WHAT IS GASTRIC DILATATION VOLVULUS (GDV) BLOAT IN DOGS?
DORNE CARR B.Sc, P.G.C.E. This is a condition affecting the digestive system and is unfortunately life threatening in dogs. Initially the stomach begins to fill with gas and becomes distended noticeably on the left hand-side in the first instance. This is known as GASTRIC DILATATION. It is not uncommon in dogs, humans even cats, problems arise however when the gas cannot escape. As the gas and dilatation increases pressure inside the stomach builds up, this creates stress and pressure on major organs such as the heart and liver. The pressure increase reduces the flow of blood by 75% resulting in heart irregularities such as arrhythmias toxic shock also becomes a life-threatening problem. As the gases build up further the stomach swells to enormous capacity looking and sounding like a case ball when tapped at the side. The pressure inside the stomach is by now so intense, that the stomach begins to rotate the rotation can be a partial twist or a full twist. This is now GASTRIC DILATATIO
