advise on tacking stomach on large dogs

[Cara]

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We had several dogs in our SAR group pass from bloat, and now everyone routinely has the gastropexy done with new puppies. A couple were German Shepherds, there was my hound, and there was a Doberman. It isn't particularly unusual in Labradors either. I'd love a Great Dane, but seeing as i've had dogs with two of the common afflictions of that breed (bloat and Wobbler's) I don't think I could stand to take the chance. I believe Danes have over a 50% chance of bloating.

I'd go ahead and get it done, since she will be knocked out and an incision made anyway.

ETA If a dog bloats, standard practice is for the vet to tack the stomach. If they do not, there is an 82% chance of it happening again. If they do, the risk drops to less than 4%.

 

[chickenzoo]

I was never advised of it with our GP's............... I think if you have a dog that constantly wolfs down their food it is more concerning too, if I remember correctly. Our dogs are very slow eaters.......

 

[Cara]

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We weren't advised to do it with our Bloodhounds either, despite the risks of not having it done. There are many different causes, and it is still not well understood.

 

[mylittlezoo]

When I had my GSD spayed, my vet called and asked me whether I wanted her to do it, 'while she was in there'. My vet has had many GSDs and competes heavily in National agility trials. She is a well-respected vet in our area. Therefore, I asked her whether she did it with her dogs. Her response was "Oh, YES. Of course." I asked her to do my Minerva, in that case. If she feels it is important enough that she does her own dogs, then I wanted it done too. She explained to me what a painful death bloat causes and what the survival rate is (very low).Additionally, the cost of 'prevention' is markedly lower than the cost of 'cure' - and that's if you can get to a vet in time. It simply wasn't a risk I was wiling to take.

 

[thebritt]

Tends to occur in barrel-chested dogs. Bloat has been linked to eating large meals and exercising immediately afterwards. We feed the am't of food they are to get in 2 meals, and I make the dogs chill out for at least 15 min. before they go out and run around. The problem comes when they lay down after eating, running around, and resting again. The stomach "sets" and relaxes. They get up, and the stomach twists, cutting off the blood supply to the stomach, and blocking food from moving. It's pretty preventable. Don't think I'd pay for more invasive surgery when you can usually prevent it. Also, the staples don't always hold, so you'll probably be told to do the above anyway.

 

[Cara]

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Our dog bloated late in the afternoon, long after her morning meal and before her evening meal.

Staples are not used, they are sutures in several places.

We take many precautions with our dogs including not feeding large amounts at one time, not allowing over-drinking after exercise, not feeding while they are excited (e.g not feeding as soon as we get home), not using raised feeders, and feeding a high quality food that can be fed in smaller quantities. Cheap fillers in food can also increase the risk. It is thought that adding some raw meat can help, as the enzymes aid digestion.

 

[bagendhens]

ive havent heard of a pry's bloating in my circle...but there a large breed with a large chest so its possible.

the taking essentially gives you a little extra time as it stops the torision (stomach twisting) with a bloat without torsion gas ex will buy you time if caught quick enough to get to the vet or at in extreem cases tube the stomach to de-gas, however as soon as the stomach torsions, your CRITICAL, with torsion you shorten your time span and likelyhood of saving the dog.

if you can affod the tummy tack (they dont usually simply staple it, usually they cut a small hole in the stomach and use the dogs mucling to thread through and eveyrthing Stitched into place with disolving stitches.)
then id say go for it, its an extra preventative precaution...
if you cant, familiarise yourself with bloat, the symptoms, what to do just in case and remember if you do need to tack after a bloat it will cost MORE than doing it while already open for a spay.

bloat is most common in dogs who eat fast, drink water or excersize too soon after eating or who stoop to eat...
but it can happen sometimes seemingly randomly.
most sight hounds (wolfhounds, greys ect) danes, dobes and other such Deep chested breeds are most prone but ALL large-giant breeds are at risk.

 

[Cara]

I just wanted to add that if your dog bloats, it is one of the most pressing emergencies you will ever experience with a dog. If torsion occurs you will have less than an hour to treat, and that is an hour from when it occurs not an hour from when you first notice.

We may well have saved our dog if the vet had been on the ball. We rushed her to our vet when we saw she was bloating. It was an hour drive that we made in less than 30 minutes. The vet inserted a stomach tube and could not release any gas but couldn't find a twist, so sent her home. I knew in my gut it was bad, and stayed up as late as I could with her until I fell asleep. The first time i got up to check she was bloated still but I thought she was sleeping. The second time I checked she was dead. She had twisted her gut once we had returned home.

 

[redhen]

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[Slinkytoys]

The only downside is the extra charge and that the dog is in more pain. Have had many girls spayed with little to no "ouchies" afterwards, but the ones who had the procedure done were definately in pain. Your vet will give your dog a Rimadyl injection and some tablets for afterwards. I have a pet crematory and can say that I have cremated some Pyrs who died of bloat/torsion.
Slinky