Fur Kids Foundation 2019 Success Story: Hercules

This is Hercules, a 7-year-old Saint Bernard, adequately named after a Greek hero and protector of man.

Hercules' mom describes him as, “My support, my baby, and my son's best friend.”

So, when she saw that Hercules wasn’t feeling well, she knew she had to help him. She rushed him to the vet, where it was discovered Hercules' stomach had twisted, or more commonly referred to as bloat.

Bloat is also known as gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), and it is deadly. According to PetMD, “the dog’s stomach becomes distended with gas and puts pressure on the diaphragm, causing breathing problems and cutting off the return blood flow to the heart. The extreme pressure within the stomach can cause tissue to die leading to stomach rupture, and sometimes the spleen twists with the stomach, which results in damage to splenic tissues as well.”

Signs that may help you see your dog is suffering from bloat include:  

• drooling
• dry heaving and not able to vomit
• grumbling sounds to let you know they are in pain
• panting
• swollen, distended or hard stomach
• walking around

If your dog has any of those signs, the only thing you can do is get your dog to a veterinarian immediately; there is nothing you can do at home.

Hercules’ mom had just started a new job after not working for a while, and was catching up on past-due bills when he  bloated. She used up all of her savings, and borrowed from friends and family to help pay for his life-saving surgery, and she was still short on money for this emergency surgery. So she applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help.

We're happy to report that Hercules surgery was a success and he's well on his way to recovery.

Not all dogs are prone to bloat; however, breeds that have a deep and narrow chest are more susceptible than others, but age, size, and stress contribute to its potential. If you’re worried that bloat could happen to your beloved pooch, check out some of these tips:

1. Don’t use an elevated food bowl
2. Don’t exercise for at least an hour before or after eating
3. Slow down your dog’s eating. There are special bowls you can buy or simply add a large clean ball to the bowl so your dog has to slowly serve himself rather than gulp down big portions
4. Serve your dog multiple meals during the day in smaller portions
5. Always keep fresh water available

Fur Kids Foundation is 100% ran by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. You can see a list of those who support us on our Supporters page. Check out more Success Stories.