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Bloat or
twisted stomach
in Dogs |
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A Twisted Stomach
is a Life-Threatening Problem
By Kim Marie Labak
Behaviors or conditions that promote aerophagia, or swallowing of
air, such as exercising a dog immediately after eating or drinking a large
amount of food or water may increase its risk for a life threatening condition
known as gastric dilatation and volvulus or GDV, sometimes referred to as a
twisted stomach or bloat.
According to Dr. Kathleen Ham, veterinary
surgery resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in
Urbana, large breed dogs with deep-chested bodies such as Great Danes,
Rottweilers, and golden retrievers may have extra room in their abdomen for the
stomach to move around. Sometimes the stomach may expand, or dilate, with gas
or fluid and rotate in the abdomen. This may also happen, rarely, in small
breed dogs.
There are many factors that may predispose an animal to GDV,
one of which is genetics. "Family history of the condition is the most
important factor to consider--dogs at risk to develop GDV often have a primary
relative (a parent, sibling, or offspring) that's had GDV."
Any activity
that promotes aerophagia may predispose an animal to GDV, and other risk
factors include old age, an underweight condition, and
stress.
Veterinarians are not sure which comes first: the rotation or
the expansion of the stomach, but once the stomach is rotated, it will continue
to expand. This expansion of the stomach can threaten an animal's life. Dr. Ham
explains, "Rotation blocks the ability for anything to exit the stomach through
the esophagus or into the intestinal tract. Because nothing can get out, the
stomach continues to get larger and can compress very important things in the
belly."
If the expanding stomach compresses the nearby major blood
vessels, blood cannot return to the heart, leading to an immediately life
threatening condition. "In addition, a big giant stomach can compress the chest
making it difficult to breathe," notes Dr. Ham. GDV can be fatal within a few
hours, especially if shock, or failure of blood and oxygen to flow to the body,
sets in or if the stomach ruptures and bacteria leak into the abdomen or
bloodstream.
Signs of GDV include retching, excessive drooling,
lethargy, and an abnormally enlarged belly. If you suspect your pet may have
GDV, you should immediately call a veterinarian.
The first thing a
veterinarian will do for an animal with GDV is to stabilize it by treating it
for shock and decompress the stomach. A needle passed trough the abdominal wall
into the stomach and a plastic tube passed through the esophagus into the
stomach can help allow built-up air and fluid to escape, relieving pressure on
affected blood vessels.
The next step is surgery to untwist the stomach
and remove any stomach tissue that may be damaged from the ordeal. During
surgery a veterinarian will also check the nearby spleen and other organs for
injuries as well look for an underlying cause.
The stomach is then
sutured to the inside of the abdominal wall to prevent recurrence of twisting,
or volvulus. The body will form scar tissue that will hold the stomach in
place. This procedure, called gastropexy, won't prevent the dilation, or the
expansion of the stomach, but is 95 percent effective in preventing volvulus.
Fortunately, dilation without volvulus is a less threatening condition that can
be treated with medication.
According to Dr. Ham, dogs that get GDV
should be spayed or neutered so they cannot pass on the trait. Knowing the
health history of you dog's relatives may give you a heads-up to be vigilant
for signs of GDV.
If you get a female puppy and you know there is a
history of GDV in her family, Dr. Ham says a veterinarian can perform a
prophylactic gastropexy while doing a spay, since both procedures take place in
the abdominal cavity. "For dogs that are predisposed, it makes sense to do this
when we already have the animal under anesthesia and have the abdomen open.
This only adds about twenty minutes to a spay procedure, doesn't add much
expense and doesn't cause the animal any extra pain."
There is no way
to prevent GDV, but knowledge of the disease and clinical signs allow early
recognition. With prompt diagnosis and treatment the prognosis can be
good.
For more information about gastric dilatation and volvulus or
gastropexy procedures, consult your veterinarian.
An archive of Pet
Columns from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine is
available online at www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/. Veterinary Extension/Office
of Public Engagement University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
217/333-2907.
This news release is a service of the University of
Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Releases
on other topics can be found on the ACES News Web site
http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/news |
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