Tonight Sydney was chewing a bone (rawhide) and then drank her usual amount of water after (quite a bit). She acted weird for a minute, then did a few coughs.

Now, she's fine.

But I'm kinda freaking out. I'm paranoid about bloat because I think I'll never know what it really is.

She's really not exhibiting any other symptoms or in any sort of distress, but still.

Isn't it the scariest thing ever?

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- Kat (Sydney's Mom)

There is a sticky in the health section about bloat, however the link I posted no longer works. Please see post 60 and it has a new link and also some other very important info. Bloat is so so scary and can be so fast acting that time is of the essence.

http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/...t-chart-6.html (Bloat chart)

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Betty and the Dallas crew


“Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened.” A. France

She settled almost immediately - she's sleeping now. I'm just myself freaking out all the time over it. I have the chart now - thanks so much.

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- Kat (Sydney's Mom)

Not trying to re-freak you out, but it made me think of a golden I owned years ago. He swallowed a big chunk of rawhide and it swelled in his belly causing him a lot of distress.

He paced non-stop and wouldn't eat. He strained and strained when trying to have a BM with no results. He spent two nights at the vet receiving enemas and Milk of Magnesia (I think) before he eventually passed it. We narrowly avoided surgery for an obstructed bowel. The following 10 days he was on antibiotics and a low-residue diet to heal his irritated digestive tract. For that reason, I have never given rawhide bones since.

Again, I don't want to worry you. Most likely your Sydney is absolutely fine, just observe to be sure she has a BM.

No rawhides here either. We use antlers for chew toys.

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Betty and the Dallas crew


“Until one has loved an animal a part of one's soul remains unawakened.” A. France

I lost my 8 year old Phoenix to bloat 3 years ago. He loved rawhides. I suspect they had something to do with the bloat. None of my dogs have had rawhide since. They get bully sticks and antlers. They also love to chew on hollowed out marrow bones.

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Reno, Austin, Lincoln & Lexxington on Facebook

So glad SYDNEY is fine. Keep that bloat chart handy so you can refer to it!
We've had two dogs that had bloat and they survived since we got them to the emergency vet immdiately and they had surgery.

For us, the dogs were trying to vomit or go #2 at the same time, They were pacing back and forth (very ansy) and eventually just layed down exhausted.

Their gums were VERY PALE, with a whitish or gray cast to them.

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Tonka & Tucker

SNOBEAR at the Bridge
Dec. 23, 1999-March 27, 2010


SMOOCH at the Bridge.
Feb. 14, 1999-Dec. 7, 2010

Happy to report Sydney is 100% fine this morning. Normal poo, normal attitude toward squirrels.

She loves rawhide. She'll chew antlers, but not with the intensity as with the rawhide. It will really occupy her for an hour/two. I haven't tried bully sticks yet and was hesitant for two reasons: heard they disappear in 20 minutes, Sydney can't tolerate anything rich (she'll get diarrhoea from anything smoked for example).

I wonder if marrow bones (not smoked) would be too much for her.

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- Kat (Sydney's Mom)

I don't ever give my dogs rawhide. A friend of ours, there great dane had an obstruction from one.

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Rawhide is really bad for blockage! Please stop with the rawhide.