If you've ever had a really, really bad stomach ache - spare a thought for large breed dogs... because they, unfortunately quite commonly suffer from an even more painful and in fact potentially deadly condition known as Bloat.

Veterinary specialists still don't know why it occurs in some dogs, and not others, but it appears to be on the rise given a sudden influx of Bloat cases at Sydney’s biggest privately-owned emergency and specialist centre, the Animal Referral Hospital

However Bloat needn't be a death sentence as ARH’s veterinary specialist surgeon, Dr Sarah Goldsmid explains.