Does Anyone Know What GASTRIC DILATION VOLVULUS IS IN Dogs? MY Chihuahua Has It And Almost Died Friday.?

Question

I WROTE A QUESTION FRIDAY ABOUT MY CHIHUAHUA WHEEZING AND HAVING A HARD TIME BREATHING. ONE EYE WAS SWELLING ETC. I HAD GIVEN HER BENEDRYL THINKING IT WAS ALLERGIES. ALSO TOLD YOU HOW BAD SHE BITES WHEN TAKEN TO THE VET. TOOK HER TO VET ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER READING YOUR ANSWERS. LET ME SAY SHE BIT MY RIGHT ARM IN THREE PLACES JUST GETTING HER OUT OF THE CAR. MY VET PRETTY MUCH KNEW WHAT WAS WRONG. AFTER TWO CHEST XRAYS HE SHOWED THEM TO ME. I COULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT I SAW. HER STOMACH FILLED HER WHOLE ABDOMEN. IT WAS PUSHING HEART,LUNGS&ESOPHAGUS UP SHE HAD WHAT THEY CALL A "BLOAT" .HER STOMACH COULD HAVE TWISTED AT ANY SECOND WHICH IS CAUSE FOR EMERGENCY SURGERY. IT'S AIR THAT GETS IN STOMACH AND IS USALLY ALWAYS IN LARGE DOGS WITH BIG CHEST. HE WAS PRETTY SHOCKED TO SEE IT IN A CHIHUAHUA. SHE STAYED OVERNIGHT AND GOES BACK IN A.M. IT'S A SERIOUS SITUATION AND MOST LIKELY WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE IS A 50-50 CHANCE SHE WILL LOSE HER LIFE IF IT FLIPS OR DURING SURGRY. I AM SO SAD. PRAY

Answer 1

You are lucky. Most people do not know what it is and the delay in seeking emergency care will kill their dogs. It is not even clear exactly what causes bloat and GDV.

Older dogs and those with a nervous disposition may be more at risk as well as dogs who exhibit eating and digestion problems. You can feed smaller, more frequent meals during the day as large meals may be a trigger. I would also work on keeping her more calm and laid back in general.

http://www.metpet.com/Reference/Dogs/Health/Bloat%20in%20Dogs.htm

Answer 2

First of all-why are you asking this question if you took your pet to the vet? Who cares if your pet bites the vet, your pets health is more important and the vet is use to animals biting. Second of all if you pet is ill, take it to the vet immediately, no matter what is wrong or the cost may be. Benedryl is not the answer when your dog is weeehzing and swelling up. Maybe you being a pet owner should rethink the whole concept. Hope this helps!!

Answer 3

Once a dog develops bloat the chances it will happen again are pretty good.

When your dog goes in for surgery have them tack her stomach to the abdominal wall. This will help prevent her stomach from flipping.

Bloat is very scary, and very life threatening.

Good luck.

Here are some links about bloat, remember that while bloat can affect any dog, it more commonly affects large deep chested breeds, so you will see them mentioned frequently in any bloat information you find. just ignore that and read the information about the condition.

http://www.kifka.com/Elektrik/Bloat.htm
http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Sorry you had to go through this. Bloat & torsion are very serious. It can occur in any breed/mix although there are some breeds more prone to it then others.
Your case is exactly why people should NEVER self diagnose or self medicate.
As for your dog biting she needs some very serious training..there is absolutely NO NEED for any dog to act in this manner.

Answer 6

Sounds like you know exactly what GDV is. It's extremely serious and life threatening. Surgery is expensive and like you said, dangerous.

Prayer is always good.

Answer 7

I'm so sorry you and your dog have to go through this. She'll be in my thoughts.

Here are some links to read up on bloat:
http://www.addl.purdue.edu/newsletters/1999/fall/gdv.shtml
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1571&articleid=402