Meet Featured Pet, Dude! An Island Animal Hospital Gastropexy Surgery Patient

Gastropexy is a preventative surgery against a very dangerous occurrence called Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (GDV), commonly called bloat. Bloat happens when the stomach fills with gas and rotates. This rotation can cut off circulation to the stomach and spleen.

Bloat quickly turns into a surgical emergency as the dog goes into shock, and if not treated quickly enough, can be fatal. Any dog can experience bloat, but dogs at highest risk are typically active, large dogs with a deep chest such as Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Boxers, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, and more.

To prevent this dangerous rotation, a gastropexy procedure can be performed. During this procedure, the stomach is permanently attached to the abdominal wall to stop the stomach from rotating. There are several methods for the gastropexy surgery but Island Animal Hospital offers two types: incisional and endoscopic.

Incisional gastropexy involves a traditional abdominal incision. The endoscopic procedure uses a tiny camera on a long skinny tube that is inserted into the abdomen through the mouth or small abdominal incisions.

Endoscopic procedures are generally less painful, have smaller incisions, and quicker recovery times than incisional procedures. Dude underwent an endoscopic gastropexy with Doctors Erin and Matt Coris. If you are interested in learning more about gastropexy or endoscopic procedures, speak with your Island Animal Hospital veterinarian today.