What does bloat look like in a Boxer

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated September 16, 2024

Contributions sourced from

What The Bird Box Creatures Look Like Finally Revealed

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, aren't a fan of spooky films, or recently had access to a Netflix account that isn't your own cut off, you've probably seen or at least heard ofBird Box. The streaming site'soriginal post-apocalyptic thriller flick has taken social media and the horror movie-loving world by storm, sparking countless internet memes centered on Sandra Bullock's character and even a Twitter "challenge" that saw fans blind-fold themselves and try to complete everyday tasks just as the characters in the film do.

Whatreally snagged viewers' attention more than anything else, though, were the creatures in the film monsters that drive people to commit suicide and manipulate "survivors" into convincing others to kill themselves.Bird Box never once showed the creatures in physical form, only adding to the mystery behind them and boosting fans' intrigue.

Now, thanks to creature designer and sculptor Andy Bergholtz and special effects studio SFX Atlas, we finally know what theBird Box monsters look like and what we might have seen on screen had plans for the movie gone differently.

Bergholtz, credited as thespecial effects makeup lead onBird Box, took to Instagram over the weekend to share a carousel of photos that reveal the design thatdirectorSusanne Bier originally intended to use.

According toBergholtz, who included an in-depth caption detailing the logic behind theBird Box monsters' appearance, no two people see the creatures in the same way; their physicality changes from person to person.The design featured in the photos, however, is the creature that Bergholtz and the Bird Box special effects team created for Bullock's character, Malorie, at Los Angeles-based makeup effects studio KNB EFX Group.A baby-faced monster with a bulbous, vein-covered head, swollen ears, no teeth, and a snake-like body meant to be created using CGI,the creature is what Malorie would have seen in a nightmarish scene that was ultimately scrapped from the final cut ofBird Box.

"We had the unique pleasure of designing a creepy makeup for the film, although the scene ultimately ended up on the cutting room floor. Keep in mind, the fatal 'vision' that each character saw would most likely be different for each person (you'll understand if you've seen the film), and this makeup appeared in a cut 'dream/nightmare sequence' with Sandra Bullock's character,"Bergholtz explained.

He continued, "Considering her pregnant state and emotional arc thru the movie, the producers felt Sandra's nightmare would have something to do with a twisted, demonic baby creature attacking her (that's as much as I could gather about the context of the scene anyway). I sculpted at least 3 or 4 variations on the design before it was approved, which began as a more aggressive, monstery look and was revised to be a bit more subtle in the end. I also had the pleasure of painting the finished prosthetics before sending them to set, to be worn and performed by the one and only Dirk Rogers @thehalloweendirk, applied by the great @proutyfx [Academy Award-nominated makeup effects artistStephen Prouty]."

Bergholtz also wrote, "It's funny, I read an interview recently where Bullock described the creature as a 'snake-like, green man with a horrific baby face.' Many folks have speculated what the creature may have looked like, but they fail to realize the 'snake-like green man' portion was simply Dirk in a spandex green-screen suit. Everything from the neck down was intended to be a giant CGI creature/body added later."

Andy Bergholtz/Instagram

Prior to Bergholtz's reveal,SFX Atlas also headed to Instagram and uploaded a collage snap ofBergholtz's design, plus Prouty applying the pre-painted prosthetics to Rogers.

"The unseen creature from Bird Box created at @knb_efx that was sadly cut from the final film.Andy Bergholtz @andy_bergholtz sculpted and pre-painted the prosthetics. Stephen Prouty @proutyfx went to set and applied the makeup on actor Dirk Rogers @thehalloweendirk," the caption reads.

Howard Berger, the co-owner of KNB EFX Group where the designs for theBird Box creatures were crafted, added in his own Instagram post that's seemingly since been deleted, It's always a bit disappointing when so much effort goes into something that ends up in the cutting room floor, but I get it and it's always what is best for the final product."

SFX Atlas/Instagram

Anyone who takes one look at thesephotos will agree that the designs, sculpts, and prosthetics are A) unsettling and B) exceptionally well-made.But after finally seeing what theBird Box monsters were supposed to look like, many fans have have argued that the decision to keep the creatures' physical form out of the film was for the best.

"I feel like I'm missing something here. How is seeing this supposed to make masses of people want to commit suicide? I don't understand the meaning behind making the monster look this way," one Instagram user wrote in the comments of SFX Atlas' post. Another added, "I think cutting it was the right thing to do."

Yet another user commented, "Yeah... not right for this movie at ALL. Looks like it was recycled from another flick with a totally different concept."

Others pointed out the fact that Josh Malerman's 2014 novel Bird Box, upon which the film is based, never actually describes the monsters so a half-man, half-baby-looking thingwith a slithering body and misshapen ears is certainly an interesting interpretation.

Andy Bergholtz/Instagram

This brings us to the elephant in the room: Why didn'tBird Box ever show the monsters?

As it turns out, actress Bullock had the same reaction to the creature that many fans did: she couldn't stop herself from laughing when filming the nightmare sequence, which isn't exactly the kind of response a filmmaker wants to get out of a meant-to-be-traumatic scene.Director Bier soon realized that it would be wise to remove that moment from the movie and leave the monsters' appearance out of the film in order to retain a sense of tension and dread.

"It so easily becomes funny. We actually shot that [scene] and spent a lot of energy on [it], but every time I saw it, I was like, 'This is not going to be tense. It's just going to be funny.' At first, Sandy was like, 'I don't want to see it,' because she thought it was scary. Then it was like, 'Don't show it to me because [I'll laugh].' Every time I did it, I was like, 'S***, that's a different film,'" Bier explained in a recent interview withBloody Disgusting. "Whatever those beings are, they tap into your deepest fear. Everybody's deepest fear is going to be different from the other person. I think to suddenly take upon a concrete shape in order to illustrate that becomes weak. Where the conceit is really strong, then trying to illustrate it is kind of almost meaningless. So it would have been the wrong decision."

All things considered, it's clear that everyone involved inBird Box from Bier to Bullock to Bergholtz himself is happy with the choice to keep the monsters' physical form out ofBird Box. AsBergholtz wrote in his post, "I actually really liked the movie and think it was better off NOT showing the makeup. Kudos to the director for sticking to her guns on that one."

Like the creature design varies from what's featured (or isn't, in this case) in the source material, so too does theending ofBird Box. Both the Malerman's novel and the Netflix movie end with Malorie and the two children she cares for, Girl and Boy, finally finding safety when they reach an old school for the blind. But in the book, the trio discovers that the majority of people living there weren't born blind, nor did they go blind later in life. In actuality, most havedeliberately blinded themselves in order to survive. (After all, you can't be killed by what you can't see.)

By wrapping up on a slightly lighter and more positive note,by not fully exploring the force behind the creatures, and by not showing them on camera,Bird Box the movie left the door open for a sequel that could go deeper into the in-movie world. If Netflix gives the potential project the go-ahead, maybe viewers will actually get to see the monsters in motion and will be more universally spooked by what ends up being shown.

Andy Bergholtz/Instagram

Bloat in Dogs

What Is Bloat in Dogs?

Bloat in dogs is a condition in which food or gas stretches a pups stomach, causing abdominal pain. While its more common in large breed or deep-chested dogs, any breed can develop bloat.

When bloat occurs, a dogs stomach begins to expand, or distend, and cuts off blood flow to the abdomen as well as the stomach itself. This may cause injury or death of the stomach wall and without treatment, other organs. Bloat can also put pressure on the diaphragm, a thin muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen. This can cause difficulty breathing in dogs.

In severe cases of bloat, a dogs stomach flips, or twists, and fills with gas. This is called gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV).

Bloat with GDV cuts off blood flow to a pups stomach and the lower half of their body, making it impossible for food to pass into the intestine. In extreme cases of GDV, a dogs stomach can rupture, and the spleen can also be injured.

All cases of bloat are medical emergencies, and require veterinary intervention to determine the severity. If untreated, a dog with GDV will die within hours. If bloat and GDV are treated immediately, they are often curable.

Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs

Bloat is an uncomfortable and painful condition. Symptoms of bloat in dogs include:

Dry-heaving (also called retching) without vomiting any food. Sometimes a dog might spit out white foam when trying to vomit, which is usually mucus from the esophagus or stomach.
Abdominal swelling (this might not be visible in the early stages of bloat)
Sudden anxiety, pacing, an inability to get comfortable or constantly moving around the room/house.
Positioning the body in a downward-facing pose, where the dogs back half is up, and upper half is down
Panting and drooling
Collapse
Rapid heart rate (tachycardia)
Pale gums

Causes of Bloat in Dogs

Its unknown why bloat and GDV occurs in dogs.

While these conditions can affect in any pup, there are suspected risk factors that can increase the chance of bloat in dogs. These include:

Dogs that ingest large amounts of food or water too quickly
Dogs that weigh more than 99 pounds
Dogs that are male
Dogs that are older
Dogs that are of large breeds and deep-chested
Dogs that exercise immediately after eating
Dogs that eat from an elevated food bowl
Dogs with a family history of bloat
Dogs that eat dry food with fat or oil listed in the first four ingredients

How Veterinarians Diagnose Bloat in Dogs

A veterinarian may suspect bloat and/or GDV by simply seeing a dogs distressed behavior and physical appearance, but they usually perform tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Veterinarians diagnose bloat in dogs with:

Treatment of Bloat in Dogs

If caught in time, bloat is curable. However, treatment of bloat in dogs depends on the severity.

There are no home remedies for bloat in dogs. Dogs with simple bloat are usually hospitalized to receive of intravenous (IV) fluids and medication for pain or nausea as needed. Theyre also walked often to stimulate movement of the gastrointestinal tract to help move the gas and food quickly through the body.

A dog with GDV requires more intense care. This typically includes:

IV fluids with electrolytes to aggressively treat shock and improve circulation to vital organs.
Pain medications andantibiotics to treat discomfort, shock, and any death of tissues from the loss of circulation.
Trocharization, a procedure often used to decompress the air out of the stomach to restore the blood flow.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) to monitor for any heart abnormalities.
Surgery, which is performed as soon as the dog is stable. Depending on the severity of bloat, a vet may have to untwist the dogs stomach and/or spleen. They may alsoremove any part of the stomach wall that has died due to loss of blood flow. The vet will also stitch the stomach to the body wall in a procedure called a gastropexy. This significantly reduces the risk of rotation of the stomach in the future.

Recovery and Management of Bloat in Dogs

After diagnosis, dogs with simple bloat tend to bounce back into their normal lives and routines one to two days after receiving fluids and taking frequent walks.

Following a gastropexy procedure, a dog will remain in the hospital until their pain is controlled and the dog is eating and drinking normally on their own.

The duration of a pups hospital stay depends on their health history and severity of bloat. Their stay may be anywhere from one to two days, to up to seven or more.

Follow your vets discharge instructions regarding surgical aftercare. This includes typically 10 to 14 days of rest, monitoring the incision, and giving oral medications. It may be useful to purchase a cone or recovery suit to help keep your pup from licking/chewing at their surgical incision during recovery.

Prevention of Bloat in Dogs

You can lower the risk of your dog developing bloat by doing the following:

Never leave large bags or bins of food accessible to your dog to avoid overeating.
Do not use raised food bowls unless advised by your veterinarian (some pets require a raised food bowl due to a medical condition).
Have your dog wait at least one hour after a meal or drinking a large amount of water for any exercise or playtime.
Feed your pup small meals a few times throughout the day instead of one or two large meals.
Dont allow your dog to gorge on water when drinking.
Discuss preventative surgery with your veterinarian for breeds at higher risk of bloat. This can often be performed during your pets spay or neuter procedure.
If purchasing a pup from a breeder, be sure to ask if there is any family history of bloat or GDV.

Bloat in Dogs FAQs

What relieves bloating fast in dogs?

If your dog is experiencing bloat, they require immediate medical attention. If the bloat is distension only and the stomach has not twisted (GDV), your vet will treat your pup with fluids, medications, and increased walking. If your dogs stomach has twisted, emergency surgery will likely be required.

Can dogs survive bloat?

Yes. While bloat and GDV are both medical emergencies and potentially life-threatening, with fast medical intervention they can make a complete recovery.

Its important to get your dog emergency veterinary careone to two hours can be the difference between a good and bad prognosis.