No one knows what causes bloat, but one theory is that heavy exercise just before or just after a big meal contributes to the likelihood of a bloat event occurring. There are several signs you should look for that indicate bloat is taking place.

"One of the signs is unproductive vomiting or attempting to vomit," Wilson described. "The dog will arch his back, and sometimes will cry out in pain. They can't sit still. They pace and pace. They try to defecate and can't do that. The big thing is to feel the stomach. If it's distended, it's time to get the dog to the vet."

There's plenty of information about bloat on the Internet, and instructions for creating a "bloat kit" to have at home for emergencies. Just remember that all you're doing for your dog is a quick fix that gives you time to get to the vet. You are not solving the problem, and if you don't treat bloat as a life-threatening emergency, your dog will die.

The younger the dog, and the faster you get the animal to the vet, the more likely it is to survive. In the operating room, the vet straightens out the stomach and sutures it to the abdominal wall in a procedure called a gastropexy, which prevents the stomach from twisting if bloat occurs again at a later time.