07/10/2025
As vet practice staff we are well versed in dealing with emergency situations, however it is not very often we are faced with instances involving our own pets.
Unfortunately our Deputy Head Nurse Giorgia was faced with such a case with her dog Nyla recently when she developed a GDV (Gastric Dilatation - Volvulus) 🐶😔
This is her account of what happened:
‘Nyla & I started out for our usual morning walk, but Nyla was quieter than usual and she was walking gingerly.
I did a health check, starting with checking the colour of her gums noting that they looked pale.
Moving down her body I realised her abdomen felt tender & it was bloated. We therefore rushed straight back home, where she then started unproductively vomiting.
Recognising these signs as a probable GDV (also known as bloat), I immediately set off to the practice, calling ahead to inform staff to enable them to prepare for our arrival.
Once at the surgery we immediately attempted to stabilise Nyla with intravenous fluids & we took radiographs of her abdomen to confirm the diagnosis. The X-ray showed her stomach was distended & it had twisted on its axis.
Strong analgesia medications were administered & Nyla was anaesthetised & prepared for surgery. A tube was placed down her oesophagus to relieve the gas & remove the stomach contents.
During the operation her stomach was untwisted & it was sutured to the body wall to prevent reoccurrence. Her spleen then had to be removed as its blood supply had been damaged during the GDV; a common complication
Thankfully Nyla recovered very well post operatively & I was able to take her home with me that evening’.
A GDV is a life threatening emergency condition & successful recovery is based around rapid treatment!!
During a GDV the stomach fills with gas, where then the twist of this can cut off blood supply to vital organs.
Symptoms can include:
*Restlessness
*Excessive drooling
*Unproductive vomiting
*Distended & tender abdomen
*Changes to respiratory rate
*Pale mucous membranes
*Weakness
*Shock
*Collapse
Large, deep chested dogs are more susceptible but they can occur in any breed.
