Bloat in Dogs: Is a Preventative Gastropexy the Answer?

Bloat in dogs is one of the most soul destroying medical emergencies we see in our practice. One moment the owner has a healthy, happy dog. The next we are trapped in a life and death battle, where the odds are stacked against us.

What is Dog Bloat? (Gastric Dilatation Volvulus – GDV) Bloat is where a dog’s stomach first rapidly expands with gas and fluid, and then rotates on itself, twisting off both ends of the stomach. The gas and fluids then start to ferment, pressure builds up and blood supply to the stomach is cut off and a portion or all of the stomach may die. This triggers a cascade of other problems which can lead to death in just a few hours if left untreated. Even with emergency treatment, up to 50% of dogs will die if their stomach has twisted.  You can find more information about bloat and the warning signs here.

Which Dog Breeds Are Most Susceptible To Bloat? Some dog breeds are more likely to get bloat than others. Generally these are the larger chested dog breeds including:

• Great Danes (42% will get bloat in their lifetime)*
• Standard Poodles
• German Shepherds
• Blood Hounds
• Irish Wolfhounds
• Weimaraner
• Doberman Pinschers
• Rottweiler
• Old English Sheepdog
• Rhodesian Ridgeback
• Labrador Retriever
• Boxer
• St Bernard
• Great Pyrenees
• Collie
• Basset Hound
• Shar-Pei
• Dachshund

Symptoms of Bloat in Dogs

Bloat develops very suddenly, and occurs more in middle aged or older dogs. Often the dog may have just eaten a large meal, drank a large amount of water or been exercising vigorously before or after eating when the first symptoms of bloat appear. Symptoms of bloat in dogs may include drooling more than usual and trying to be sick (but not being able to vomit). Your dog will be tired and will have a tight or swollen stomach, appearing to be uncomfortable or in pain and may groan, whine or grunt – particularly if the stomach is touched or pressed. Your dog may be restless and pace. As the problem progresses, your dog may go into shock, with pale gums and tongue, rapid heart rate, weak pulse, problems breathing and collapse. If there is any suspicion of bloat, take your pet to the nearest vet hospital. If the stomach has twisted, then emergency surgery is the only option.

Bloat Prevention – Non-Surgical

Unfortunately there is no clinically proven cause for bloat in dogs. There is debate in the industry about genetics, temperament, stress and a host of other factors. Some of the things you can do to try to prevent your dog from getting bloat include:

• Feeding a few times a day rather than just one big meal.
• Slowing a speedy eater down. (There are special bowls available to help reduce speed when eating).
• Not feeding from a raised feeding station or bowl.
• Not only feeding dry food (or making sure you soak the biscuits first).
• Not letting your dog drink too much water at one time.
• No heavy exercise just before or just after eating.

Bloat Prevention – Preventative Gastropexy

If your dog is one of the “at risk breeds” for bloat, has a close family member that has had bloat, or who has a history of stomach bloating, it pays to consider preventative surgery. Gastropexy is a surgical procedure where the side of a dog’s stomach is stitched to the abdominal wall to prevent the stomach from twisting. Preventative gastropexy is performed on a healthy dog before they have a bloat incident. It is not an emergency procedure. Up until recently, preventative gastropexy in dogs was a major surgical procedure. However, there is now another option: Laparoscopic gastropexy. Commonly called keyhole surgery, laparoscopic surgery is very common in human operations because it is minimally invasive, is faster and has better healing results. It is now available for pet surgery for selected issues.

Benefits of Laparoscopic Gastropexy

• Less invasive & minimal scarring. It only needs a few 0.5 to 1 cm incisions compared to 10-15 cm incisions.
• Shorter surgery and anaesthesia time.
• Overnight procedure – your dog can come home the next day.
• Much less pain.
• Faster recovery.
• Less expensive than open surgery.
• More reliable than open surgery.

When Should Preventative Gastropexy Be Done?

Most dogs undergo a gastropexy at the same time as they are being neutered or spayed. However, if you have an older at risk animal then a standalone surgical procedure can also be performed. As with any surgery, there are risks and complications that need to be discussed with your vet prior to the procedure being undertaken.

Can a dog still get Bloat after a Gastropexy?

A gastropexy simply stops the stomach from twisting, which is the cause of the life endangering symptoms. However, your dog can still get bloat after the surgery, although they will be able to burp and pass excess gas which means you have more time to get to your vet for treatment. It turns a life-threatening emergency into something with significantly less risk.

Questions?

Ask your vet about surgery for preventative Gastropexy in dogs (it is often referred to as a “Tummy Tuck” as it is easier to say).

* Lawrence T. Glickman, VMD, DPH; Nita W. Glickman, MS, MPH; Diana B. Schellenberg, MS†;Malathi Raghavan, DVM, MS; Tana L. Lee, BA ” Incidence of and breed-related risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs” JAVMA 200: 216(1): 40-45

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