Gastric dilatation and volvulus in dogs is a life-threatening condition that occurs mostly in large, deep-chested dogs. However, any dog can be affected by GDV.
How Does it Occur?
In the early stages of this condition, the stomach will begin to fill with gas, commonly known as Gastric Dilatation or bloat. Sometimes, this will be the extent of symptoms experienced. While the exact cause is unknown, bloat can be caused by:
- Eating too quickly
- Exercising immediately after eating
- Anxiety may contribute
- Illnesses that affect the digestive tract
GDV refers to the progression from bloat to Volvulus. Volvulus occurs when the stomach is so full of gas that it twists on itself, which blocks food from entering or exiting the stomach. Volvulus is a life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment and surgery to correct it.
GDV is one of the most dangerous nontraumatic conditions that is seen in dogs and immediate veterinary attention (within minutes to a few hours) is necessary to save the dog’s life.
What Does it Look Like?
When GDV occurs, the distended stomach pushes the posterior ribcage, which makes the dog appear swollen. Gentle tapping on the swollen area just behind the last rib often produces a hollow drum-like sound. Due to the swelling of the area, the stomach can press on the diaphragm and breathing can become labored. The swollen stomach can also press on large blood vessels in the abdomen which causes serious compromises to circulation resulting in systemic shock. Ultimately the dog will collapse and the distended stomach will become very obvious as the dog lies on its side.
Are Some Dogs More Prone Than Others?
Specifically large and deep-chested breeds are more prone to GDV compared to others:
- Great Danes
- Saint Bernards
- Weimaraners
- Irish Setters
- Gordon Setters
- Standard Poodles
- Basset Hounds
- Doberman Pinschers
- Old English Sheepdogs
Dogs that weigh over 100 pounds have approximately a 20% chance of bloating during their lifetime.
However, every dog can experience bloat or gastric dilatation.
Factors that Increase the Risk of Bloat
- Feeding one meal a day
- Family history of bloat
- Rapid eating
- Being thin or underweight
- Having a fearful, anxious, or nervous temperament
- Having a history of aggression
- Males are more likely to bloat compared to females
- Dogs over 7 years old are the highest-risk group
- Eating moistened dry food, especially if citric acid is used as a preservative
What You Can Do To Reduce the Risk of Bloat
- Feeding 2 or more meals a day
- Adding canned dog food to the diet
- Providing a relaxing living environment with enough exercise
- Feeding dry food that contains calcium-rich meat such as lamb meal, fish meal, chicken by-product meal, or bone meal listed within the first four ingredients.
Treatment of Bloat or GDV
GDV is an extremely serious and life-threatening condition and requires immediate veterinary care. Due to the complications that compromise circulation and digestion from pressure in the abdomen, it must be relieved as soon as possible. If there is no twisting in the stomach, a veterinarian may try passing a stomach tube to release the gas. Another method of releasing the gas is by using a bore needle or catheter that is inserted into the stomach through the skin.
Shock treatment must start immediately, using an IV or emergency medications. It may be necessary to delay surgery until the dog is safe to go under anesthesia.
How is The Surgery Done?
The main goal of surgery with GDV is to return the stomach to its correct position and remove any damaged, dying, or dead tissue. Several techniques are used:
Gastropexy: Once the stomach is returned to its original position, the stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall to prevent future GDV complications
Pyloroplasty: This surgery involves surgically opening the pylorus, the opening of the stomach, to improve the stomach outflow. Sometimes, the spleen may need to be removed if the twisted stomach damaged it.
Survival Rate
Even in the less complicated cases, there is a mortality rate of 15-20% for GDV. A recent study shows that if heart arrhythmias were present at the time of diagnosis, the mortality rate increased to 38%, if tissue damage was severe enough to require the removal of part of the stomach the mortality rate jumped to 28%-38%, and if the spleen was removed, the mortality rate increased to 32%-38%.