Identifying Emergencies GDV

In the recent months I’ve seen a few cases of GDV, and I think it would be good for you, the pet owner, to be able to identify this emergency at home if you happen to own a large size dog.

So GDV - what is it and how do you identify it?   

GDV stands for Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus  which simply means the stomach has filled up with air and then twisted on itself cutting off blood supply to the body in the process. This does require immediate emergency surgery to correct and most commonly occurs in large breed dogs like Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Dobermans, Great Danes, etc.

How do you know if your dog is suffering from GDV? Well common symptoms include

• Firm distended abdomen
• Gagging or hacking
• Agitation or distress - pacing, panting, whining
• Drooling
• Pale gums
• Hanging head
• May sometimes collapse

If this happens to your dog this is considered an emergency and your dog should be rushed to the hospital right away.

Once there a vet can usually confirm diagnosis with x-rays. Then once GDV is confirmed you should expect a vet to recommend Bloodwork - too see what organs may already be affected by this lack of blood supply, and also place an IV catheter to start the patient on fluids and prep them for surgery.

GDV can be corrected with surgery if caught in early stages, and it can also be prevented with a surgery called a Gastropexy, where the stomach is permanently attached to the abdominal walls to prevent it from rolling. If you’re interested in learning more because you have a large breed dog, I highly recommend you asking your vet if they offer that procedure with a spay or neuter. Also if you want to get real fancy, some hospitals offer Laparoscopic spays with gastropexy that minimize trauma to tissue and reduce recovery time.

So there you have it. Hopefully this information was helpful in identifying a potential emergency. Turn in next week for tips on how to identify a Blocked Cat, which is when a cat can’t pee. It is really painful for them so you want to be able to spot this if it happens to your male cat.