GDV (bloat) in dogs: why every minute counts

Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), often called 'bloat', is one of the few conditions where I measure survival in minutes rather than days. The stomach fills with gas and then twists on its axis, trapping the gas, cutting off blood flow to the stomach wall and eventually to the heart. Without surgery, it is fatal.

Deep-chested breeds are most at risk: Great Danes, Weimaraners, Standard Poodles, Dobermans, German Shepherds and Setters. It can happen to any dog, but the classic conformation is a deep, narrow chest.

Early signs are easy to miss and easy to dismiss: a restless dog that paces, drools and tries to vomit but brings nothing up. The abdomen may look swollen or feel tight behind the ribs, but not always in early cases. Progression to pale gums, weakness, collapse and a rapid, weak pulse means the dog is already in trouble.

If you suspect GDV, go to an emergency vet immediately — do not wait to see if it settles, do not try to make the dog vomit, do not give anything by mouth. Call ahead so the team can prepare; radiographs and emergency stabilisation need to happen within minutes of arrival, and surgery usually follows.

Prevention: for at-risk breeds, discuss a prophylactic gastropexy (tacking the stomach to the abdominal wall) — often done at the same time as desexing. Feed two or three smaller meals rather than one large one, avoid vigorous exercise for an hour after eating, and use slow-feeder bowls for dogs that gulp.

Time is the single biggest factor in outcome. A dog that reaches surgery within an hour or two of the stomach twisting has a good prognosis; one that arrives hours later does not.