This disease can be deadly for large dogs

Gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV), or bloat, is a life threatening condition in which the stomach of the dog fills with air and becomes twisted. The twisted stomach becomes distended with gas. The stretching of the distended stomach is extremely painful and also limits the amount of blood that can reach the tissues. When blood can't reach the tissues to supply oxygen, the tissues can die.  Bloat is an emergency situation, and if not treated immediately, it can be fatal. While any size or breed dog can develop this condition, it is more commonly found in large breed dogs with deep chests, like German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and Great Danes.

Signs of Gastric dilatation-volvulus

A dog with GDV may be found collapsed in severe pain, or may retch and a have a swollen belly.  This is very painful and dogs will whine or grunt,  appear distressed, or have an arched back. Other signs include:

·        drooling

·        frequent retching

·        anxiousness, restlessness, and pacing

·        lethargy

·        depression

·        shock

·        vocalizing (sign of pain)

·        distended abdomen

·        arched back (sign of pain)

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of GDV is usually made from a combination of physical examination findings and radiographs. A dog experiencing this condition will have an enlarged abdominal area that is painful to the slightest touch.  A veterinarian will also look for signs of shock, such as weakness, pale gums, and severe depression. 

Your veterinarian may take abdominal x-rays to evaluate the stomach. On the x-ray, the stomach would appear full of gas and would be in an unusual location.  X-rays are normally taken only after the animal is stabilized because of the nature of the emergency. The longer the pet is in distress, the more likely the animal will die or will have complications.

Treatment:

GDV is an emergency condition, and must be treated by a veterinarian immediately. At the hospital, the veterinarian will take steps to gently decompress the stomach and relieve the bloat. The animal will usually have to undergo surgery to correct the twisted stomach and check for any internal damage.  Sometimes, the twisting of the stomach will damage the spleen, which must then be removed.

Since dogs experiencing this problem are in severe pain and may be in shock, they will also be given intravenous fluids and pain medication. Once the dog’s stomach is untwisted and repaired, the surgeon usually performs a gastropexy, which allows the stomach to be fixed into a normal position so it will not twist again. A gastropexy is very important, since the chance of recurrence after GDV is extremely high.

Prevention:

In breeds with a high risk of GDV, veterinarians often recommend performing gastropexy as a preventive measure. In this surgery, the stomach is attached to the inside of the abdominal wall, which prevents it from twisting. A surgeon may perform this surgery when the dog is being spayed or neutered. Recent advances in surgery have allowed vets to perform this surgery through a laproscopy, which is minimally invasive and has a quicker recovery time than the conventional surgery. In some case, GDV can occur soon after a dog has heavy exercise after eating a large meal. To help prevent GDV, you should feed smaller meals and restrict exercise after eating.