Prophylactic Gastropexy (Stomach attachment) - Page 1

I wrote previously about my GSD being crytorchid and I am having him neutered in the near future.  This will require abdominal surgery similar to spaying a female dog and during the surgery, my vet strongly recommends prophylactic gastropexy to prevent the stomach from flipping in the future.  I was wondering if anyone has had this procedure done to their dog and if there were any adverse effects.  It seems like a good idea but I just wanted to check.

Go ahead with the gastroplexy.just this morning a good friend lost a dog to bloat and hardly 3 weeks ago a Dobermann was detected early enough by observant kennel help so the insertion of the tube solved the problem for the moment but remember there's nothing stopping it from recurring.I definitely agree with your vet.My Multi BIS winner was in the lead to win the Eukanuba Cup when one and a half hours after the BIS it happened so an emergency surgery at 2.30am saved his life.Okay so helost the Eukanuba Cup which was almost for certain his.A top Pomeranian handler in America has lost so many of his clients' dogs to bloat that now any dog he specials must have its stomach tacked to the ribcage.Just go ahead and do it.It is believed that  bloat is caused by food fermenting in the stomach after it mixes with the ingested water and swells up.I find it can be triggered by stress.Some lines have a greater susceptability to bloat than others.Just go with your vet.

Dev

Please note, the name of the procedure is gastropexy. There is no letter - l - in it. The suffix -pexy means 'fixation' whereas the suffix -plexy  means 'stroke' or 'seizure'.

Definitely have it done. Your dog can still bloat but the stomach won't be able to twist and the dog has a much better chance of survival.

 I had a prophylactic gastropexy done on my Shepherd when she was spayed at two years old.   She recovered just fine, and I definitely think it is worth it.  Here's why: I had two Shepherds bloat and nearly die, both in the middle of the night, requiring emergency surgery at $2000 each.  I'm glad they lived, but it looked dodgy for a while.  So from now on, all of my German Shepherds will have a prophylactic gastropexy done when they are young and healthy.  

To me, this would bethe equivalent of having a prophylactic mastectomy to prevent breast cancer in humans. Not all women with breast cancer require a mastectomy.

Besides, there seems to be a genetic component to bloat. I wouldn't do prophlactic surgery in bloodlines where bloat is rare or unknown. Most of us do not subject young dogs to elective abdominal surgeries anyhow. I have never had a male with a cryporchid neuter.The only bitches I have had spayed have been beyond their reproductive years. One of them was euthanized 5 years later with hemangiosarcoma. The other developed lung cancer (metastasized from mammary cancer).

How the heck much does a prophylactic gastropexy cost? Probably at least $800? I used to work with a vet who did them--25 years ago.

I think if you're going to subject the dog to anesthesia for a first surgical procedure it's not a bad idea to do the gastropexy, especially if the abdominal cavity is going to be opened anyway. I'm assuming the dog has a retained testicle that necessitates going beyond the pelvic area? I would perhaps request an ultrasound to confirm the whereabouts of the testicle first, before I would authorize an exploratory into the abdominal cavity. But if you already know this must be done, then certainly it's better to accomplish both procedures so the dog is only exposed to the risks associated with surgery & anesthesia once. Best of luck to you both. jackie harris

I am considering this for 2 of my dogs.  I had asked my vet about it when I spayed my females Falon and Molly, however he did not think it was necessary.  In the last year, Falon bloated two times both around midnight.  I was able to get her to the er vet before her stomach flipped.  These incdients happened about 10 months apart.  In September, my 9 year old bloated and stomach flipped.  Luckily I got her to the er in time and she is ok.  In July, my 4 year old female - Molly, bloated, stomach did not flip.  Each incident where they bloated and did not flip the treatment was about $700.00.  Libby's surgery was $2800.00, so in the last year I had to come up with $4,900 to pay for this.  I have changed food, feeding schedules, water intact, exercise habits etc.  Falon's second er trip was about 2 weeks ago.   The Xray showed that the food was still sitting, undigested in her stomach - 6.5 hours after eating. 

My biggest fear is that this will happen one day when I am away on business and my dog sitter will not recognize it fast enough and I lose one of them to it.  I feel like is only a matter of time before one of them bloats again. 

Now I am just trying to figure out if it is worth putting them under ahead of time or do I wait and have it done if they end up needing another surgery.

It just might be worth the peace of mind.

Cheryl

Cheryl, What a nightmare for you! I'd have it done...the way it's going for it would be a money saving procedure...& possibly a life-saving one as well!
I am very grateful that only 1 of my dogs, Ansgar, has had recurrent gut troubles. She has had her bowel plicated, but not her stomache, to my knowledge. But maybe that is enough. Last time she got ill, she sorted herself out with out much intervention from the vet. An x-ray, some SQ fluids, & a couple of scripts & she was Ok, back on a bland boiled chicken & rice diet. She has that attractive Czech-dog build that I personally think contributes to these gut problems; a very deep chest with a narrow pelvic outlet..torso shaped like a >...! She's a darling, I had great plans for her, but now she's 'just' a pet. No need to pass along these troubles to future generations. **sigh** jackie harrisShe standing a little off kilter in this picture, but you can see the extreme difference between her chest & her 'waist'. jh

Recently I have had contact with so many people that their dogs have bloated.  One of the woman I train with had her dog bloat a few months after Libby.  Her dog was 8.  She told me that the reason she got her to the vet so fast was because of hearing about what had happend to my dogs.  My neighbors sister lost her gsd 2 months ago as she did not know what it was.  Two of my brothers shepherds bloated at 3 years old.  They also were able to get them to the vet in time and are ok know.  It is scarey how many do not make it so I am very lucky.  It was just amazing how fast Libby's flipped.  I am only about 5 mintues away from my vets office and they have their own er, so I can get them there quickly. 

My boss's sisters golden bloated and died before Christmas. 

I have to take Brenna in for her annual check up next month.  I will ask about having this done.  Falon will be 8 in April and is very healthy now.  Just don't want this to be an issue a few years from now when that is not the case.  Molly has alot of other health issues so more nervous about putting her under, although right now we have her epi and sibo under control.  May be the best time to have this done.

I was not aware of a body type being more prone to bloating.  Libby and Falon are from a mix of lines - American, German show line, etc.  Molly is german showlines.  They are on different food as well. 

C

I don't know if anything is proven, although I have heard that deep chested dogs are more prone to bloat. I do not know if any particular lines are more prone to it than any other, it is just my personal theory, & I don't mean to disparage Czech lines, in fact, I love them! I just seem to see more dogs with the same body type as my girls in the Czech lines, she herself is 1/4 Czech, with lines from Grim z PS through the Gymor females. Just my personal experience, the dog I have with the deepest chest is the one that has had the issue, repeatedly. My others have not, knock on wood! I sure hope you don't have to repeat that experience ever again, my nerves would be shot by this point! jackie harris