Bloat, also known as Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) is a serious medical emergency. The condition involves the stomach becoming distended with gas and then undergoing a twisting or turning action which results in trapping air in the stomach.
Some risk factors for bloat in dogs are the following:
* Large or giant breed dogs
* Type of diet and number of meals eaten per day
* Deep chested dogs e.g. Great danes and St Bernards.
Clinical signs that your dog may have bloat are:
* Your dog assumes a ‘praying’ stance; your dog may appear restless and be unable to sit or lie down comfortably
* Wretching
* Excessive salivation
* Foaming at the mouth
* Stomach appears larger
* General discomfort
The secondary effects of the stomach being inflated include cutting off blood supply to the organs which can result in the death of these organs; bacteria moving to other areas of the body that they shouldn’t be in and toxins being released into the body.
Immediate prognosis and surgery are essential; preferably within the first 6 hours.
Initial treatment options include:
* Administering IV fluids as it is essential to rehydrate your dog
* Pain medications
* Antibiotics
* Reduce the amount of air inflating the stomach through gastric decompression
* If your dog is stable to undergo anaesthesia, surgery will be performed to place the stomach in it’s correct position again as well as to examine if there is any devitalized tissue in the stomach or spleen
One preventative measure for bloat when performing the above surgery, is to perform a right-side gastropexy. This is where the stomach wall is firmly attached to the body wall, thereby preventing it from twisting inside the abdominal cavity in the future. This significantly reduces the recurrence of gastric volvulus. Owners of dogs who are at high risk for bloat should discuss this option with their veterinarian as a preventative measure.
Other preventative measures include feeding your dog small meals throughout the day instead of one big meal and not exercising immediately before or after a meal.
http://on.aol.com/video/learn-about-bloat–gdv–in-dogs-517212834
没有评论:
发表评论