VET SPEAK: Large meals can lead to big problems for dogs
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Bert was a six-year-old Newfoundland who was docile, happy, and friendly, writes Alison Laurie-Chalmers.
Sadly, he was rushed into the surgery as his owners had noted him retching and in distress after a large meal.
His retching bouts were unproductive and, on examination, he was found to have a distended, gassy abdomen.
X-rays and examinations revealed he had a GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus, or bloat), a life-threatening condition often found in large dogs, which would require immediate surgical intervention.
Stomach bloating, pain and unproductive retching/gagging are the most common symptoms along with pale gums and collapse.
If your dog has a GDV, they will need an operation to untwist their stomach, though even with emergency treatment, some cases are still fatal.
Once the stomach twists it quickly starts to fill with more gas, causing a severe bloat and shock.
Symptoms tend to start suddenly and can get worse quickly. Dogs are at more risk after they have eaten or drunk a lot, especially if they are exercised or get excited straight afterwards.
If your dog is developing symptoms contact your vet immediately. The quicker your dog is treated, the better their chance of survival.
Pain relief will be given and a fluid drip will be placed to help keep blood pressure up, and there may be a need to release some of the gas from your dog’s stomach before their operation using a stomach tube. After untwisting the stomach, it can be stitched into place against the abdominal wall to reduce the chance of it happening again. The spleen will also be checked because it can get caught up in the twist. It may need to be removed if it has been badly damaged.
If your dog survives a GDV, there is still a risk it could happen again. So, knowing the signs to look for and acting quickly is important.
No-one really knows why GDVs develop, but there are some factors that are known to make it more likely. Deep-chested, large, and giant dogs are most at risk, such as Great Danes, German Shepherds and Greyhounds; exercise, travelling in a car, or any other form of excitement soon after a meal can increase the risk; eating quickly, and gulping air while eating can also increase the risk.
Feed several small meals through the day rather than one big one, and pre-soaking meals can help. If your dog gulps food, consider using a slow feeding bowl, or try “scatter feeding”. Gulping a lot of water in one go can also increase the risk. Do not withhold water, but try to encourage your dog to drink “little and often” rather than large bowlfuls at a time. Try to keep your dog quiet and calm after feeding and avoid any undue excitement at feeding times. In warm weather, when they are more inclined to pant and drink more, be particularly careful, and ensure they are cool and settled before feeding.
Thankfully Bert recovered well from his emergency surgery.
GDV surgery is urgent and complex and, as a result, it is often very expensive. Do consider adequately insuring your dog with a good, and well researched, pet insurance, and do this as soon as you get them, when they are young pups, before any signs of illness start.
Alison Laurie-Chalmers is a senior consultant with Crown Vets in Inverness.
