What I thought I knew

I always knew Great Danes were prone to bloat. I read the pamphlets, skimmed the articles, nodded along when the vet warned me. I thought I understood it, the same way people think they understand tornadoes because they’ve watched the news a few times.

But I didn’t understand anything. Not really.

Titan

Titan was my 2-year-old blue Great Dane and the best “person” in my house. He would lean on me every night while I cooked, follow me like a shadow, and block the TV during every football game. He was healthy, strong, and full of himself. The last dog you’d ever worry about.

That’s why it hit so hard.

The day everything changed

I left work early that day. When I opened the door, Titan wasn’t there to greet me with his usual chest-to-thigh body slam. His nails didn’t click across the floor. Instead, I heard pacing… slow, uneven pacing.

He was drooling thick strands of saliva, trying to vomit but nothing came out.

My heart dropped.

Everything I’d ever read about Great Dane bloat smashed into my brain at once.

The mistake I didn’t even know happened

The dog walker had fed him a second meal. She didn’t mean to. Titan begged. She fell for it. Then she took him for a brisk walk right after.

That combination lit the fuse.

The race to the ER

By the time we reached the emergency vet, Titan’s stomach looked swollen and tight. He was panting fast, eyes glazed, body trembling. The vet confirmed what I already knew:

Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV)

The stomach had twisted. Blood flow was compromised. Minutes mattered.

The decision that still hurts

They recommended emergency surgery. I hesitated because the cost was behind insane. That hesitation cost me my best friend.

Titan passed before I finally said yes.

What I tell every giant breed owner now

• Never let ANYONE feed your dog unless they fully understand bloat.
• No exercise one hour before or two hours after meals.
• Know the signs: pacing, drooling, dry heaving, swollen abdomen, rapid heartbeat.
• Treat every bloat symptom as a 911 emergency.

If Titan had gone straight into surgery, he might still be here today.

I live with that. You don’t have to.