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Pet of the Month – December
by on December 3rd, 2012
Category: Pet of the Month, Tags:
Dudley has made a most amazing recovery from that dreaded condition, bloat. Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), commonly called bloat, is an emergency medical condition that is seen most commonly in large and giant breed dogs. This is a life-threatening situation that occurs when the stomach fills with gas and/or food, expands, and then rotates, trapping gas inside the stomach and cutting off blood supply to the stomach and spleen. As pressure in the stomach builds up and cannot be released, the stomach tissue becomes necrotic (dies) and the stomach can even rupture. The expansion of the stomach also has a serious effect on the heart and lungs, causing difficulty breathing and abnormal heart rhythm. Most dogs will go into shock soon after the signs of GDV are seen. Death can occur within a matter of hours (or less). The most common signs of GDV include the following:
- Distended (bloated) abdomen
- Unproductive retching / heaving
- Extreme lethargy
Dudley’s bloat was so bad that not only did his stomach need decompressing but his spleen also needed to be removed, which in turn necessitated a blood transfusion. We are thrilled to report that he is now back to his normal charming self!
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