to low blood pressure, shock and even organ damage. Leading causes of bloat include stress, anxiety, aggression, rapid eating or drinking after exercise or play, and poor diets of greasy foods. Call your veterinarian Hamilton County, IN to learn more.