I just adopted a
Great Dane puppy and my breeder mentioned some precautions to prevent
bloat. What is bloat?
Bloat, or gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), is when
the stomach fills with gas and flips over. This twists blood vessels, blocks
blood flow and traps gas. The gas and pressure builds up, forcing the stomach
to expand. Within a few hours or less the stomach is extremely stretched and
hard, and the stomach tissue begins to die. Circulation is cut off, causing the
dog to go into shock. Without emergency
treatment GDV is fatal. Even with aggressive therapy, some dogs do not
survive.
What does a dog with
GDV look like?
Dogs with GDV are very uncomfortable – as you can just imagine!
They act restless and try to vomit but nothing comes up. As their stomachs fill
with gas, their abdomen appears bloated just behind the ribs. If you think your
dog has these symptoms, regardless of the breed, take him or her to your
veterinarian immediately.
What causes GDV and
what breeds are at risk?
No one knows exactly what cause GDV. Past cases show the
biggest risk factor is a big, deep chest. The risk increases as a dog gets
older and the ligaments around the stomach stretch out. The breed most at risk
is the Great Dane; about 2 out of every 5 have GDV. Some other breeds at risk
are St. Bernards, Setters, Weimaraners, Standard Poodles, German Shepherds, and
the list goes on.
What can be done to
prevent GDV?
A surgery called a gastropexy can prevent GDV. In it, the
stomach is sewn to inside of the body wall, preventing it from flipping over. This
surgery can be done safely with either a laparoscope or traditional surgical
method. It's typically done at the same time a deep-chested or large breed dog
is spayed or neutered. Aside from a gastropexy, there is no guaranteed method
to prevent GDV. Another factor to consider is that emergency GDV treatment and
surgery can range from $3000 to $7000, depending on the hospital, while a preventive
laparoscopic gastropexy is about a third of that cost.
If you're concerned about bloat, talk to your veterinarian
about a gastropexy. In my opinion, it is absolutely worth the peace of
mind!
Dr. Kristel Weaver is a graduate of the Veterinary School at the
University of California, Davis where she received both a DVM and a Master’s of
Preventative Veterinary Medicine (MPVM). She has been at Bishop Ranch Veterinary
Center & Urgent Care in San Ramon since 2007. She currently lives in
Oakland with her husband and their daughter, Hayley. If you have questions you
would like Dr. Weaver to answer for future articles, please email info@webvets.com
Is there anything preventative that can be done, short of surgery? I was told long ago by a large-dog breeder that feeding dry kibble was a possible trigger. Since then I've always moistened kibble and mixed in some wet food.
ReplyDeleteThere are certain preventive measures that can be taken such as eating moist food and not exercising your pet directly after eating but unfortunately none of these 100% protect your dog from bloating. We have treated dogs for bloat that have adhered to a strict wet food diet and were also crated directly after eating. So while it doesn't hurt to take these precautions - your dog could still be at risk. The scary thing about GDV is how little is known about what causes it exactly and how fast it can happen. Gastropexy is truly the best preventive measure we know of.
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