Gastropexy

At West Ridge Animal Hospital, we prioritize preventative care to ensure your beloved companions live long, healthy lives.

For many large and giant breed dogs, Gastropexy is one of the most important preventative surgeries we recommend.

What is GDV or "Bloat"?

Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV), commonly known as bloat, is a sudden, life-threatening condition where a dog's stomach fills with gas (dilatation) and then twists on its axis (volvulus). This twist cuts off blood supply to the stomach and other vital organs, leading to rapid shock and, if not treated immediately, death.

How Gastropexy Saves Lives

A Gastropexy is a surgical procedure that permanently attaches the stomach to the abdominal wall. By "anchoring" the stomach in its correct position, the procedure prevents the stomach from twisting, even if it were to become bloated with gas.

While it does not prevent the gas buildup (dilatation), it virtually eliminates the fatal twisting (volvulus) that makes bloat so dangerous.

When is the Best Time for Gastropexy?

We typically perform Gastropexy in two ways:

• Preventative (Elective): This is the gold standard for high-risk breeds. We often perform this procedure at the same time as a spay or neuter. Doing it electively while your dog is already under anesthesia is safer, more cost-effective, and provides peace of mind for the rest of your dog's life.

• Emergency: If a dog is currently experiencing a GDV episode, a Gastropexy is performed during the emergency life-saving surgery to prevent the condition from ever happening again.

Is My Dog at Risk?

While any dog can experience bloat, deep-chested, large, and giant breeds are significantly more predisposed. We strongly recommend discussing a preventative Gastropexy if you own:

• Great Danes (the highest-risk breed)

• German Shepherds

• Standard Poodles

• Irish Wolfhounds

• Greyhounds

• Saint Bernards

• Mastiffs / Bullmastiffs

• Weimaraners

• Doberman Pinschers

• Labradors

• Boxers

• Basset Hounds

• Akitas

• Irish Setters

• Old English Sheepdogs

Modern Surgical Techniques

At West Ridge Animal Hospital, we use advanced surgical approaches to maximize safety, minimize discomfort, and support faster recovery.

​

• Preventive gastropexy procedures are performed using a laparoscopic-assisted approach. This allows us to create a secure incisional gastropexy through smaller incisions, resulting in less tissue trauma and quicker healing.

• Emergency gastropexy procedures for conditions such as gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) are performed via a traditional open abdominal approach, which is necessary to fully assess and correct life-threatening changes within the abdomen.

• An incisional gastropexy may also be added to other abdominal surgeries (such as foreign body removal or exploratory surgery) when appropriate, helping reduce the risk of GDV in the future while your pet is already undergoing surgery.

Schedule a Consultation

If you have a high-risk breed, don’t wait for an emergency to happen. During your next wellness exam, ask our veterinary team if a preventative Gastropexy is right for your dog.

Would you like us to help you determine if your dog's breed is a high-risk candidate? Contact us today to speak with our surgical team.