1252: A Prospective Study of Morphometric, Genetic & Dietary Risk Factors for Bloat in Dogs

Grant Amount: $75,954

Larry Glickman, VMD, PhD; Purdue University

August 1, 1995 - December 7, 1999

Sponsor(s): American Bloodhound Club, American Bullmastiff Association, American Rottweiler Club, Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, Collie Health Foundation, Irish Setter Club of America, Inc., Irish Wolfhound Club of America, Inc., NewPenDel Newfoundland Club, Weimaraner Club of America

Breed(s): Newfoundland, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Rottweiler, Collie, Bloodhound, Bullmastiff, Weimaraner, Irish Wolfhound, Irish Setter

Research Program Area: Gastrointestinal Disease

Project Summary

In the largest prospective health study ever done involving companion animals, this project identified 1900 healthy dogs of 11 giant and large breeds and collected information from owners. The dogs were followed for five years to measure the incidence of bloat, evaluate the effectiveness of commonly used bloat-prevention practices and determine the relationship between diet and bloat. The researchers found that the risk of bloat increased with increasing age, having a first-degree relative with bloat and increasing chest/width ratio. The breed at the highest risk was the Great Dane. None of the practices usually advised by experts to prevent bloat, such as raising the food bowl and limiting the amount of exercise and water before or after eating, appeared effective. In fact one of these, raising the food bowl, was associated with a higher incidence of bloat.

Publication(s)

Glickman, L., Glickman, N., Schellenberg, D., Simpson, K., & Lantz, G. (1997). Multiple risk factors for the gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome in dogs: A practitioner/owner case-control study. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 33(3), 197–204. https://doi.org/10.5326/15473317-33-3-197

Glickman, L., Lantz, G., Schellenberg, D., & Glickman, N. (1998). A prospective study of survival and recurrence following the acute gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome in 136 dogs. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 34(3), 253–259. https://doi.org/10.5326/15473317-34-3-253

Glickman, L. T., Glickman, N. W., Schellenberg, D. B., Raghavan, M., & Lee, T. (2000a). Non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in large and giant breed dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 217(10), 1492–1499. >https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2000.217.1492

Glickman, L. T., Glickman, N. W., Schellenberg, D. B., Raghavan, M., & Lee, T. L. (2000b). Incidence of and breed-related risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 216(1), 40–45. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2000.216.40

Raghavan, M., Glickman, N., McCabe, G., Lantz, G., & Glickman, L. T. (2004). Diet-Related Risk Factors for Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus in Dogs of High-Risk Breeds. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 40(3), 192–203. https://doi.org/10.5326/0400192

Raghavan, M., Glickman, N. W., & Glickman, L. T. (2006). The Effect of Ingredients in Dry Dog Foods on the Risk of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus in Dogs. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 42(1), 28–36. https://doi.org/10.5326/0420028

Schaible, R. H., Ziech, J., Glickman, N. W., Schellenberg, D., Yi, Q., & Glickman, L. T. (1997). Predisposition to gastric dilatation-volvulus in relation to genetics of thoracic conformation in Irish Setters. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 33(5), 379–383. https://doi.org/10.5326/15473317-33-5-379

Ward, M. P., Patronek, G. J., & Glickman, L. T. (2003). Benefits of prophylactic gastropexy for dogs at risk of gastric dilatation–volvulus. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 60(4), 319–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0167-5877(03)00142-9