GDV (Gastric Dilatation Volvulus) in dogs

Overview

• A GDV is when the stomach bloats (fills with gas) and then twists. It’s a painful, life-threatening condition that mostly affects large, deep chested dogs.
• The most common symptoms of a GDV include retching and restlessness. Bloating is also common, but not always immediately obvious.
• If your dog has a GDV, it’s likely they will need an operation to untwist their stomach.
• Unfortunately, even with treatment, some GDVs are still fatal.
• Contact your vet straight away if your dog has symptoms of a GDV, it’s a life threatening condition and the quicker your dog gets treatment, the better their chance of survival.

What is GDV?

A GDV (gastric dilatation volvulus) is when the stomach bloats (fills with gas) and then twists, blocking both its entrance and exit. Gas then continues to build causing the stomach to become more and more bloated. This is extremely painful for the dog, and can also cause the following life threatening complications:

• The bloated stomach can squash major blood vessels in the abdomen, reducing blood flow to the heart and other organs.
• It also puts pressure on the lungs, making it difficult for the dog to breathe.
• As the stomach wall stretches it starts to leak bacteria into the bloodstream which can cause sepsis (blood poisoning).
• The spleen (which sits next to the stomach) can also become twisted – called a ‘splenic torsion’.

Which dogs are most at risk of GDV?

Any dog can develop a GDV but it’s most common in giant and deep chested breeds such as as German Shepherds, Great Danes, Saint Bernards and Dobermanns. It’s more common in dogs that have a parent or full sibling (brother/sister) that have had a GDV, and tends to mostly affect middle-aged to older dogs.

GDV Symptoms

Symptoms of a GDV tend to include:

• Retching or unproductive vomiting (when they bring up a nothing or a small amount of foam)
• Bloat (swollen tummy) – this might not be obvious if your dog’s tummy is tucked up under their ribcage
• Restlessness – panting and pacing
• Excessive drooling
• Collapse
• Difficulty breathing
• Pale gums

Contact your vet immediately if your dog is developing symptoms of a GDV. Symptoms often develop quickly, and get rapidly worse. The faster they receive treatment, the better their chance of survival. Never wait to see if their symptoms improve.

Diagnosis

The best way to diagnose GDV is by x-raying the abdomen (tummy). However, if your dog is severely unwell, they may need some emergency treatment before your vet can diagnose them.     

Treatment

If your dog has a GDV they will need rapid treatment from your vet, which is likely to include:

• Reduce bloat – depending on how bloated they are, your dog may need some gas released from their stomach before having x-rays and/or surgery. If their stomach has bloated, but not yet twisted, this might be the only treatment they need.
• Treatment for shock - dogs with a GDV often go into a state of shock and need to be stabilised before having surgery. This is likely to include a combination of the following:
  • A fluid drip to control their blood pressure, which often drops dangerously low in the case of a GDV.
  • Strong pain relief to keep them comfortable.
  • Antibiotics to reduce their chance of developing a gut infection and/or sepsis (blood poisoning).
• Surgery to untwist the stomach – the only way to fix a GDV is by operating to untwist the stomach. At the same time, your vet will check whether the stomach and spleen have been damaged, and remove any sections necessary. Your vet may also stitch the stomach to the body wall to reduce the chance of it twisting again (this is known as a ‘gastropexy’).
• Euthanasia - if your dog is very unwell, elderly, unlikely to survive the surgery, or surgery isn’t possible for another reason, putting them to sleep is likely to be the kindest option.

After surgery care

After their operation, it’s likely your dog will need to stay hospitalised for a day or two so they can be monitored. Your vet will check for further bloating and possible complications such as peritonitis (infection inside the abdomen). They will be discharged once your vet is happy they are recovering well.

Once your dog is home, you’ll need to continue monitoring them for any symptoms of recurring bloat or infection. Symptoms include retching, unproductive vomiting, reduced appetite, high temperature, restlessness, and collapse. Contact your vet immediately if you are concerned.

Outlook

A GDV is a very serious condition – approximately 15% of dogs don’t survive even despite treatment. The sooner your dog is treated, the better their chance of survival but it’s important to be aware that there are also high risks during the surgery, and potential for complications afterwards.   

Once your dog has suffered with a GDV, there is a chance it will happen again, but this chance is much lower if they have their stomach fixed in place (gastropexy) as part of their original treatment.

Preventing GDV

There are certain things you can do to help reduce the chance of your dog developing a GDV:

• Restrict exercise for one hour before and after feeding
• Restrict car travel for one hour before and after feeding
• Feed several small meals a day instead of one large meal
• Feed them from the floor. Previous advice was to feed at risk dogs from a raised bowl, but this has now been shown to increase the risk of a GDV
• Try to encourage your dog to drink little and often instead of large amounts in one go (but never withhold water)
• If your dog eats very quickly, consider using a slow feeding bowl or scatter feeding. If you have more than one dog, separate them during meal times to stop them racing to finish their food

When to contact your vet

You know your dog best, contact your vet if your dog is showing any symptoms of GDV. Always contact your vet if you’re concerned.

Cost

Treatment for a GDV can become very expensive, so it’s important to speak openly with your vet about the cost of treatment, your finances, and what you think is right for your dog.

Consider taking out dog insurance as soon as you bring your dog home, before any signs of illness start. This will give you peace of mind that you have some financial support if they ever become unwell.

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Published: June 2024