Imagine this scenario. Your three year old German Shepherd
is in the prime of his life. He weighs ninety pounds, runs like the wind
and doesn't have an ounce of fat on his frame. After a hard day at the
office you can't wait to get home to take him to the park, to run and play
catch with him. Quickly gulping down a bowl of dry kibble for dinner, he's
standing at the front door with the leash in his mouth, wondering why it
takes you so long to put on a pair of sneakers.
Several hours later, you're relaxing in front of the TV when you notice that
he's become restless - pacing up and down and in obvious discomfort. On closer
examination he seems to be breathing a little heavier than normal and he's
drooling too. Within a few minutes he starts to retch but is unable to bring
anything up. Concerned for his well being, you quickly load him into the car
and head over to your nearest emergency veterinary clinic. By the time you
arrive, your very best friend has collapsed, his gums are pale and his stomach
is so distended that you think it will burst. In the sudden whirlwind of
activity around you and your pet, you sign the permission forms to allow the
veterinarian to perform an emergency lifesaving operation to repair the severe
internal trauma caused by GDV.
What is this disease and why have so many of us lost our pets to it? How can
we recognize the early warning signs? More importantly, is there a way to
prevent the condition from developing in the first place?
Gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome is a medical and surgical emergency with
a high mortality rate in the dog. It occurs most frequently in large, deep
chested individuals and especially in breeds such as the Great Dane, Saint
Bernard, German Shepherd, Boxer and Irish Setter. The condition has also on
rare occasions, been reported in some small breeds. The age of affected dogs
varies widely, but it is unusual for an animal under two years old to develop
GDV.
Gastric dilatation or distension of the stomach occurs due to an excessive
amount of air or gas accumulating in the stomach. Basically, the stomach
begins to swell up, very much like a balloon that is slowly pumped up with
air. As the stomach gets bigger and bigger, it gradually starts to rotate. As
it does so, it pinches off the esophagus (the tube that runs from the mouth to
the stomach), and the duodenum (the tube running from the stomach to the
intestine). At this point, there is no place for all the air in the stomach to
go and, just like a balloon, it may get so big that it bursts. Blood vessels
become twisted and some organs like the spleen are deprived of blood. This
leads to the onset of shock and if untreated, the dog will die.
A question often asked is why a normal, strong, healthy dog would suddenly
develop GDV with very few, if any warning signs? There are a few factors
involved and often more than one of these needs to be present for the syndrome
to develop.
The first to consider is diet. It has been suggested that feeding one large
meal a day may encourage the stomach to enlarge, and that larger capacity
stomachs are more inclined to dilate. A second factor is the accumulation of
gas in the stomach. This might be caused by aerophagia (the swallowing or
gulping of air), or gas may form during bacterial fermentation of food while
digestion is taking place. Thirdly, moderate to heavy exercise shortly after a
meal may contribute to rotation of an enlarged stomach filled with food and
gas.
Other factors known to play a role in GDV include stretched or slack stomach
ligaments and a hereditary predisposition. Also lying down on the left side
may worsen the condition because it is much more difficult for a dog to bring
up gas while in this position, than when standing upright.
Preventing GDV in those individuals who are strongly predisposed to the
condition may be difficult, but there are a few suggested methods to decrease
the incidence. Feeding two or even three smaller meals per day rather than one
large one is important. Ideally the food should be moistened and softened by
the addition of water ten to fifteen minutes prior to feeding. Consider also
restricting your pets water intake prior to, and for an hour after meals.
Avoid any exercise just before feeding and for at least two hours afterwards.
Other suggestions include the following: don't allow your pet to drink large
volumes of water at one time, no "roughhousing" after meals, no jumping with a
full stomach.
While there is no current medical method of treating GDV without involving
surgery, it is important to understand what this condition is and to recognize
the early signs in its development. By being aware, your pet can receive the
emergency treatment it needs and go on to live a normal, happy life.
