Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus
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Signalment
- Large deep chested breeds including:
Akitas
Bloodhounds
Collies
Great Danes
Irish Setters
Wolfhounds
Newfoundlands
Rottweilers
Saint Bernards
Standard Poodles
Weirmaraners
Description
Gastric dilatation (GD) and Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) are caused by the stomach distending with air. In GDV the stomach twists around its axis with both conditions leading to compression of the caudal vena cava. GDV can lead to hypovolaemic shock, splenic torsion, gastric wall ischaemia, abdominal viscera congestion, endotoxic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
Diagnosis
History and Clinical signs
- Abdominal distension
- Non-productive retching
- Weakness
- Collapse
- Salivation
- Abdominal tympany
- Tachycardia
- Pallor
- Hypothermia
- Cardiac arrythmias (ventricular premature beats, ventricular tachycardia)
Haematology
Biochemistry
Diagnostic imaging
Treatment
The most important first line treatments are fluid therapy and gastric decompression