How CBD Can Help Your Poodle’s GVD

GVD, also known as Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus, commonly referred to as bloat, is a life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with gas, and the dog generally looks bloated. Sometimes, the bloat symptoms will subside, and your dog will be A-OK; other times, however, the stomach may twist or turn over, in turn blocking anything from entering or leaving the stomach.

Once your dog’s stomach is twisted or turned over, life-threatening actions may start to take place. Typically, veins in the abdomen will have so much pressure on them that the blood flow to and from the stomach will be cut-off. If emergency surgery or treatment is not implemented as soon as possible, the dog could die within as little as a few hours.

What can cause bloat?

The exact cause is unknown, but research shows that there are a few potential causes that can be detected. Check out the following list to be more aware of the possible reasons:

• Eating quickly may cause bloat
• Eating one large meal once daily may cause bloat
• Consuming only a dry food diet may cause bloat
• Exercising frequently after eating may cause bloat
• Having a fearful temperament may cause bloat
• Becoming easily stressed may cause bloat
• Abnormal stomach processes may cause bloat

If your dog is experiencing bloat, are there any signs you can look out for?

There are always signs to distinguish if your dog is experiencing bloat, but not all of them can confirm he or she is suffering from GVD. It’s better to be safe than sorry, so if you have a feeling that some of the signs are pointing towards bloat, take your dog to the vet immediately.

Some of the signs to watch out for are as follows:

• Constant vomiting or belching
• Distended abdomen
• Constantly salivating
• Drooling excessively
• Shallow breathing
• Pale gums
• Increased heart rate
• Collapse

Are certain dogs more prone to experiencing bloat than others?

Typically, large breeds that are deep chested tend to develop bloat more so than other dogs. Generally speaking, large breeds that are deep chested and middle-aged are among the most common to acquire the disease.

The following is a list of breeds that are more likely to experience bloat in their lifetime:

• Great Dane
• Doberman
• German Shepherd
• Poodle
• Boxer
• Saint Bernard

Is there anything you can do to prevent bloat?

Follow some of the below suggestions to decrease your dog’s chances of getting GVD:

• Feed your dog small meals throughout the day
• Do not feed your dog using a raised bowl, unless otherwise advised by your vet
• Do not feed your dog a dry food diet only
• Provide water at all times – this will keep your dog from gulping water too quickly
• Add canned food to your dog’s diet
• Avoid letting your dog exercise immediately after eating a meal

Can CBD oil help with GVD?

There are no proven scientific studies on the market yet stating that CBD oil for dogs  can help get rid of symptoms of GVD. CBD is not known to treat bloat in dogs.

However, if you’re looking to calm your dog’s fearful temperament and stress levels (two reasons bloat can start), we’d suggest giving him or her small amounts of CBD oil to start.

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