Unproductive retching that resembles dry coughing or vomiting, visibly distended tight stomach, pale gum color, restlessness, weakness, rapid breathing or collapse are often telltale signs of GDV and should be seen immediately by an emergency veterinarian. If these signs are recognized, an emergency veterinarian must be called immediately.
Think of GDV like the straps on a fanny pack – that is how a dog with this condition looks like. Surgery may be your only chance to save their life from this life-threatening condition.
Prevention
Gastric torsion, also known as “twisted stomach” or GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus), is an emergency condition which develops when your dog’s esophagus twists around his stomach, necessitating surgery quickly to correct it or risking long-term survival. If this situation arises in your dog, immediate surgery must be undertaken in order to save its life and ensure its survival. Check for signs such as an obviously distended, tight stomach, nonproductive retching or vomiting, restlessness and weakness, as well as pale gum color. Prevention strategies include feeding smaller meals more frequently, using a raised food bowl, avoiding foods with oil or fat as the first ingredient, and restricting exercise close to mealtime. Prophylactic gastropexy may help decrease risks by attaching sutures directly to the stomach wall for tightening, helping the abdomen lining remain undamaged during healing processes and relieving pressure from it.
Symptoms
Gastric torsion or GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus) in dogs is an urgent medical condition that needs urgent medical intervention. The condition occurs when their stomach distends with gas and then twists back around on itself, cutting off both entry and exit points for stomach contents from entering and leaving their digestive system, trapping them within. Furthermore, compression of major abdominal vessels limits blood flow causing multi-organ failure; symptoms include unproductive retching as well as an appearance similar to an inflated drum-like stomach as signs.
GDV symptoms can quickly escalate from mild to life threatening within hours, so the sooner emergency surgery can take place the better for your pet. At first, your pup might seem restless or uncomfortable in his abdomen and attempt to vomit without success or show excessive drooling. Subsequently, their midsection might become visibly bloated and they might start whining or adopt a prayer position with front legs down and rear end up before breathing rapidly with pale gums.
Once the stomach becomes twisted, blood flow to the spleen becomes restricted, leading to shock and multiple organ dysfunction. A distending stomach may press against the diaphragm limiting respiration resulting in cardiac arrest or even death.
Treatment
Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), more commonly known as twisted stomach, is a potentially life-threatening medical condition caused by gas accumulation within an over-inflated, distended stomach that becomes attached to its inner lining of abdomen (gastropexy). When this occurs, a patient enters severe and immediate shock, potentially leading to bowel perforation, cardiac arrest, and death. GDV is most often observed in large, deep-chested breeds of dogs (Great Danes, Irish Setters, Standard Poodles and German Shepherds), with males more prone than females to the condition. While its exact cause remains unclear, various risk factors have been implicated including eating rapidly before exercising close to mealtimes; eating foods that contain fat as one of their first four ingredients; breeding during ovulation periods and elevating food bowls among them as risk factors.
GDV requires immediate treatment that involves decompressing and extracting gastric contents from their stomachs into an easily digestible form, and using a smooth-surfaced orogastric tube under pure mu agonist opioid sedation and using tape or gauze around incisor teeth as a barrier – both are measures to help limit accidental aspiration of gastric contents into their bodies.
Once gastric decompression is complete, a surgical evaluation of both stomach and spleen should take place to identify any areas where there have been ischemic or thrombotic changes to the stomach wall, including any areas with any signs of ischemia that need to be addressed immediately. Once decompressed, stomach is returned to its regular position in abdomen; then gastropexy may be performed as preventative measure against further episodes of GDV.
Postoperative care includes providing continued volume resuscitation with isotonic crystalloid fluids or colloids such as hydroxyethyl starch. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs should be avoided due to their effect on gastric perfusion and increased susceptibility for gastric ulcers. Gastroprotectants such as sucralfate, histamine-2 receptor antagonists or proton pump inhibitors are frequently prescribed to increase stomach perfusion and protect the gastrointestinal tract. At least 48 hours will likely pass before your dog is hospitalized for observation and monitoring of cardiac function, blood work and coagulation parameters (such as platelet count). You should expect that long-term medications will be necessary to help protect against GDV recurrence as well as potential complications like inflammation bowel disease.
Recovery
Stomach torsion, also known as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), is a life-threatening emergency condition in dogs that occurs when their stomach distends with gas and twists inward. Recognizing early symptoms like unproductive retching or vomiting, visible distension of tight stomach, increasing distress levels and seeking immediate surgery is vital to ensure survival for your dog. Large, deep-chested breeds tend to be more prone than smaller-breds but limiting exercise close to mealtime can lower risk considerably.
