I adopted a German Shepard named Chevy 5 years ago to add to my pack of three dogs ( Pack animals big time)..I spoiled him with love on a daily basis from the day I got him..And had intended for the longest time to show him to the couple I adopted him from ( Their excuse for the free adoption to a good home-baby on the way) but never got around to it..They had my address but never bothered to visit him...
He is sorely missed because he towered over other Shepards..And because he barked at any thing and every body that went past my front gates I loved him greatly!
About 3 months ago-During the week of the Menu Foods recall.( And no I seek NO compensation,100 K would not ease the pain) the following happened..It was the second worst night of my life (Lost my dad too).
I fed him at 1:30 Am like I always do due to my lifestyle and job skedule..We walked out to the front yard together..although I mostly gave him people food, because he loved to eat I included a can of Winn dixie Beef, bacon , egg and cheese..Gave him Pedigree 80% ofvthe time ..But not this night..
He began to vomit outside..I thought not much of it..Dogs puke all the time especially when eating grass..He vomitted a couple of more times..I went inside and went online to play the slots ..I began to hear him vomitting even more..A horrible belching sound I never heard..I went outside..He was vomiting large sponge like puke out his nose and mouth.He kept trying to eat it so I took the garden hose and would pull at the puke with my hands and wash at the same time so he would not keep eating his puke..I noticed he could not get comfortable or lay down..He kept pacing about and I can still see him pawing at the dirt for a moment..I bought him inside and went online to Google German shepard Puke..It was 2 AM..I noticed the only way he could sit was in the Sphinx position..At the time I did not realize he was dying from a swollen stomach..A condition called BLOAT..By laying in the Sphinx position it took weight off his stomach..
I came out of my room to take him to the Vet..I lost precious time locating one open at 2:30AM..
I called him to the door..He stood in the living room and did not respond. I walked towards him and tried tom wavbe my hand in his face and he did not blink (SHOCK).He collapsed in my arms..He peed and shit instantly..He was dying..
He had gotten a condition called BLOAT ( DOG KILLER 1 Hour max)
This is when the stomach is sealed by twisting or turning..Leaving no escape for the gases which help with digestion..Picture a candy wrapper twist on both ends..Since there is no exit for the stomach to lose gases..The stomach swells like a basketball.Painfully causing vital organs to shut down..This happens to large chested animals who eat a toxin causing the stomach to seal, twist their stomach when exerting themselves, are placed on their backs or eat too fast and inhale a large amount of air with their food..And some other ways..
His stomach was huge and he was gone..His tongue blackend and went limp..I had just read about cutting a hole in the stomach on the left side behind the final rib to let gas escape.( Last desperate measure).I cut a hole in his stomach with the kitchen knife and pushed all the gases out of his body..I gave him CPR and tried in vain to resusitate him to no avail..He died there..In my living room and I buried him in the center of the front yard in the AM..
I did not know he was dying..I had never heard of BLOAT..If I had rushed him to the Vet on the first couple pukes he may have lived..I did not know..And this will haunt me for life..The dog can be saved through passing a hose down his wind pipe to straighten the problem..Or through surgery...
SO PLEASE:
Have the # and location of a 24 hhour emergency vet by the phone..And know how to get there..
Look at your dogs stomach today!.Feel it and know is normal state..If the stomach is swelling..It will sound like a drum when tapped on..Kinda hollow sound too..
If your dog ever pukes or appears unable to get comfortable--RUSH HIM TO THE VET..It was not your normal puking affair..
Many Great Dane owners invest in BLOAT kits..A tube to insert down the stomach to save your dog
IF YOUR DOG PUKES PAY ATTENTION...FEEL HIS STOMACH!!!
Perhaps through Chevy`s horrible, painful death..I can save at least one dog..
I notified Menu foods the next morniong about the incident..One day later there was a National recall on the food..They haved GREATLY lied about the statistics of this incident..Many more animals have died..I am not sure the can killed him..But I am sure he died of a sealed stomach..Imagine your stomach swelling until you die..
the silver lining could only be I have sinced adopted and saved a beautiful White German shepard..A story for another day..
Guys--Google BLOAT...And know its symtoms..you may one day in your lives be confronted with an animal in this condition..GOD BLESS-D
He is sorely missed because he towered over other Shepards..And because he barked at any thing and every body that went past my front gates I loved him greatly!
About 3 months ago-During the week of the Menu Foods recall.( And no I seek NO compensation,100 K would not ease the pain) the following happened..It was the second worst night of my life (Lost my dad too).
I fed him at 1:30 Am like I always do due to my lifestyle and job skedule..We walked out to the front yard together..although I mostly gave him people food, because he loved to eat I included a can of Winn dixie Beef, bacon , egg and cheese..Gave him Pedigree 80% ofvthe time ..But not this night..
He began to vomit outside..I thought not much of it..Dogs puke all the time especially when eating grass..He vomitted a couple of more times..I went inside and went online to play the slots ..I began to hear him vomitting even more..A horrible belching sound I never heard..I went outside..He was vomiting large sponge like puke out his nose and mouth.He kept trying to eat it so I took the garden hose and would pull at the puke with my hands and wash at the same time so he would not keep eating his puke..I noticed he could not get comfortable or lay down..He kept pacing about and I can still see him pawing at the dirt for a moment..I bought him inside and went online to Google German shepard Puke..It was 2 AM..I noticed the only way he could sit was in the Sphinx position..At the time I did not realize he was dying from a swollen stomach..A condition called BLOAT..By laying in the Sphinx position it took weight off his stomach..
I came out of my room to take him to the Vet..I lost precious time locating one open at 2:30AM..
I called him to the door..He stood in the living room and did not respond. I walked towards him and tried tom wavbe my hand in his face and he did not blink (SHOCK).He collapsed in my arms..He peed and shit instantly..He was dying..
He had gotten a condition called BLOAT ( DOG KILLER 1 Hour max)
This is when the stomach is sealed by twisting or turning..Leaving no escape for the gases which help with digestion..Picture a candy wrapper twist on both ends..Since there is no exit for the stomach to lose gases..The stomach swells like a basketball.Painfully causing vital organs to shut down..This happens to large chested animals who eat a toxin causing the stomach to seal, twist their stomach when exerting themselves, are placed on their backs or eat too fast and inhale a large amount of air with their food..And some other ways..
His stomach was huge and he was gone..His tongue blackend and went limp..I had just read about cutting a hole in the stomach on the left side behind the final rib to let gas escape.( Last desperate measure).I cut a hole in his stomach with the kitchen knife and pushed all the gases out of his body..I gave him CPR and tried in vain to resusitate him to no avail..He died there..In my living room and I buried him in the center of the front yard in the AM..
I did not know he was dying..I had never heard of BLOAT..If I had rushed him to the Vet on the first couple pukes he may have lived..I did not know..And this will haunt me for life..The dog can be saved through passing a hose down his wind pipe to straighten the problem..Or through surgery...
SO PLEASE:
Have the # and location of a 24 hhour emergency vet by the phone..And know how to get there..
Look at your dogs stomach today!.Feel it and know is normal state..If the stomach is swelling..It will sound like a drum when tapped on..Kinda hollow sound too..
If your dog ever pukes or appears unable to get comfortable--RUSH HIM TO THE VET..It was not your normal puking affair..
Many Great Dane owners invest in BLOAT kits..A tube to insert down the stomach to save your dog
IF YOUR DOG PUKES PAY ATTENTION...FEEL HIS STOMACH!!!
Perhaps through Chevy`s horrible, painful death..I can save at least one dog..
I notified Menu foods the next morniong about the incident..One day later there was a National recall on the food..They haved GREATLY lied about the statistics of this incident..Many more animals have died..I am not sure the can killed him..But I am sure he died of a sealed stomach..Imagine your stomach swelling until you die..
the silver lining could only be I have sinced adopted and saved a beautiful White German shepard..A story for another day..
Guys--Google BLOAT...And know its symtoms..you may one day in your lives be confronted with an animal in this condition..GOD BLESS-D
