Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus Syndrome (GDV)
Gastric dilatation-volvulus syndrome is a condition that occurs more frequently in large, deep-chested dog breeds such as Great Danes, German Shepherds, Dobermans, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers, as well as in smaller breeds like Miniature Dachshunds, which are common in Japan. It often occurs in middle-aged and older dogs. Symptoms include attempting to vomit but being unable to, lethargy, weakness, and a distended abdomen. Various causes can lead to gastric dilatation, which can then result in volvulus (twisting of the stomach), leading to gas accumulation. This further expands the stomach, which then compresses the blood vessels going from the abdomen to the heart, causing perfusion disorders. Consequently, the volume of blood pumped out of the heart decreases, leading to arrhythmias, shock, and circulatory failure, necessitating prompt treatment.
GDV Treatment
Treatment involves both medical therapy to stabilize the shock and emergency surgery (gastropexy) to return the twisted stomach to its normal position and prevent recurrence by attaching the stomach wall to the abdominal wall. However, if severe arrhythmias occur or surgery is delayed, or if the surgery is unsuccessful, the pet may unfortunately die.
GDV Prevention
Preventive measures include feeding smaller, more frequent meals and avoiding vigorous exercise after meals. However, these measures do not completely prevent the disease. Therefore, to reduce the risk of future GDV, preventive gastropexy is performed. For high-risk breeds, it is crucial to actively consider preventive surgery. At our hospital, we can perform preventive gastropexy during spaying or neutering surgery for susceptible breeds like German Shepherds. If there are concerns about the damage from traditional open surgery, we can perform the same procedure using a laparoscope, which involves minimal incisions.
Risks of Preventive Gastropexy
Preventive gastropexy is generally a safe procedure, but there are risks associated with anesthesia and surgery. Specific complications may include vomiting or loss of appetite due to reduced gastrointestinal motility, and in rare cases, necrosis of the suture site or peritonitis and abscess formation due to perforation. Although preventive gastropexy does not prevent gastric dilatation itself, which involves gas accumulation in the stomach, it can prevent the fatal condition of gastric volvulus.
Message from the Veterinarian
GDV is a sudden-onset emergency condition that can be fatal within a few hours if left untreated. Preventive gastropexy significantly reduces the risk of GDV, with reports indicating that it lowers the mortality rate by 29 times when performed. Owners of large breeds or deep-chested small breeds like Dachshunds and Miniature Pinschers should consider consulting with us about this preventive measure while their pets are young.
