Health Conditions

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV)

A life-threatening emergency where the stomach distends with gas and rotates on its axis, trapping contents and cutting off blood supply. Also called bloat. Requires emergency surgery; fatal without treatment within hours.

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a two-stage emergency: first the stomach distends with gas (dilatation), then it rotates on its axis (volvulus). The rotation traps stomach contents and gas, compresses major blood vessels (caudal vena cava, portal vein), and cuts off blood supply to the stomach wall. Without emergency intervention, death occurs within hours.

Signs of GDV

GDV is a true emergency — time from symptom onset to death can be as short as 1–6 hours in severe cases:

  • Unproductive retching (attempting to vomit with nothing or only foam produced)
  • Distended, drum-tight abdomen — often visible from above or palpable
  • Rapid, shallow breathing; obvious distress
  • Pale or white gums (indicating shock)
  • Restlessness, inability to get comfortable
  • Sudden collapse in late-stage disease

If you observe these signs, transport to an emergency veterinary hospital immediately. Do not wait to “see if it gets better.”

Pathophysiology

The stomach normally sits in the cranial abdomen, held loosely by the gastrosplenic and hepatogastric ligaments. In susceptible dogs, the stomach rotates 90–360 degrees on its mesenteric axis — typically clockwise when viewed from behind. This:

  1. Traps gas and food in the stomach (dilatation worsens)
  2. Compresses the caudal vena cava, reducing venous return and cardiac output
  3. Occludes the portal vein, causing progressive endotoxemia
  4. Cuts off blood supply to the stomach wall, causing progressive necrosis

Risk Factors

  • Breed/conformation: large and giant breeds with deep, narrow chests; specific breeds (Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound, Standard Poodle, Weimaraner, Doberman)
  • Eating behavior: eating one large meal daily vs. multiple smaller meals; rapid eating; eating from raised bowls (evidence for raised bowls is mixed)
  • Post-exercise feeding: exercise immediately before or after a large meal
  • Family history: dogs with first-degree relatives affected by GDV have elevated risk
  • Age: risk increases with age

Treatment

Emergency stabilization (IV fluids, decompression) followed by surgery. Surgery corrects the volvulus and performs permanent gastropexy to prevent recurrence. Portions of necrotic stomach or spleen may require removal. Even with successful surgery, mortality is 15–25%.

Prevention: Prophylactic Gastropexy

The only proven GDV prevention is prophylactic gastropexy — recommended for all high-risk breeds, ideally performed at time of spay/neuter.