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GDV in the Dog; A True Emergency |
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August 2005
- Eliot Kaplan, DVM -
Frequently, I receive after-hour calls from worried clients with questions about their pets. In many cases, the issues that concern the clients are not emergencies, and I can recommend that the client make an appointment for the patient to be seen the next day the clinic has office hours available. In some instances, an appointment may not be necessary because I can settle the problem over the phone.
However, there is a condition that is always considered an emergency and if I suspect it, I recommend that the affected dog be seen by a veterinarian immediately. It is known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV). Most people know this condition as a 'stomach twist'. Dogs with deep chests are mostly involved, and they are usually middle-aged or older dogs. Breeds that are predisposed include, Irish Setters, German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, Boxers, Irish Wolfhounds, Bull Mastiffs, English Mastiffs, and Dachshunds. Up to 50% of Great Danes, the breed known to be most predisposed to this condition, will develop stomach twist at some point in their lives.
These dogs will go into shock and die within hours unless surgically treated. Most patients can be saved if treated within 2-3 hours of the onset. However, the majority of the dogs treated after 8 hours will not survive. When the stomach twists, it cannot empty and fills with gas and fluid. The stomach then greatly distends which cuts off blood circulation to itself and other organs. Shock is the result. But if the stomach has been deprived of blood too long, even untwisting it will not fix the problem. If too long a time period has elapsed, permanent tissue death occurs, and once a certain amount of tissue death has been exceeded, the patient cannot survive.
During the surgery, the stomach is untwisted and permanently attached to the body wall so it can never twist again. The patient is kept in the hospital until full recovery seems imminent.
By feeding your dog 2-3 times daily instead of once a day and limiting the exercise for a couple of hours after a meal, you can help prevent GDV from occurring. But in Great Danes, I recommend going one step further since the incidence is so high in this breed. When the Great Dane is young, it should undergo a surgical procedure called prophylactic gastropexy in which the stomach wall is attached to the body wall so it can never twist. The procedure is safe and effective.
The signs of GDV are easy to identify. Sometimes the abdomen of the dog becomes distended---but early in the process, this may be difficult to realize. However, most dogs, even early on, try to vomit. But they are only able to bring up a little foam or nothing at all. This is called non-productive retching. In addition, these dogs tend to pace and are unable to get comfortable---they are very restless. If you suspect GDV has occurred in your dog, contact a veterinarian immediately---day or night. If your veterinarian is unsure after he has examined a dog whether or not GDV is present, a radiograph of the abdomen will tell the story. |
