Dog Upset Stomach
Dog Gastric Dilatation Syndrome

What is Twisted Dog Stomach? Gastric dilatation and volvulus syndrome (GDV), known as bloat or twisted upset stomach; is a serious illness, depending on if it's a dilatation, a partial torsion or total stomach torsion, and it endangers the animal critically. It occurs more often on dogs that weigh above 25 kilograms, since the abdominal cavity is wider and the stomach is much less compressed by other organs.

How stomach problems are produced? During digestion, the stomach – due to a series of factors- rotates on itself, making the blood circulation partially or completely interrupted, which inevitably leads to death if the accumulated gases are not expelled from the animal's body. See this stomach diagram and parts of a dog.

What triggers Gastric Dilatation? Precipitated digestion followed by an inadequately large consumption of water, several times directly after mild or extenuating exercise create an exaggerated production of gases which the stomach can't get rid of that quick. The animal, feeling uncomfortable, insists on consuming water, dilating the stomach even more, until it partially or completely rotates on itself, closing all chances for the gases to escape, which unchains the surplus of gastric juices and the cycle to restart.

How do you deal with dog stomach carcinomas? When it is detected in time, usually some general treatment can help the animal evacuate the accumulated gases; in case the stomach's rotation is partial or even more so, complete, an immediate intervention is required to restore the stomach to its original position and therefore avoid the animal's probable death.

How stomach maladies are prevented?

• Make sure your animal doesn't exercise one hour prior to and even two hours after each meal
• Controlling the water consumption right before each meal and preventing your animal from drinking large quantities every time
• When your animal runs hereditary risk of this illness, distribute the daily portion of food in two or three meals, regarding the nightly portion (right before the dog goes to sleep) to be the most abundant one
• Give your animal high quality products, avoiding daily portions that exceed 500 – 600 grams for a large dog
• Maintaining discrete observation of your dog during the next hour or so after each meal.