Just lost my great dane Zeus to gastric torsion. I actually am sitting here crying. I read some message boards about others who uncountered this problem. I just keep beating myself up, thinking would surgery of saved him? We came home at 9:30 at night on 8/6, saw slobber all over the couch, (which wasn't that unusual). My husband said "Looked like Zeusy spooged all over the couch." I wish we would've taken more notice. We went right to bed. During the night, Zeus seemed restless. I thought maybe he wanted ouside. I put him out for the night. At 9:30 am the next morning, I wondered why he hadn't scratched to be let in. Poked my head out and called for him. He came with this head hung low. I thought this unusual. Did not have a vehicle, called hubby right away. Didn't get Zeus to the vet until 10:30am. By now it was over 12 hours since occurence. Once diagnosed, they gave him less then a 50/50 chance because it wasn't caught in the first few hours. I could go ahead with the surgery, pay $2000 in the least, they said, and end result may still be death. I opted for euthanisa. I held his masive head as they administered the drugs, and watched him slip away. I hope I did right by him. I originally got him from the pound when he was 7 mo. He was 4 years and 5mo. when I had to let him go. Please...if you do not know what gastric torsion is read articles on it. I wish I would've known about it.

So sorry to hear about Zeus. Don't beat yourself up - you did the best you could for him. He won't blame you, so please don't blame yourself. These terrible things happen out of the blue. Be glad you didn't let him suffer unnecessarily. {{{{{hugs}}}}} to you.

Thanks to all for your sympathies. I should be getting Zeusy back next week. We opted to creamate him and should be recieving his remains shortly. I just want everyone to look for the symptoms, and get theirs to the vet ASAP. I have a sicillian mastiff left, she is 5. Am thinking, should I get another playmate? I don't know how soon I should, I don't want to dishonor Zeus' memory.

Please try not to blame your self its one of those things It was the same with one of my Bullmastiffs last year i had fed all the dogs at 6 am and cleaned kennels gave fresh water went in to get other things done back out to make sure all was okay before leaving to go to work at 9am got home for lunch at 1 pm and found my old lady of 9 with bloat and a twisted gut got to vets put on drip but she was so cold vet and i talked and i decided to let her go as he said she wouldnt make it, so i know how you feel but its no ones fault my girl had a great life with us as i am sure yours did with you. Jackie :-(

You must be heartbroken about Zeus, I am so sorry for your loss. :( I don't know much about Gastric Torsion but I will go and look it up on the web now.

Thanks for your input and sympathies.

Bloat is a real danger to danes. To all dane owners out there - please, please read up on this, it could save your pets life. I am keeping mine as fit as possible, and I allow them to graze feed, to try and cut the risk of too much food in one go. They are fed at shoulder height, and not exercised before or after eating (I watch their feed patterns)...

Signs of Bloat are: (copied from Bloat)

Typical symptoms often include some (but not necessarily all) of the following, according to the links below. Unfortunately, from the onset of the first symptoms you have very little time (sometimes minutes, sometimes hours) to get immediate medical attention for your dog. Know your dog and know when it's not acting right.

Attempts to vomit (usually unsuccessful); may occur every 5-20 minutes - this seems to be one of the most common symptoms & has been referred to as the "hallmark symptom"
Doesn't act like usual self - Perhaps the earliest warning sign & may be the only sign that almost always occurs
Significant anxiety and restlessness - One of the earliest warning signs and seems fairly typical
Bloated abdomen that may feel tight (like a drum) - Despite the term "bloat," many times this symptom never occurs or is not apparent
Pale or off-color gums.... Dark red in early stages, white or blue in later stages
Lack of normal gurgling and digestive sounds in the tummy
Gagging
Heavy salivating or drooling
Foamy mucous around the lips, or vomiting foamy mucous
Whining
Pacing
Licking the air
"Hunched up" or "roached up" appearance
Seeking a hiding place
Looking at their side or other evidence of abdominal pain or discomfort
May refuse to lie down
May attempt to eat small stones and twigs
Drinking excessively
Heavy or rapid panting
Shallow breathing
Cold mouth membranes
Apparent weakness; unable to stand or has a spread-legged stance - especially in advanced stage
Accelerated heartbeat - Heart rate increases as bloating progresses
Weak pulse
Collapse

Please be familiar with all these signs, and if you suspect bloat at all, or are even just a little bit worried call the vet immediately

I'm sorry to hear about Zeus.
Chloe

I hope everyone reads these symptoms! I heard this is especially common in the largers breeds, which I am inthralled with.

Its common in deep chested breeds - apparently its the second most common killer after cancer... it all happens so fast :( I have two danes, and I am very paranoid about bloat. When my boy was ten months we had a case of suspected bloat and I had the vet out within 30 minutes...he had a shot, and we kept him quiet - who knows what coould have happened if we hadn't acted so fast.

As I said, I'm sorry to hear about Zeus.

Zgoldie, I understand completely, my boy, an Irish Setter, was four and a bit too when he died in November last year. He had endured bloat three times, in the end I said enough is enough. We have both protected our lads from further suffering you will think of it this way later when you are not as shocked as you are now. We bear the pain of losing them so that they may be spared their pain.
Thinking of you, Dawn R.

This is particularly difficult for me. I have 2 kids 4 and 2 and they keep asking me about Zeus. No matter what I tell them they don't understand and I get this repetive question constantly.

I am so sorry for your loss, torsion is a a terrible thing, I know I lost a Gsd that I had bred myself to it last OCTOBER, SHE HAD BEEN FINE NO EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING, I kenneled her for the nite at 11pm and found her dead early next morning, I beat myself up over it wondering if I had missed anything, Charm also knows about torsion but she was one of the lucky ones and her beautiful bitch came through it ok, you did the right thing by Zeus, its hard to get that through logically right now but in time you will see that it was the right thing to do you will have your memories and no-one can take them away from you

Janines

I'm very sorry for your loss and while I can't add to the knowledge pool on dogs, I have expereinced grieving with young children. they ask the questions over again to check it's still the same answer - their way of getting it into their heads that Zeus is not coming back. It is very hard to grieve yourself and help them at the same time and feeling guilt is part of the grief. It will go in time. Don't stop the kids talking about Zeus and if you have photos of happy times with him that'll help them too - you can all comfort each other. Get them to ask Dad sometimes if it's too much for you or ask them what you told them before or even just say Mummy's too sad to talk now. I don't know you but I'll be thinking of you and your family.

I hope you find the strengh to deal with this and just having gone through a similar thing I send you my best wishes xx