How a Preventative Gastropexy May Save your Dog’s Life

Gastropexy is a preventative surgery in at risk dogs that prevents the twisting of the stomach which is fatal if not treated immediately. The doctors at Ingersoll Animal Hospital in Des Moines now perform laparoscopic assisted gastropexy surgery to decrease the risk of torsion or “stomach twisting” while offering a faster and less painful recovery than a traditional open gastropexy. Bloat and Gastric Torsion (GDV) is one of the most frightening conditions a pet parent or vet will ever encounter. Bloat is a serious disorder that occurs when a dog’s stomach becomes bloated because it’s full of food, foreign material, excess gas, fluid, or foam. Sometimes bloat can be complicated by a deadly condition called gastric dilation/volvulus (GDV) or “stomach twisting.” This twisting does not allow anything in or out of the stomach. This disease has a very rapid onset and your dog can go from being healthy and happy one moment to in agony and pain with a swollen belly in the next moment. This is a true emergency and one where immediate treatment is critical. Even with immediate veterinary treatment death occurs in 10-16% of the cases. Much higher death rates occur in dogs not receiving immediate medical treatment. Bloating is more common in large breed dogs that are thought to have a genetically inherited weakness in the ligament that holds the stomach in the correct position. 22 to 24% of giant and large breed dogs will develop bloat or GDV in their lifetime. 42% of Great Danes will likely experience GDV. Preventative gastopexy surgery in at risk dogs works to prevents the twisting of the stomach which is fatal if not treated quickly. The stomach is sutured to the abdominal wall in order to prevent the stomach from twisting. By performing the preventative procedure laparoscopically it eliminates the need to perform open surgery which requires an opening of the abdominal wall of 6” to 12.” In Des Moines the Ingersoll Animal Vets can perform a laparoscopic gastropexy separately or at the time of a laparoscopic spay. Laparoscopic surgery offers much smaller incisions and decreased post operative pain. Smaller incisions are less painful and reduce recovery time.