Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) — life-saving surgery
An immediately life-threatening condition: a bloated, hard abdomen and unproductive retching in a large dog. We stabilise the patient, decompress the stomach, operate and perform a gastropexy. Call before you come.
Mon–Fri 9–19, Sat 9–13 · tel. +48 74 660 62 68. Outside opening hours, on Sundays and on public holidays, the nearest 24-hour animal hospitals are SKVet Klinika Weterynaryjna (ul. Stabłowicka 109b, Wrocław, tel. 791 998 999) and Klinika Psa i Kota (ul. B. Krzywoustego 105/22, 51-166 Wrocław, tel. 71 339 82 48).
What it involves
Gastric torsion (GDV, gastric dilatation-volvulus) is when the stomach fills with gas and contents and then rotates around its own axis. A twisted stomach closes off its own entrance and exit, compresses large blood vessels and cuts off its own blood supply and that of the spleen. Within hours shock, necrosis of the stomach wall and heart rhythm disturbances develop.
It is one of the most time-consuming emergency operations in canine surgery, but also one of those in which the time from the first symptoms to the operating table matters most for the prognosis. Without surgery, GDV ends in death in almost every case.
In our practice, treating GDV is a protocol, not improvisation: stabilisation and decompression begin on admission, and the operating theatre is prepared before the patient arrives — which is why we ask you to phone on the way.
When it is used
Immediately once symptoms appear, during the practice’s opening hours (Mon–Fri 9:00–19:00, Sat 9:00–13:00). Most at risk are large and giant-breed dogs with a deep chest — Great Danes, German Shepherds, St Bernards, pointers, Dobermanns — especially older ones, fed one large meal and active right after eating.
Outside opening hours, do not wait until morning: go to the nearest 24-hour animal hospital. GDV is measured in hours, not days.
Indications: symptoms that should prompt a visit
- The dog suddenly has a bloated abdomen, hard as a drum.
- The dog tries to vomit but nothing comes up, or only foam.
- The dog drools heavily, is restless, lies down and gets up, and cannot settle.
- Breathing is rapid and shallow; the dog stands with its head lowered and its back arched.
- The gums turn pale or bluish, and the dog weakens, staggers or collapses.
- A large dog suddenly “isn’t itself” after a big meal or after intense exercise on a full stomach.
- The dog tries to adopt an unusual posture, e.g. "praying" (front legs on the ground, rear end in the air) from restlessness and abdominal pain.
Conditions for which we use it in particular
Diagnostics beforehand
Diagnosis runs in parallel with stabilisation, not instead of it. On admission we assess the degree of shock (pulse, mucous membrane colour, capillary refill time, blood pressure), place two IV cannulas and begin intensive fluid therapy. An abdominal X-ray in a lateral view confirms torsion — the picture is characteristic — and distinguishes it from bloat alone.
A blood test (including lactate, electrolytes, blood count) assesses the depth of shock and the anaesthetic risk; ECG detects rhythm disturbances even before the procedure. Ultrasound plays a supporting role, e.g. to assess the blood supply to the spleen.
How it proceeds
Step one is stabilisation: intravenous fluid therapy, oxygen, painkillers and decompression of the stomach — via a tube or by puncture through the body wall — to reduce pressure on the vessels before anaesthesia. We proceed to surgery once the circulation is sufficiently stabilised; usually within a few tens of minutes of admission.
Under inhalation anaesthesia with full monitoring (STD-02) the surgeon opens the abdominal cavity, untwists the stomach and assesses the viability of its wall and of the spleen. Necrotic sections are cut out; a spleen without a blood supply is removed. Finally we perform gastropexy — permanent suturing of the stomach to the abdominal wall, which prevents recurrence. The procedure takes roughly 1,5–3 hours. In some patients the stomach, once untwisted, returns to its normal position without any loss of wall — in that case the operation ends with gastropexy only, without resection.
After the operation the patient goes to the in-patient hospital: fluid therapy, ECG monitoring, pain control and gradual reintroduction of feeding. Hospitalisation usually lasts 2–4 days. The extent of supervision outside the practice’s opening hours is set individually by the lead veterinarian, depending on the dog’s condition.
Aftercare
After discharge: an easily digestible diet in 3–4 small portions a day, rest and lead walks for 2–3 weeks, medication according to the schedule. Wound check after 2–3 days, suture removal after 10 days. A follow-up ECG in the first week, because rhythm disturbances can appear with a delay.
Call immediately if the abdomen swells again, the dog vomits, has pale gums, is clearly weak, refuses food for more than a day, or fluid leaks from the wound.
A return to normal activity — running, play, using stairs without restriction — usually comes after 3-4 weeks, once a check-up has confirmed that the wound and the internal sutures have fully healed.
Frequently asked questions
Can gastric torsion be treated without surgery?
No. Decompression alone gives temporary relief, but a twisted stomach has to be untwisted surgically and its viability assessed. Without surgery, mortality approaches 100%.
Can torsion happen again?
Without gastropexy the risk of recurrence is very high. Gastropexy performed during the emergency operation reduces it to a few per cent.
How quickly do I need to come?
Immediately. The prognosis worsens with every hour; dogs operated on within a few hours of symptom onset have a much better chance.
Can I do anything at home before setting off?
Do not give food, water or medication. Call us so that we can prepare the theatre, then set off. Do not try to “deflate” the dog yourself.
How much does surgery for gastric torsion cost?
The cost depends on how advanced the condition is (whether resection of the stomach or removal of the spleen is needed) and on the length of hospitalisation. We give an exact quote after examining and stabilising the patient, before starting the operation — it cannot be reliably estimated over the phone.
What are a dog’s chances after GDV surgery?
When surgery takes place within a few hours of the first symptoms and there is no extensive necrosis of the stomach wall, survival is high. The prognosis worsens if a large part of the stomach has become necrotic, the spleen has had to be removed, or there was deep shock before admission — which is why the owner’s response time matters so much.
Can gastric torsion be prevented?
In predisposed breeds, preventive gastropexy (e.g. performed at the same time as neutering) almost eliminates the risk of torsion. In addition, it helps to feed several smaller portions instead of one large meal, avoid intense exercise straight after eating, and slow down eating in dogs that bolt their food.
We manage every case individually. The scope, indications and course described above are indicative; we agree the exact diagnostic and treatment plan during the consultation. This content is for information only and does not replace a veterinary consultation.
Do you have questions about gastric torsion?
Call us or book a consultation. We will set out the diagnostic and treatment plan in writing, before you decide.