True Emergencies – A Series

#2 – Bloat

Next in our True Emergencies series is Gastric Dilatation Volvulus, commonly known as “GDV” or “Bloat.” This is something that is unique to dogs.  With GDV, the stomach fills with gas and then rotates on itself, like a Tootsie Roll candy wrapper.  The gas continues to build up and because both the entrance and the exit of the stomach are twisted closed, there is nowhere for the gas to go, and the stomach fills up literally like a balloon.  It is widely considered to be the Mother of All Emergencies.  These dogs need immediate, aggressive, intensive treatment to stabilize them, followed by surgery to derotate the stomach and anchor it to the abdominal wall.  While there are other reasons that a dog might have a distended abdomen, just like many emergencies the GDV dog also comes with a distinct set of symptoms, which include:

1. Rapidly distended abdomen.  “Rapid” as in their belly seems to fill up like a balloon before your eyes, over a matter of hours, not over a matter of days.  
2. Unproductive retching or gagging.  Your dog is trying to throw up, usually repeatedly, and nothing is coming out.  Most people would call it “dry heaves.” 
3. Pain.  It is very painful.  They may or may not cry out, but they will usually at least act restless, it will be uncomfortable to press on their tummy, and their belly will eventually feel extremely hard. 
4. Unresponsive.  If it isn’t recognized soon enough, your dog will become less and less responsive.  

This is also – usually – a deep chested, large breed dog problem.  The breeds that are most at risk of developing a GDV are:

• Standard Poodles
• Great Danes
• Doberman Pinchers
• Irish Setters
• Gordon Setters
• German Shepherds

But realize, it can happen to any dog.  I have personally treated both a Shiba Inu and a Dachshund who were bloated.  So if your dog has the above symptoms, regardless of its breed, it needs to be seen.  Immediately.

 
Ok, ok, but what can you do to prevent this?  There is only one way to prevent a GDV, and that is to have a surgery performed on your deep chested dog called a gastropexy which means that the stomach is surgically attached to the inside of the body wall.  This is done as a prevention, and usually at the time of their spay or neuter if they are an at-risk breed.  Beyond that, there is literally nothing known that will prevent a GDV.

 
But again, pet insurance is a great way to ensure that if it does happen, you are financially able to manage your dog’s care and have the best chance to get him or her back home to you.  See the link on our website for information about recommended pet insurance companies.