standard poodle - tacking stomach

Question
I recently acquired a standard poodle pup.  The breeder recommended that his stomach be tacked around the time he is neutered.  This is because standard poodles are subject to bloat.  It sounds pretty invasive, and when I asked my vet if he had any experience with this, he responded that he has tacked a dog's stomach three times.  

What is your feeling about tacking a standard's stomach as a deterrent to bloat?

Answer
Hello George,
Though Standard Poodles tend to be one of the breeds that are prone to Bloat, most live their lives fine without preventive measures.  
It more depends on the size, activity level, and genetic history of your dog as to whether tacking of his stomach is really necessary.  Larger Std Poodles, and those with deep chests, can be more prone, as are Poodles who are very active.  If your breeder has dogs that have a history of bloat in their background, this could also be grounds for getting the surgery done.  Bloat occurs when air and food fill the stomach, then the stomach rotates over on itself trapping gases from the breakdown of the food, inside the stomach.  With nowhere to go, the gases become toxic and can kill the dog within hours.  
Things you can do to keep bloat from being an issue with your dog are to feed him from the ground rather than out of raised dishes because eating with the head up can cause air to be swallowed easier.
Don't let him run around much or play hard after just eating, and feed smaller meals throughout the day rather than one large meal.  

If your dog was a female, I would suggest having the Vet tack the stomach while she was under for a spay, since they go through the abdominal wall anyway.  However, for a male, they don't have to go through the abdomen, so its up to you whether you want the additional surgical costs or not.  

I hope this helps you some.  If you have other questions about this, or other Poodle questions in general, please feel free to ask.

Thanks for using AllExperts.com,
Kim