Vets aren’t sure what causes bloat, but there are some things that raise a dog’s risk for it, including:

• Eating from a raised food bowl
• Having one large meal a day
• Eating quickly
• A lot of running or playing after he eats
• Other dogs he’s related to have had bloat
• Eating or drinking too much
• Stress

Any dog can have bloat, but it’s much more common in deep-chested, largebreeds, like Akitas, Boxers, Bassett Hounds, and German Shepherds. Some are at a higher risk than others, including Great Danes, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, Weimaraners, and St. Bernards.