You’ve probably heard of a torsion in the stomach. It is rightly feared by dog owners.
In order to be able to react properly in an emergency, you need to know how to recognize the signs of a torsion in the stomach in dogs.
In this article you will find out which symptoms you have to look out for and what to do.
recognize symptoms: Signs of gastric torsion in dogs
If a dog has a torsion, there are several signs you can use to recognize it:
- Heavy salivation
- Increasing restlessness
- The dog whines and moans
- Pale oral mucosa
- Unproductive vomiting
- Bloated stomach (usually occurs late)
- Shortness of breath (usually occurs late)
- circulatory collapse
Danger!
A gastric torsion in a dog is always an absolute emergency. The animal must be treated immediately.
Contact your vet to see if he can perform the surgery or not Report your dog immediately to the nearest veterinary clinic at.
Stomach torsion in dogs: how quickly do the first symptoms appear?
Gastric torsion is not a sudden event, which is why the symptoms are delayed and unspecific.
The dog is usually restless. He paces back and forth, hanging his head.
A constant change of position can often be observed. The dog runs, stands, lies down and gets up again.
Again and again the dog will choke and try to vomit. But the esophagus is constricted by the twisted stomach.
Later on, the dog shows a bloated stomach.
The circulatory system is also affected. The mucous membranes are then no longer pink, but pale.
First aid for a torsion in the stomach
A torsion is always an emergency. There is no such thing as a slight stomach twist.
If your dog has a gastric torsion, it is quick action asked. Because only a few hours can decide between the life and death of your dog.
The best course of action is when you don’t waste time and yours Dog to the vet immediately bring
Good to know
Don’t even attempt first aid if you suspect your dog has a torsion. you can’t do anything.
Contact a veterinarian immediately or take your dog to the animal hospital.
How does the treatment at the vet work?
An x-ray is used to determine whether there is a torsion in the stomach.
If the suspicion is confirmed, immediate emergency surgery initiated.
The dog gets a vein access via the front legs. With an infusion cycle stabilized become.
That’s how he can fatal shock be avoided.
If the stomach is very bloated, an attempt is made to deflate it. This is done with a puncture.
During the operation, the abdominal cavity is opened. The stomach is then emptied and placed in the correct position.
Then the veterinarian can assess to what extent parts of the stomach have already died. This is crucial for the chance of survival.
If the blood supply is interrupted for too long, the organs die quickly.
If the damage is too great, the vet will treat the dog due to the torsion of the stomach put to sleep.
However, if the chances of survival are good, the stomach is attached to the abdominal wall to prevent it from rotating again.
Surgery costs for a gastric torsion in the dog
In addition to worrying about the dog, you should not underestimate the cost of such an operation.
Depending on where and what time of day you have your dog operated on, you have to reckon with €1,000 and more. The price is based on the scale of fees for veterinarians.
The vet will advise you of the cost of the gastric torsion prior to the procedure.
What are the chances of surviving a gastric torsion?
As you already know, starts at a Gastric torsion a race against time.
The chance of surviving a gastric torsion depends on how much time your dog has left.
If you see the signs and Identify symptoms early and bring your dog to the veterinary clinic immediately, the chances are good.
Left untreated, the dog will die from gastric torsionas the internal organs die off.
During the emergency surgery, around 20% of the dogs have to be euthanized because of major organ damage that has already occurred. Even after the operation, the survival of the animal is not yet assured.
If the dog has survived the operation, the follow-up care should not be underestimated in the event of a torsion in the stomach.
The fur nose will stay in the clinic for up to 72 hours. Cardiac arrhythmias can occur even after the operation has been completed.
Causes of gastric torsion
Any dog, regardless of breed or age, can experience torsion.
However, the risk is higher in large dogs. It also continues to increase with age.
How exactly gastric torsion occurs has not yet been clearly clarified.
It is believed that the stomach does not have enough support between the esophagus and the intestines. With fast movements, the stomach can then move around its own axis.
Can I prevent gastric torsion?
There are often tips that a dog should not romp after eating.
You may be wondering how long after eating is there a risk of stomach torsion. It is usually advised to let the dog rest for two hours after eating.
It is also advisable not to feed too large portions, but rather to divide the amount of food into two or three meals a day.
However, the effectiveness of this precaution has not been proven. Dogs can also experience gastric torsion on an empty stomach.
The only way that protects against gastric torsion is surgical. Because the stomach must be sewn to the abdominal wall to prevent gastric torsion.
This is done in dogs undergoing surgery for acute gastric torsion.
But even if you have an endangered dog breed, you can have this procedure done. This is useful if your dog is having routine surgery, such as a spay.
Conclusion
For good reason, stomach torsion is feared by many dog owners. Because the survival of the dog can only be saved with a quick operation.
You can recognize a torsion in the stomach when your dog becomes restless, whimpers, tries in vain to vomit, salivates a lot, its mucous membranes are pale and its stomach gradually bloats.
Anyone who does not recognize the signs of stomach torsion in time loses valuable time.
Have you taken out surgical insurance for your dog for such emergencies?