First off, GDV stands for gastric
dilation and volvulus. This is a serious, life-threatening condition that can
occur in any dog breed, but most commonly in deep-chested dog breeds like Great
Danes, Labradors, Weimaraners, Standard Poodles and Saint Bernards. The direct
cause of GDV is not known but there are many factors that contribute to the
development of the condition. These factors include rapidly consuming food,
exercise immediately before or after eating, stressful conditions, increased
age or inherent motility disorders of the stomach. There is a gas accumulation
in the stomach that then leads to distention and a rotation or twist of the
entire stomach.
So, how do you recognize this
condition? The most common signs are abdominal distension, vomiting or retching
(unproductive vomiting), restlessness or signs of pain. Occasionally, the dog
may even collapse. These signs usually progress as the condition worsens. This
condition can become very serious very quickly. As the stomach twists, the
blood supply is cut off. This is a life-threatening situation that can lead to
necrosis of the stomach. If your pet is showing any of these signs, they should
already be in the car and on the way to a vet!
Diagnosing GDV is usually fairly
straightforward. Abdominal radiographs show a dilated stomach that is full of
gas and some food materials. Often times, a stomach tube cannot be passed due
to the rotated stomach. Treatment of a GDV is multi-faceted. IV fluids must be
administered for cardiovascular support. The patient is typically placed under
anesthesia and decompression of the stomach is attempted. Usually, surgery is
required to reposition the stomach. The stomach is then sutured to the
abdominal wall in a procedure called a gastropexy. This prevents the stomach
from twisting again in the future, as this condition often repeats itself. If
the condition is severe enough, sometimes the stomach or the spleen may need to
be resected due to necrosis. These conditions unfortunately increase the
mortality rate of this condition. Recovery from the condition takes several
days, as food is slowly re-introduced post-operatively.
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| This radiograph of a canine abdomen shows a severely distended stomach full of gas. |
There are many things you can do
to try to prevent this condition from occurring in your pet. Changes to feeding
habits can decrease the incidence rate. Feed multiple, smaller meals throughout
the day and have a significant time gap in between feeding and exercise. Some
dogs, like my mother’s dog Milly, often inhale their food within seconds.
Placing a rock or large ball in the bowl to slow down eating is often helpful.
None of these methods, however, are 100% effective. A prophylactic gastropexy
may prevent this condition from occurring in your pet. This procedure tacks the
stomach to the abdominal wall to prevent twisting from occurring. This
procedure does involve an abdominal laparotomy; it is often done when spaying
female dogs that are pre-disposed to this condition.
Hopefully, this gives you a bit of
insight on a serious and life-threatening condition many dogs face. Most
famously, Marley from the film “Marley and Me” suffered from a GDV at some
point in the film.
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| Marley from the classic canine film "Marley and Me". Just had to throw a cute lab puppy picture in for a smile. |
