What is Gastric Dilatation Volvulus?
Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) is a life threatening condition that occurs when a dog’s stomach distends with gas and twists (rotates) on itself. When it twists on itself, it will cut off blood supply to the stomach, thus making this a medical emergency.
Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) is a life threatening condition that occurs when a dog’s stomach distends with gas and twists (rotates) on itself. When it twists on itself, it will cut off blood supply to the stomach, thus making this a medical emergency.
Who is affected by Gastric Dilatation Volvulus?
Gastric dilatation volvulus commonly affects giant breeds such as Great Danes and is common in many large, deep chested breeds, such as German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, Irish Setters and Rottweilers. It can also occur in small breeds but is very rare. Typically dogs weighing more than 90 pounds are profoundly affected.
Why does Gastric Dilatation Volvulus occur?
There are common risk factors that include:
The earliest signs seen are dogs acting uncomfortable and/or pacing. The dog may try to vomit without bringing anything up. This term is called “retching”. The ribs will appear to be sticking out and the abdomen will be tense and distended. These dogs will become lethargic and weak, they may become ataxic (stumbling gait), and can have diarrhea. Sometimes you may find your dog deceased if the clinical signs occur when you are not home.
How do you diagnose the problem?
A GDV can be diagnosed based on physical examination but more definitively with abdominal radiographs. The classic “double bubble” sign is evident on radiographs with a big gas filled stomach. A CBC can sometimes show changes suggestive of dehydration and an elevated or decreased white blood cell count. On a chemistry panel there can be elevations in the liver enzymes, kidney enzymes, and protein levels. A lactate or an ammonium level would be increased as well. Higher lactate levels can sometimes correlate with more guarded prognosis as this is an indication of dying cells and shock within the body.
What is the treatment?
Treatment involves bringing your dog to a hospital immediately. These dogs are typically in shock and need to have intravenous fluids administered at a high rate infusion. Once shock has been treated and the patient is more stable, a stomach tube should be passed while under general anesthesia. This will allow for decompression of the stomach and hopefully allow for the ability to de-rotate the stomach to normal anatomical position. If it is not successful, sometimes a percutaneous (through the skin) needle can be placed to enter into the stomach and try to manually eliminate the gas from the stomach.
The ultimate treatment is surgery. Surgery is important because you can visualize the stomach and the blood supply to the stomach. If the stomach is severely bruised, sometimes a partial gastrectomy (removal of the stomach) is performed. If the integrity of the stomach is normal, then surgery is geared towards prevention of it occurring in the future. The stomach would have a gastropexy (attachment of the stomach to the abdominal wall) to prevent the stomach from rotating again in the future.
In some cases, dogs may need to have a splenectomy (removal of the spleen) if the spleen is bruised from the rotation of the stomach. The spleen is normally attached to the stomach via ligaments. There are also blood vessels that are also supplying the stomach that supply the spleen and if they are damaged, then there will be damage to the spleen. Once the stomach is placed back into normal rotation, the spleen will then naturally fall back into place.
Can Gastric Dilatation Volvulus be prevented?
Yes! In dogs that are predisposed to the rotation of the stomach, a routine gastropexy can be performed at a young age. If your dog needs to be spayed or neutered, this is the best time for it to be performed. Females undergoing a spay will already have an abdominal incision made into the abdomen and the incision will just be larger.
However, there are ways of performing this procedure via laparoscopic approaches thus allowing for an easier recovery. The laparoscopic approach can be performed at a referral hospital (Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, NY) and is highly recommended in high-risk breeds.
References: www.veterinarypartner.com
Gastric dilatation volvulus commonly affects giant breeds such as Great Danes and is common in many large, deep chested breeds, such as German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, Irish Setters and Rottweilers. It can also occur in small breeds but is very rare. Typically dogs weighing more than 90 pounds are profoundly affected.
Why does Gastric Dilatation Volvulus occur?
There are common risk factors that include:
- Feeding only one meal a day
- Having closely related family members with a history of bloat
- Eating rapidly
- Being thin or underweight
- Fearful or anxious temperament
- Male dogs are more likely to bloat than females
- Older dogs (7 - 12 years) were the highest risk group
- Feeding from an elevated bowl
- Restricting water before and after meals
- Inclusion of canned dog food in the diet
- Inclusion of table scraps in the diet
- Eating two or more meals per day
- Food Bloat – overeating
- Decrease stress will decrease panting
The earliest signs seen are dogs acting uncomfortable and/or pacing. The dog may try to vomit without bringing anything up. This term is called “retching”. The ribs will appear to be sticking out and the abdomen will be tense and distended. These dogs will become lethargic and weak, they may become ataxic (stumbling gait), and can have diarrhea. Sometimes you may find your dog deceased if the clinical signs occur when you are not home.
How do you diagnose the problem?
A GDV can be diagnosed based on physical examination but more definitively with abdominal radiographs. The classic “double bubble” sign is evident on radiographs with a big gas filled stomach. A CBC can sometimes show changes suggestive of dehydration and an elevated or decreased white blood cell count. On a chemistry panel there can be elevations in the liver enzymes, kidney enzymes, and protein levels. A lactate or an ammonium level would be increased as well. Higher lactate levels can sometimes correlate with more guarded prognosis as this is an indication of dying cells and shock within the body.
What is the treatment?
Treatment involves bringing your dog to a hospital immediately. These dogs are typically in shock and need to have intravenous fluids administered at a high rate infusion. Once shock has been treated and the patient is more stable, a stomach tube should be passed while under general anesthesia. This will allow for decompression of the stomach and hopefully allow for the ability to de-rotate the stomach to normal anatomical position. If it is not successful, sometimes a percutaneous (through the skin) needle can be placed to enter into the stomach and try to manually eliminate the gas from the stomach.
The ultimate treatment is surgery. Surgery is important because you can visualize the stomach and the blood supply to the stomach. If the stomach is severely bruised, sometimes a partial gastrectomy (removal of the stomach) is performed. If the integrity of the stomach is normal, then surgery is geared towards prevention of it occurring in the future. The stomach would have a gastropexy (attachment of the stomach to the abdominal wall) to prevent the stomach from rotating again in the future.
In some cases, dogs may need to have a splenectomy (removal of the spleen) if the spleen is bruised from the rotation of the stomach. The spleen is normally attached to the stomach via ligaments. There are also blood vessels that are also supplying the stomach that supply the spleen and if they are damaged, then there will be damage to the spleen. Once the stomach is placed back into normal rotation, the spleen will then naturally fall back into place.
Can Gastric Dilatation Volvulus be prevented?
Yes! In dogs that are predisposed to the rotation of the stomach, a routine gastropexy can be performed at a young age. If your dog needs to be spayed or neutered, this is the best time for it to be performed. Females undergoing a spay will already have an abdominal incision made into the abdomen and the incision will just be larger.
However, there are ways of performing this procedure via laparoscopic approaches thus allowing for an easier recovery. The laparoscopic approach can be performed at a referral hospital (Long Island Veterinary Specialists, Plainview, NY) and is highly recommended in high-risk breeds.
References: www.veterinarypartner.com