“I strongly recommend that all giant breeds and other at risk breeds have a preventive gastropexy performed,” says Timothy Robinson, DVM, DACVS, board-certified specialist in veterinary surgery. The success rate of preventing the recurrence of a GDV is 95%. This is designed to keep the stomach in place and prevent twisting of the stomach if bloat occurs again. During a gastropexy, the stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall. Generally, a gastropexy is also performed during the surgical procedure. With appropriate pre-surgical diagnostics, pet owners can be informed of this risk in most cases prior to pursuing surgery. In extreme cases where the condition has been left untreated for a longer time period, there may be too little live tissue to salvage. If there is any tissue that is damaged it will be removed. The surgery also allows the veterinarian to assess the amount of damage caused by the lack of blood flow due to the twisted stomach. Surgery is required to untwist the stomach and return it to its appropriate position. We want the pet owner to be able to make an educated decision about proceeding with surgery in those cases.” There are some definitive diagnostic indicators that can tell us that we are dealing with a high-risk surgery with a low probability of success. “Once we have more definitive diagnostics and are managing the dog’s comfort and vitals, we can discuss treatment and overall prognosis with the pet owners. At the VMC, we perform as a well-oiled machine when bloat is of primary concern,” says Dr. “Once we have the owner’s OK to pursue treatment, we have these dogs diagnosed and in a much more comfortable state in a matter of minutes. Dogs that are bloated without volvulus can normally be treated non-surgically. At VMC, we aim for rapid confirmation of diagnosis, attending to patient comfort (by release of as much gas pressure as possible and with pain medications), and for rapid stabilization and preparation for surgery. The severity of the case determines the treatment recommendation for the affected dog. Treatment for GDV should be sought out as soon as possible to increase the dog's chance of survival. stress (anxious dogs are thought to be more prone, as are dogs in stressful situations or environments such as boarding kennels).drinking a large quantity of water in a short period of time.Risk factors which are thought to contribute to bloat include: These dogs are normally much taller than they are wide, creating a high “height to width ratio.” According to the American Kennel Club, Great Danes are 5 to 8 times more likely to bloat than a dog with a low height to width ratio.ĭespite continuing research, the specific cause of GDV is not known. The American College of Veterinary Surgeons states that nearly all breeds have been reported to have had gastric dilatation (with or without volvulus), but the condition is seen most commonly in large breed dogs with deep chests. Research from Purdue University found that risk increased 20% per each year of age. “Dogs can go into shock very quickly once GDV occurs, and every minute without treatment increases the risk of further damage and potentially death.”īloat can occur at any age, but is most often seen in middle aged dogs. Blood supply is cut off to the stomach, toxic products build up, and tissues begin to die,” explains Dr. “As the stomach expands, it puts pressure on several large arteries and veins. It is this condition that is referred to as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). The twisted stomach is more severe, as this completely obstructs blood supply to major organs and can impact blood flow throughout the whole body resulting in shock. When the stomach becomes severely distended with gas, fluid or food, it puts pressure on the surrounding organs and decreases blood flow to and from these organs. It is this twisting and flipping of the stomach that creates a life threatening condition for your dog. That makes monitoring a bloat condition at home a very dangerous thing for an owner to do.” “The pet owner will not know when that happens. “The problem is that it can progress to a GDV, where the stomach twists and flips on its axis, at any time,” explains Dr. In some cases, it can last for hours without becoming life-threatening. According to Maureen Luschini, VMD, DACVECC, a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care, bloat without twisting can still be life threatening but risk depends on the severity and duration. This simple bloating can occur on its own and may resolve on its own. Stomach distension alone is referred to as a “simple bloat”, or dilatation. GDV develops without warning and can progress quickly. Commonly referred to as "bloat," GDV occurs when a dog's stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid and subsequently twists. Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a serious condition and is fatal if left untreated.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |