62 Saber Tails Spring 2016
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen Club of America
2015 AKC Canine Health Foundation Conference
by Laura Liscum on behalf of the PBGVCA Health Committee
In August, the AKC Canine Health Foundation (CHF)
sponsored the 2015 National Parent Club Canine Health
Conference in St. Louis, MO. Linda Murray and I attended
the conference on behalf of the PBGVCA and the PBGV
Health and Rescue Foundation, respectively. We both
thought that it was a fabulous experience, with excellent
talks, abundant opportunities to interact with the speak-
ers, and lots of free dog chow! Here is the second of two
Saber Tails articles describing the presentations that we
heard at the conference.
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus
Big Problems for Big Dogs
Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), or bloat, is a rapidly
progressive condition that can threaten the life of your
dog. Both inherited and environmental factors cause
dogs to be susceptible to GDV. GDV typically occurs in
large or giant breed dogs after a large meal, when the
stomach dilates because of food and gas. Increased pres-
sure within the stomach may interfere with blood flow,
cause rupture of the stomach wall, and press upon the
diaphragm, which limits normal breathing. Even worse,
the dilated stomach can rotate in the abdomen, which
is called volvulus, leading to blockage of blood flow to
the stomach and spleen. A dog experiencing GDV may
initially be restless and unable to settle. The dog will
pace, hunch over, attempt to vomit, and may be unable
to stand. Left untreated, the condition can rapidly lead to
shock and death.
Dr. Laura Nelson, from Michigan State University, ex-
plained that the large or giant deep-chested breeds are
at even higher risk if they have a first degree relative
(parent, sibling, offspring) who has been afflicted with
GDV, or if they are fed one large meal per day. Dogs who
are fearful or nervous also have a higher risk of develop-
ing GDV. Once it was thought that raising the dog’s water
bowl could lower the risk of GDV, but that is no longer
thought to be the case. There are no clear-cut guidelines
for preventing GDV (with one exception, below) because
the causes are unknown. Does the increased pressure in
the stomach come from gulped air or bacterial fermenta-
tion? Does the stomach bloat before it flips or flip before
it bloats? Do susceptible dogs have altered gastric motil-
ity? Dr. Nelson is testing the hypothesis that the move-
ment of material from the stomach to small intestine
is slower in dogs that have had GDV. She measured
stomach emptying in 80 dogs who cheerfully swallowed
a small SmartPill that measures and wirelessly transmits
data to a computer on the acidity and temperature in
the dog’s stomach, the pressure within the stomach, and
time of transit. Early results indicate that dogs who have
had GDV have slower gastric emptying and a less acidic
stomach. She hopes to identify biomarkers that will
indicate that a dog is high risk for this life-threatening
condition.
Actually there is one way to prevent GDV; that is a
surgical procedure called gastropexy. In gastropexy,
the stomach is tacked to the abdominal wall so that it
cannot twist. Gastropexy is recommended in dogs who
have already suffered the condition. It is also recom-
mended prophylactically in dogs with a family history of
GDV.
Dr. Elizabeth Rozanski, from Tufts University Cummings
School of Veterinary Medicine is an emergency and
critical care specialist who educates dog owners on the
need to act quickly if their dogs are exhibiting the signs
of GDV. She said that dogs with clinical signs who go
untreated more than 5 hrs have very poor outcomes. It
is critical to get an affected dog to the hospital where
X-rays can be taken and the dog whisked into surgery if
GDV is found. Of dogs who reach the emergency room
with GDV, 20% are euthanized without treatment due to
their advanced age, other chronic diseases that are pres-
ent, or to the estimated cost of treatment. Forty percent
are treated and recover quickly, whereas another 20%
recover but take longer to bounce back because their
GDV was more advanced. Sadly, 20% die or are eutha-
nized during the emergency operation or soon after
because intervention came too late. Dr. Rozanski said
that a complicated case of GDV can cost from $2,000 to
$8,000 to treat! So please trust your instincts and take
your dog to the hospital if s/he is in distress.
You can read about the AKC CHF’s Bloat Initiative here:
http://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/top-health-con-
cerns/bloat/