Bloat

Purpose

Bloat (GDV) is a life-threatening emergency. This is the fast-reference for recognizing it and reacting immediately.

At a Glance

What it is: the stomach overstretches and rotates from excessive gas build-up. The twist closes off both the esophagus and the intestines.
Urgency: life-threatening. Respond immediately, no delay.
Action: the moment you suspect bloat, get the dog to a vet.
Documentation: record the observations and symptoms in our kennel system.
Related GI symptom: see Vomiting for how bloat's unproductive vomiting differs from ordinary vomiting.

Steps

Suspect bloat? Get the dog to a vet immediately. Don't wait for more symptoms to confirm it.
While you move, check for the symptom list: obvious distress, restlessness, pacing, unproductive vomiting (retching with nothing coming up), excessive drooling and panting, a distended abdomen, an abdomen that feels tight or hard to the touch.
Note which symptoms are present and when you first saw them.
Record every observation, symptoms and timing, in the kennel system.

Edge Cases

Other serious conditions (diabetes, epilepsy, anaphylactic shock) can also present as sudden, alarming symptoms. Same rule applies: any abnormality, favor the vet over waiting to see.
Not sure if it's bloat or something else? Default to the vet either way. Regardless of the actual condition, err in favor of taking the dog in.
New to identifying medical emergencies generally? Start with General Pet Health for the always-default-to-the-vet baseline this article builds on.

Who to Ask

Unproductive vomiting plus a hard, distended abdomen is bloat until a vet says otherwise. Move first, document after.

What is the process for a suspected bloat case?

Get the dog to a vet immediately. Note the symptoms present (distress, restlessness, pacing, unproductive vomiting, drooling, panting, a distended or hard abdomen) and record them, with timing, in the kennel system.

There's no waiting period here. Bloat moves fast, so the response has to move faster.