What to Know About Bloat in Dogs



Certain dog breeds are at high risk for a deadly condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) – commonly called bloat. Bloat can be a deadly emergency in dogs and occurs when a dog’s stomach becomes bloated with gas and twists. The bloated stomach presses against surrounding organs and large blood vessels. This can stop blood flow to the heart quickly. Bloat is quite painful, and for certain dogs, bloat is often the cause of death.

Bloat can occur in any breed of dog at any time of life, but certain breeds are at such high risk of bloat that gastropexy is recommended. People often think of bloat as a problem primarily affecting large and giant breed dogs, but it is actually the shape of the abdomen – more than the size of the dog – putting dogs at risk. Dogs with a deeper, narrower abdomen present the greatest risk of bloat. [1] In dogs with this sort of vertical build, the stomach has more room to flip around and to stay turned.

Fortunately, there is now a surgery shown to reduce the risk of bloat by 92%. [2] Because this procedure can be performed laparoscopically at Healing Springs, it is a minimally invasive, outpatient surgery. The gastropexy is often done during the spay/neuter to minimize discomfort for dogs, but gastropexies can be performed any time a dog is healthy enough for general anesthesia. Gastropexy is a procedure that attaches the stomach to the abdominal wall to prevent twisting.

Because minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures cause much less internal trauma than open-type surgeries, most dogs can go home the same day.

Source: Laparoscopic Gastropexy  https://healingspringsanimalhospital.com/Gastropexy.html

[1] Glickman LT, Glickman NW, Shellenburg DB. Epidemiologic studies of bloat in dogs. Purina Veterinary Previews. 1997; 2:10-5.

[2] Glickman LT, Lantz GC, Schellenberg DB, Glickman NW. A prospective study of survival and recurrence following the acute gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome in 136 dogs. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. 1998 May 1:34(3):253-9.

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