Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), often called "bloat", is one of the most serious emergencies a dog can face. It develops quickly and needs treatment within hours. A gastropexy, which tacks the stomach safely in place, is part of emergency GDV surgery and can also be done ahead of time to protect dogs at high risk.
GDV can go from first signs to life-threatening in a matter of hours. Don't wait to see if it passes. Call right away if your dog shows:
In GDV, the stomach fills with gas and then twists on itself. The twist traps the gas and cuts off blood flow to the stomach wall. It also presses on the large blood vessels returning blood to the heart, which quickly leads to shock. Emergency treatment starts with stabilizing your dog: intravenous fluids, pain relief and releasing gas from the stomach. Surgery follows to return the stomach to its normal position, check the stomach and spleen for damage, and perform a gastropexy, a permanent attachment between the stomach and the right side of the body wall. Without a gastropexy, GDV comes back in most dogs. With one, the risk of it happening again drops to below 5%.
Preventive gastropexy is the same stomach-tacking procedure done as a planned surgery, before a problem ever happens. It's often done at the same time as a spay or neuter, so your dog only needs one anesthetic. Your dog is under general anesthesia throughout, with pain management before, during and after.
Dogs stay in hospital for close monitoring of heart rhythm, fluids and pain. Small amounts of food are reintroduced once your dog is stable.
At home, feed small, frequent meals of a bland diet and allow leash walks only. A cone protects the incision, and skin sutures come out at 14 days.
A gradual return to normal food and activity after your recheck, once the incision has healed and your dog is eating well.
Recovery is similar to a spay: most dogs go home the same day or next morning, with about 10–14 days of restricted activity while the incision heals.
Everything above covers what most owners need. If you'd like to know more about which dogs are at risk and how to lower that risk, this section walks through it.
GDV mainly affects large and giant breeds with deep, narrow chests. Great Danes carry the highest risk, followed by breeds such as German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, Weimaraners, Irish Setters, St. Bernards and Akitas. Risk rises with age and is higher in dogs with a close relative who has had GDV. Anxious dogs and dogs that eat one large meal quickly also appear more prone. Any dog can develop GDV, though, including mixed and smaller breeds.
The longer the stomach stays twisted, the more damage builds up. Dogs that have had signs for more than about six hours, or whose stomach wall or spleen has been damaged, have a harder recovery. Most dogs who reach surgery promptly survive and go on to live normal lives.
Feed two or more smaller meals a day rather than one large one, and use a slow-feeder bowl if your dog gulps. Avoid vigorous exercise right before and after meals. Raised food bowls, once commonly recommended, have been linked with a higher risk in some studies, so a floor-level bowl is usually the better choice for at-risk breeds.
For high-risk breeds, studies show a preventive gastropexy dramatically lowers the chance of dying from GDV, with a low rate of complications. It doesn't stop the stomach from filling with gas, but it prevents the twist, which is the life-threatening part. Doing it alongside a spay or neuter makes it convenient and cost-effective.
Because GDV affects the whole body, dogs can develop irregular heart rhythms, damage to the stomach wall, or infection after surgery. That's why the first few days are spent in hospital with close monitoring, so any problem is caught and treated quickly.
Not always. A dog's stomach can fill with gas without twisting. It's still an emergency, though, because it can turn into GDV. Any signs of bloat need to be seen right away.
The stomach can still fill with gas, but it's very unlikely to twist. Any signs of bloat still need a call to us straight away.
Many owners choose to do it during their dog's spay or neuter. It can also be done as a stand-alone surgery at any age.
A preventive gastropexy costs far less than emergency GDV surgery. We'll give you a clear, itemized estimate for either before anything is scheduled.
