Gastric Dilatation - Volvulus (Bloating)

Imagine this scenario. Your three year old German Shepherd is in the prime of his life. He weighs ninety pounds, runs like the wind and doesn't have an ounce of fat on his frame. After a hard day at the office you can't wait to get home to take him to the park, to run and play catch with him. Quickly gulping down a bowl of dry kibble for dinner, he's standing at the front door with the leash in his mouth, wondering why it takes you so long to put on a pair of sneakers.

Several hours later, you're relaxing in front of the TV when you notice that he's become restless - pacing up and down and in obvious discomfort. On closer examination he seems to be breathing a little heavier than normal and he's drooling too. Within a few minutes he starts to retch but is unable to bring anything up. Concerned for his well being, you quickly load him into the car and head over to your nearest emergency veterinary clinic. By the time you arrive, your very best friend has collapsed, his gums are pale and his stomach is so distended that you think it will burst. In the sudden whirlwind of activity around you and your pet, you sign the permission forms to allow the veterinarian to perform an emergency lifesaving operation to repair the severe internal trauma caused by GDV.

What is this disease and why have so many of us lost our pets to it? How can we recognize the early warning signs? More importantly, is there a way to prevent the condition from developing in the first place?

Gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome is a medical and surgical emergency with a high mortality rate in the dog. It occurs most frequently in large, deep chested individuals and especially in breeds such as the Great Dane, Saint Bernard, German Shepherd, Boxer and Irish Setter. The condition has also on rare occasions, been reported in some small breeds. The age of affected dogs varies widely, but it is unusual for an animal under two years old to develop GDV.

Gastric dilatation or distension of the stomach occurs due to an excessive amount of air or gas accumulating in the stomach. Basically, the stomach begins to swell up, very much like a balloon that is slowly pumped up with air. As the stomach gets bigger and bigger, it gradually starts to rotate. As it does so, it pinches off the esophagus (the tube that runs from the mouth to the stomach), and the duodenum (the tube running from the stomach to the intestine). At this point, there is no place for all the air in the stomach to go and, just like a balloon, it may get so big that it bursts. Blood vessels become twisted and some organs like the spleen are deprived of blood. This leads to the onset of shock and if untreated, the dog will die. A question often asked is why a normal, strong, healthy dog would suddenly develop GDV with very few, if any warning signs? There are a few factors involved and often more than one of these needs to be present for the syndrome to develop.

The first to consider is diet. It has been suggested that feeding one large meal a day may encourage the stomach to enlarge, and that larger capacity stomachs are more inclined to dilate. A second factor is the accumulation of gas in the stomach. This might be caused by aerophagia (the swallowing or gulping of air), or gas may form during bacterial fermentation of food while digestion is taking place. Thirdly, moderate to heavy exercise shortly after a meal may contribute to rotation of an enlarged stomach filled with food and gas.

Other factors known to play a role in GDV include stretched or slack stomach ligaments and a hereditary predisposition. Also lying down on the left side may worsen the condition because it is much more difficult for a dog to bring up gas while in this position, than when standing upright.

Preventing GDV in those individuals who are strongly predisposed to the condition may be difficult, but there are a few suggested methods to decrease the incidence. Feeding two or even three smaller meals per day rather than one large one is important. Ideally the food should be moistened and softened by the addition of water ten to fifteen minutes prior to feeding. Consider also restricting your pets water intake prior to, and for an hour after meals. Avoid any exercise just before feeding and for at least two hours afterwards. Other suggestions include the following: don't allow your pet to drink large volumes of water at one time, no "roughhousing" after meals, no jumping with a full stomach.

While there is no current medical method of treating GDV without involving surgery, it is important to understand what this condition is and to recognize the early signs in its development. By being aware, your pet can receive the emergency treatment it needs and go on to live a normal, happy life.

Reproduced with permission from ThePoop.com

Comments

[Erin]

I feel so sorry for you German Shephard! I just love them! What happend again?

[Yvonne]

I have been raising GSD for 27 yrs. I have had
4 dogs who have bloated. The notion that it is
caused by eating dry kibble is a myth. Three of my dogs have bloated on an empty stomach and I have been following the bloat protocol for prevention for the past 13 yrs. I do not
use commercial food; my dogs get a raw, natural diet with digestive enzymes, probiotics, 2 meals a day and they still bloated. The only thing you can do is to get them to a vet E.R. IMMEDIATELY. A large vet
facility is better equipted to handle the trauma and make sure the vet removes the spleen
AND does a gastropexy. This procedure attaches
the stomach to the last rib so that should the
dog bloat again, torsion will not occur (twisting of the stomach).