Are You Aware of Gastric Dilation-Volvulus (GDV) in Dogs?
Our sweet Rue (Standard Poodle) gave us a big scare at The Sugardoodle Barn a few days ago! Out of nowhere, she became very sick super quick, and we had to snap to attention and act fast to save her life! In the matter of a couple of hours, Rue went from being her playful fine self to a dry heaving, crying distressed fur baby with a big-time bloated belly that looked like she was ready to deliver puppies! So big! Thankfully, we were able to connect with our vet in a very timely manner and get the help she needed! Within approximately two hours, Rue was diagnosed with gastric dilation-volvulus (GDV) causing a flipped stomach, and out of emergency surgery where she underwent a gastropexy and splenectomy! It was obvious we caught this early, and time was on our side for a successful full recovery!
So, what exactly is this condition?
Gastric dilation-volvulus is a term also known as bloat that occurs when a dog’s stomach becomes blocked causing gas and fluid to accumulate. As a result, the stomach stretches well beyond its normal size. The swollen stomach causes severe pain making it prone to twist or flip and ultimately results in the trapping of stomach contents cutting off the blood supply to the stomach. The deterioration of blood flow will quickly cause distention to the abdomen, shortness of breath or labored breathing. Large vessels become compressed interrupting the return of blood flow back to the heart. You will quickly start to see a systemic response in the dog’s physical symptoms that requires immediate attention! This condition is fatal without timely medical intervention!
Larger breeds and dogs with deep chests are at the highest risk for developing GDV. Standard poodles are second on the list for breeds predisposed to the condition. Since all doodles are part poodle, this automatically places those dogs high on the ‘at risk’ list as well.
There are a few things you can do to help reduce risk factors such as provide two small meals each day instead of one large meal, so you prevent rapid overeating. Puzzle feeders also work well to help slow down the dog’s eating pace. Lastly, a planned gastropexy performed at the time of spay or neuter for dogs at risk of a GDV is a wise decision that will safeguard against a potentially fatal condition and save you a ton of money in the long run. Emergency surgeries are not cheap!
Thankfully, in less than 48 hours, Rue was safely home with us and well on her way back to her old self!