Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I was told today not to roll Willow from one side to the other over her back because it can twist her stomach and cause bloat. Is this true? If so, how should I turn her over? She is not doing well right now and is very weak and can't turn herself. Also, even when she is well, sometimes I need to turn her over to the side that she still has both legs so that she can get up. Often late at night she is too tired, painful from arthritis, or maybe too stubborn to do it herself. She doesn't let me roll her over her stomach and legs, and it seems much more awkward to do it that way.
Thank you,
Carol
Well, that is certainly a theory, how significant a factor it is, I suspect is minor. That being said, when I have dogs under anesthesia, if we have to roll them, we do so with their legs going underneath them if at all possible (sometimes it is not).
There was one retrospective study done where the only predisposing cause for bloat were dogs that were "fear biters".
There are a lot of myths about the causes of bloat that really have no scientific basis.
So, I guess what I would recommend, if you can roll her with her legs under her to do so. If that is too difficult or cumbersome to do, I really wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
Right hind limb amputated 7/3/12 for OSA, started on alternating cycles of Carboplatin and Doxorubicin and oral Palladia. Single lung met 9/1. Met in the neck muscle removed 9/30. Large mass in sublumbar lymph node 10/2. Rescue chemo with ifosfamide 10/6. Mets to the rib and axillary lymph node 10/21. Started Leukeran and Pred 10/25. Wookie left this Earth for a far better place on 12/4/12. I miss you, Boo, you were my heart.
Just want our to know I'm holding you and Willow in our thoughts tonight. She's certainly a loved girl with a lot of grace.....beautiful photo.
nooooooooooo vet experience whatsoever.. I did, however, have a Bull mastiff who had bloat seemingly out of the blue (and survived with surgery).
She the as normal....nothing out of the ordinary...no exercising,etc. Noticed a couple hours later she was restless, panting..stomach swollen..hard, etc, I knew big dogs sometimes would have this hpen so I was pretty clear hat was going on and got her to vet right away. Prior to that, I thought I was more likely to happen with big meals (she had smaller meals three times a day) and heavy exercise and or drinking afterwards.....so much for that theory! I would "think" the rolling over would be more of a problem if she had just eaten.
Anyway, I really just want you to know we are all here with you. Really are sending you nd sweet Willow love, joy, peace and serenity. She's loving being spoiled and deservedly so!
Take care of each other! Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Willow, please feel better soon, we are sending our best to you.
Kelly, we thought the same thing, that dogs shouldn't roll over after eating. We're so paranoid about bloat with our GSD, we thought this was one way to help prevent it?
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
wookie524 said
So, I guess what I would recommend, if you can roll her with her legs under her to do so. If that is too difficult or cumbersome to do, I really wouldn't lose any sleep over it.
Thank you for the sanity check. I guess sometimes you have to do what is best in the situation, even if it isn't necessarily always the best.
Thank you Sally and Happy Hannah and Jerry for sending good thoughts Willow's way. Right now the vet thinks maybe something with her liver or kidneys. A full blood panel is being run and the results will be in early tomorrow morning. If nothing shows there, than x-rays will be done.
Carol
Well I'm not a vet, but if rolling over can cause bloat, it's a freakin' MIRACLE that both of my dogs weren't dead a long time ago, because one of their favorite pastimes is to go out & lay down in the lawn, roll around on one side & get a good scratch on, then flip right over to do the other side.
In fact, as I was typing that last sentence, Kermit rolled onto his back next to me & continued to flip right over to the other side.
I pretty much always flip him over his back when I need to get to his other side; he's way too big to flip over with his legs underneath; especially if he doesn't want to cooperate.
I would think that (like a colicking horse), if they're already bloating & THEN they roll over, it could be a problem. But if she's just feeling puny & you need to roll her I cannot begin to imagine how it would CAUSE bloat. But I'm going to look into this further.
Hope she feels better soon though!
jerry said
Kelly, we thought the same thing, that dogs shouldn't roll over after eating. We're so paranoid about bloat with our GSD, we thought this was one way to help prevent it?
Honestly, the only way to prevent a GDV (gastric dilatation and volvulus, or "bloat") is a gastropexy.
Right hind limb amputated 7/3/12 for OSA, started on alternating cycles of Carboplatin and Doxorubicin and oral Palladia. Single lung met 9/1. Met in the neck muscle removed 9/30. Large mass in sublumbar lymph node 10/2. Rescue chemo with ifosfamide 10/6. Mets to the rib and axillary lymph node 10/21. Started Leukeran and Pred 10/25. Wookie left this Earth for a far better place on 12/4/12. I miss you, Boo, you were my heart.
I just asked a vet friend about this & she said she felt that if "rolling over" was going to cause bloat, it probably would have happened anyway. So in a circumstance where the dog was already at risk of bloat it's probably best to not exacerbate the problem, but it's generally not a practical concern.
That said, I'm sure one of the veterinary professionals here can give an answer that's more specific to your particular situation; I only asked her in general terms, didn't give her your details.
edit: CLEARLY I need to take my adderall this morning, because I just now noticed that you already HAD responses from a pro. SORRY!! 
It is hard to know why some dogs bloat. The highest risk dogs are deep chested like Great Danes but I have seen Pitt bulls and smaller dogs bloat, too. Other risk factors include anxious or stressed dogs which is why I think some dogs are more prone to bloat post-op or when boarded. We have a tech sit with at-risk dogs post-op to make sure that they don't flip over when waking up from anesthesia. If we are moving sedated dogs for xrays or surgery we always make sure to roll them on their chest first rather than over on their back.
Having said that I agree that everyday rolling around is probably harmless. My 3 dogs always seem to run and play right after eating which drives me crazy but they are always fine! I do feed the big boys from a raised dish even though there is no proof that this helps but it seems more comfortable for them. I also always add some water or canned food or cooked meat to their dry food since some reports indicate that giant dogs on an all dry food are more likely to bloat.
Julian is so huge that I did take him to a local clinic for a laparoscopic gastropexy. It was not that pricey (I think it was about $600) and done with a scope so he has a minimal scar and did not have to stay overnight. It gives me peace of mind because even though he could theoretically still bloat (get a gassy stomach) he is very unlikely to get a torsion (have the stomach flip over) which is often deadly.
Pam
Pam thank you, this is good to know. I should've been a little clearer; it was my impression that rolling over after eating, not everyday rolling over, could cause bloat. But thanks for the clarification.
Looks like we need to start saving our pennies to get Wyatt's gut tacked!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Pam,
where do you live? We have 3 dogs that we would like to have tacked laproscopically and it is waaaaay more expensive than 600.00 in our neighborhood. In fact, it would probably be cheaper to pack them all up and pay a visit to your local clinic, even if we stayed at the Ritz!
Woohoo! Tripawds Rule!
Regulator of the Oaktown Pack, Sheriff of the Oaktown Pawsse, Founding member and President of the Tripawd Girldogs With 2 Names ROCK Club, and ... Tripawd Girldog Extraordinaire!
I live in Puyallup which is near Seattle. The clinic I went to is South Bay and it is located in Lacey (very near Olympia). It is in a rural setting but the docs are very good with the scope. I think their website is http://www.sout.....bayvet.com. It has been 2 years since Julian had his surgery but I can't imagine the price has gone up that much. They just remodeled the clinic and it is very nice. I also go there for acupuncture and holistic medicine.
Pam
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