By Conneaut Lake Veterinary Hospital

The call usually comes in around 11:00 PM or a bit later. The owner gives the following information, “He looks really full and is trying to vomit, but can’t seem to get anything up. I think he’s painful because he’s acting restless and crying a bit.” At that moment, the clock starts ticking and the dog needs to be seen as quickly as possible. One of the first possible diagnoses that immediately comes to mind is “bloat,” affectionately referred to as the “mother of all emergencies.”

This life threatening illness is technically known as “Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus” or GDV. GDV is when the stomach’s contents produce an abnormal amount of gas as that distends (stretches) the stomach walls. The stomach twists, sealing both ends more and more gas is built up in the stomach. Blood flow is shut off to the tissues and they begin to die. Timely medical intervention is necessary for a successful outcome.

If you think about the digestive system of a mammal it is a bit like a long, uninterrupted hose starting at the mouth and ending at the anus. The stomach is a pouch along that hose that has a larger diameter. To continue with the hose analogy, think back to being a kid and watching cartoons. When the cartoon character stepped on the hose, the water would create a huge bulge in the hose. If the cartoon character continued to block the flow of water, the hose would get bigger and bigger and finally explode.

Every dog can potentially have an episode of GDV, but deep chested dogs are at higher risk. Some classically deep chested breeds are Great Danes, Greyhounds, Setters, Weimaraners, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and German Shepards. Dogs that are fed only one meal per day, have parents/siblings with a history of bloat, or are considered geriatric (depending on breed, 5+ years) are all put at higher risk.

Signs that your dog may be having an episode of bloat include a distended, large amounts of drool, tender abdomen, nausea but s/he is unable to vomit or brings up very little, and/or they act painful, restless or agitated. If your pet ever exhibits these signs, it is imperative that you call your veterinarian immediately. The longer the stomach is twisted the worse the prognosis.

Once the dog is at your veterinarian’s, s/he will evaluate the need to decompress the stomach, treat for shock, and determine if the heart’s rhythm is normal. A condition known as “premature ventricular contraction” is associated with bloat and must be addressed prior to surgery. Your veterinarian will diagnose bloat by the physical examination findings, history, and radiographs.

Next, your veterinarian will access the need for surgery. The surgery, known as gastropexy, is performed to tack the stomach to the abdominal wall in the normal position. A tube is placed inside the stomach, through the abdominal wall, and tacked to the outside body wall. This allows the doctor to decompress the stomach as needed over the next several days as stomachs can continue to produce gases and may retwist. Occasionally, the spleen will also be compromised by the twisted stomach and may need to be removed.

After the surgery, the pet will require critical care for several days to ensure that the stomach does not “re-twist.” The prognosis is guarded for about 1 week or until the stomach tube can be removed and the dog returns to a normal active life style.

There is a controversial surgical procedure that can be done at the time of spaying or neutering if your pet is an especially high-risk patient. The veterinarian will “tack” the stomach wall when the dog is still a puppy in hopes of preventing twist. A conversation with your veterinarian is the best way to determine if this procedure is right for your pet.

There are very few emergencies where minutes count. This is one of them. If you suspect your dog is experiencing GDV, the best advice is to call your veterinarian. Don’t wait. They’ll be able to give you professional advice that may be life saving. Want more information? Call today to schedule a consultation.

Contact Conneaut Lake Veterinary Hospital, Inc., 14405 Conneaut Lake Road, Meadville, Pa 16335; (814) 382-5446; clvet@zoominternet.net.