Gastric torsion in dogs is a typical syndrome of large breeds (German shepherd, German doge, giant schnauzer, Sao Bernardo, Dobermann, etc.) in which a significant bloating and torsion of the stomach occurs, consequence of the accumulation of gases, food or liquids..
Stomach ligaments do not support stomach expansion, causing a stomach to rotate over the shaft.Under normal conditions, the dog’s stomach empties its contents by its own physiological mechanisms, but in this case the animal cannot evacuate the contents and the stomach begins to expand.As a result, the dog tries to vomit to expel the contents of the stomach and finally turns on itself, completely obstructing the holes that connect it to the esophagus and intestine. By causing twisting, the arteries, the veins and blood vessels of the digestive system are compressed and, as a result, blood flow is interrupted and some organs stop working.It is a serious disease that, if not treated in time, can lead to the death of the animal.
Read this Animal Expert article to learn all about gastric torsion in dogs, their symptoms and treatment.
While gastric torsion can occur in any breed, it is the larger ones that are most likely to suffer from it, as well as those with deep breasts, such as the poodle and the average boxer, and it is also one of the most common diseases of the Weimar Braque.
The causes of this problem are
Since this disease can occur in any dog and must receive the necessary care as soon as possible, it is important to know the symptoms in order to act in time, thus, the most common signs that a dog may suffer stomach dilation or gastric torsion.Are:
If your puppy has any of these symptoms, you should take it to the veterinarian immediately, as it may have an episode of gastric dilation and torsion.
The veterinarian diagnoses gastric torsion or dilation based on the clinical symptoms of the dog and certain additional characteristics. The breed and history of the dog can support the diagnosis because, as mentioned above, this disease is more common in certain breeds of dogs and in dogs that have already suffered it.
X-rays are also used to confirm this diagnosis, which clearly show whether the stomach is distended or not, in addition, if the stomach has been rotated, the pylorus (the hole that connects the stomach to the intestine).moves from its normal position.
There are no home remedies or tricks that you can apply, due to the gastric torsion of the dog, you should go immediately to the vet since it is an emergency in which the dog’s life is in danger.
Try to handle it carefully until you reach the trusted veterinarian, in addition to preventing it from moving too much, the veterinarian will soothe the animal and give it fluids and antibiotics, a procedure will be performed to remove the contents of the stomach with a gastric tube that will be placed in the mouth of the animal and the stomach will be washed.Finally, a surgical procedure will be performed, in which the stomach will be attached to the abdominal wall (gastropexia), to reduce the risk of further torsion.
The prognosis varies depending on the severity of the disease; when dilation and torque are treated early, the prognosis is generally favorable; However, if necrosis has begun, the mortality rate is high even after surgery; dogs that exceed 48 hours after the operation usually have good chances of survival, so it is essential to consult a veterinary medical center as soon as possible, otherwise your pet may die in a few hours.
Especially in summer, it is very important to be attentive and informed to avoid possible gastric twisting, so we give you some tips:
This article is for informational purposes only, in Animal Expert.com.br we cannot prescribe veterinary treatments or make any type of diagnosis, we suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case of any condition or discomfort.
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