Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus Syndrome

[KarenADeeds]

As a professional trainer of pet and working dogs, as well as a 9 year veteran in the veterinary industry, I try to keep abreast of the latest information pertaining to various medical conditions. Over the years, I know there has been discussion over the height of the food bowl (elevated, not elevated) and I was wondering if the same was true for the water bowl/bucket.

We had an incident last night with a young female Great Dane. After finishing a training session in the late afternoon, we put her back into her kennel. Since we train with positive motivation, we had used a semi-moist dog food during the training session. No more than 10 minutes after putting her back in her crate, I walked through the kennel and noticed several frothy areas of vomit and that her stomach was already starting to distend. In less then 25 minutes from onset we had her to the Emergency vet where, long story short, they determined she had not only twisted, but her stomach and intenstines had flipped front to back as well. She is recovering well so far and the prognosis is good. We since learned from the owners that her sire had died of unknown causes, possibly GDV.

We have been careful not to combine food, water and exercise, but are wanting to know if there are any studies or information regarding the height of the water bowl/bucket.

[Daveyo]

I will ask someone and see what he says.

Will let you know.

[KarenADeeds]

Thank you. I will await a response!

Karen

[Daveyo]

Hmmmm, nothing to do with the bowl height.

However here is your answer and the cure for the problem should it happen again.

The thought that food or water is a contributing factor to bloat has been discounted many times by the Veterinary Literature. It is not known officially the cause of bloat. However, as you know I have my own ideas as to the cause. Again Immune. This group of cells known as macrophages(in the spleen) I think are responsible. To long to give you an idea of how it works but there is a drug which turns it off. REGLAN. In the old days many decades ago only surg helped to control this problem. Then came Reglan. It works to turn of the immune problem or cascade that initiated bloat and leads to dogs death. What the intiating factor is I cannot say. Hope this helps. Doc.

[KarenADeeds]

Interesting. Do you have any studies to back this up?? I understand the bowl height has been controversial and could never be proven one way or the other, but the vets that I have talked with (boarded in internal medicine, surgery and behavior) have all told me that they have realized that the elevated bowl was no longer a preventive so therefore keeping it low was thought to be more appropriate. If the supplementation of Reglan is proven to be a real preventive, why is it not commonly prescribed to all dogs that are susceptible to this condition?

Regards,

Karen

[Daveyo]

First the bowl height has nothing to do with bloat. We all eat and we all get fat. If it was an eating disorder like many VETS think it is, we would all be dead by now including me.

Again the immune system and genetics of the animal. Try to do a study on the group of cells known as macrophages(in the spleen). Way too long to explain here. Also REGLAN as I explained here a bit on the previous post works. Had quite a few cases of this over the years on dogs.

Many VETS don't take the time to do research. Interested in making the money - business as usual.

Doc

[gretriever]

I have a 9 month old female golden retriever. I noticed that her stomach starts to "inflate," but I didn't bring her to the veterinary since she was at her normal self. But when her stomach grew more, I brought her to the vet. The vet prescribed lasix, tagamet and amoxicillin as antibiotics. Her stomach decreased after a week but after a few days it grew back again. I brought her to another vet and advised me to continue the medicines but still, she has a bloated stomach.

Kindly help me on this.

Thanks

[Daveyo]

Did you rule out possible pregnancy??

Females do get bigger tummies when pregnant.

[gretriever]

The vet ruled out pregnancy, her xray showed water in her stomach. Her blood chem showed anemia, and the vet prescribed ferrous sulfate.

[Daveyo]

If that is the case, then Reglan is in order. Ask your vet for it.