We will be doing an interesting case segment each month to highlight some of the procedures that we see coming through the door. This first case is about a healthy dog who came in for preventive surgery. Dr. Ray performed a mini-lateral-approach gatropexy on a one-year-old Great Dane named Tank Anton. He had this procedure performed to protect him from the life-threatening complications of Gastric Dilation and Volvulus Syndrome (GDV). GDV (commonly known as bloat) is a condition where the stomach of a dog fills with air (Gastric Dilation) and has the potential to twist it's axis and cut off blood supply to the stomach (Volvulus). This results in acute pain, shock and, if not addressed withing a few hours, death. Deep-chested dogs such as Great Danes, St. Bernards, and German Shepherds are particularly susceptible to development of GDV. The Antons were all too aware of the possibility of bloat in their dogs, as they had already tragically lost a Great Dane to bloat. Not wanting to risk that with Tank, they scheduled a gastropexy with Dr. Ray. A gastropexy is simply a surgical procedure to attach the wall of the stomach to the inside of the abdominal cavity or rib cage. This will prevent a gas-filled stomach from rotating, which would necessitate emergency surgery. Tank's surgery went very well, and he's happy and healthy at home.
If you have a large or giant-breed dog and would like more information on this procedure, we would be happy to talk to you.
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