Comments on: GDV

By: Brigitte Smith

Brigitte Smith — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 05:56:02 +0000

Gale,

I’m sorry to hear about your dog. No wonder you’re worried.

The fact that the vet allowed her to go home, though, must be a good sign.

Why are you not allowing her to drink? Did the vet tell you to withhold the water? That sounds strange to me (not that I’m a vet – as you know I am NOT, and I have no veterinary training whatsoever).

So far as I am aware, food is not essential for short periods, but water always is.

With the food, I would be feeding fresh food if I were you. And if you’re having trouble getting her to take food, then get some Slippery Elm Bark powder. Mix a teaspon of it in water and see if she will lick it. If not, get a large syringe (e.g. 30 mls) and syringe it into her mouth every couple of hours. A holistic vet advised me that it contains many nutrients and will keep a dog alive for several days if it won’t eat anything. Additional water is essential, though.

Subcutaneous fluids is another option if you have been advised to withhold water, and I would use this if I were you at the first hint of dehydration.

If she’s not eating, then it’s not really surprising that there has been no bowel movement, but again, you should check this with your vet.

Hope it all goes well.

Regards,
Brigitte

By: gale Smith

gale Smith — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 02:27:37 +0000

My dog just had the gdv surgery and her spleen was removed. She did really well the first night and the second night she started vomiting. Her heart also started the arrhythmias, they put her on the heart meds and kept her on fluids. They started giving her food mush on the 3rd day but she wouldn’t eat. They let us come in and she ate a little for us. The vet decided to release her on the 4th day, once home she settled down, her breathing seems off and she has a runny nose. The last 2 nights she has had vomiting. I went and got a shot for her today, she is on the nausea meds already, plus pepsid and baytril, the vet said she has a little pneumonia. I have been feeding her small amounts of canned food, but I am having to force it down her. She wants water but I have withheld it for now. I am giving her only a couple of tablespoons at a time. I am also using essential oils to help with the pneumonia, I have also started patting her chest. I just read that there is a difference between vomiting and recurgitation. So some of what I thought was vomiting was actually regurgitation. She has always been a poor eater and has always had problems with her stomach. She is only 9 years old and was in good health until sunday a week ago 2/14/10. This happened suddenly and we got her to the vet quickly. She has food allergies to beef and poultry, which limits what I can get. I am open to any and all suggestions, I have thought about doing subcutaneous fluids instead of water, but she isn’t dehydrated.
She hasn’t had a bowel movement either since she has been home.
I am really worried. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate them. Thanks

By: Victoria Campbell

Victoria Campbell — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 23:25:06 +0000

My 3 year old Bloodhound Sandy Sue had surgery for this condition today. Got her in pretty quick but still waiting to see if possible tissue damage may affect her recovery. I haven’t found any symptoms listing excessive thirst but she was heavily drinking water last night and again early this morning which sort of clued me into something being wrong. Also, she refused to eat…never happens.

Vet told me that often is too late and that he doesn’t often see this condition. If I had waited and not reacted so quickly he said she would have had no chance. If you know your dog’s breed is prone to this condition be on the lookout. Will update with outcome but thought this was a good article.

By: Norine

Norine — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:48:40 +0000

Brigitte, I can’t believe you’ve never heard of GDV or more commonly known as Bloat. Sorry but it just surprises me, with al the other info you have in your newsletters. It’s quite common in deep chested dogs.

Glad to hear Kara came through it like she did!!

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:34:54 +0000

It is the condition I have read about called ‘torsion’ but I am so glad to now have a more comprehensive list of things to look out for. Thank you Brigitte. And best wishes to Kara and Judy’s GSD.

By: Tino

Tino — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 21:42:06 +0000

Well Done Kara!!!!Well done Brigitte!!!! Hope Kara is getting stronger day by day. I have heard of that condition once before. But never knew what it was called. About the gut twisting. Every day is a bonus and I hope Kara brings you happiness for a long time yet.

By: Judy Will

Judy Will — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:05:49 +0000

Oh man and I forgot to mention. I learned something new again the other day on that same GSD on line PF club. Animals can also torsion in the spleen and intestines, this is most always fatal.

By: Judy Will

Judy Will — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:03:08 +0000

Oh dear and I forgot to mention he had just eaten dry kibble crap when he torsioned as he had done for seven years. It never agreed with him so when I went to the homeopathic vet he suggested to feed raw meat and veggies. This has made a huge difference in his health. He always layed down and ate slowly unenthusiastically. He inhales it down standing excitedly since I feed him raw, now he eats like a common coyote too. Thanks for your informative health care magazine…Kudos to people who care about others and their animals…

By: Judy Will

Judy Will — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 16:55:06 +0000

Your story is similar to mine. Simba my seven year old German Shepherd started dry wretching and digging at the ground. Luckily I had belonged to an online German Shepherd club who’s dogs had perianal fistulas like mine who also talk about other topics. I had read about it before so when it happened I realized. Like you the vet was about three minutes away. I was alone with a heavy dog at midnight. Called the vet. Went in and the vet said he isn’t that bloated for it to be GVD and sent us home. Luckily I don’t listen very well and trust myself too. As soon as I got him back in the car he was dry wretching again he did this at the vets too. I marched back into the vets and asked for a xray, this comfirmed twisted stomach. He did the surgery and put a pexy band in so it would not happen again. He also made it through and slowly began to drink and eat. Then he did have heart problems and pus oozing from in between his toes and toe pads. I took him to another vet and he gave me little hope and about $600. of all kinds of drugs. He said he had really bad heart problems and most likely would die soon. He said this right in front of then six year old son, who had grown up with Simba. I went home read the internet all about the drugs and gave the drugs back to the vet. The vet said I treated my dog like a common coyote. I then went to an on line homeopathic vet who Rx a remedy for six months and he oozed and smelled from his undercarriage by his heart and then got better. I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes. Well it’s almost five years later since this has happened and he is still here. It’s amazing through all the PF, GVD, arrythimias. Now he has ear infections which I have tried homeopathics on and not able to fix this. I had to leave the vet on line because he was charging astronomical fees for six months and told me that it would most likely be for years like this so I stopped. He also has some infection close to one of his testes which doesn’t seem to heal. I try antibiotics it goes away but comes back in a little while. Well I am still with unsolved mysteries with him but he is still here at almost 12. Oh and I phoned and left a message with that vet saying I am glad that I treated my dog like a common coyote because he is still here at almost 12. I just couldn’t help it, I thought I deserved to gloat a little…