Bundi
the Boxer
by
Danielle Priestley DVM MRCVS
St Boniface Veterinary Clinic
Bundi's owner was surprised to be told to bring her
straight down to the surgery as a twisted stomach
was suspected and that emergency surgery may be
required to treat this life threatening condition.
On arrival, Bundi had very pale gums, an increased
heart rate, a swollen and painful abdomen and was
very flat and lethargic. Our working diagnosis was
still a twisted stomach at this point. It is also known
as a gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV). Bundi was in
shock and our priority was to stabilise her by placing
her on a drip with a line into both front legs. We then
confirmed our diagnosis with x-rays.
Sometimes it is possible to decompress the
stomach by placing a tube from the mouth, down
the oesophagus and into the stomach.
Unfortunately this was not the case for Bundi and so
she had to undergo emergency surgery to untwist
and empty the stomach. The stomach was then
attached to the body wall to prevent it rotating again.
Dogs with this condition are always compromised
prior to surgery and therefore anaesthesia can be
complicated and fraught with risk, but fortunately
Bundi remained stable throughout.
Although it took several days, Bundi's appetite
began to return and she steadily improved,
getting brighter every time she came in for her
post-operative checks. She is now fully recovered
and back to her old self.
Large breed, deep chested dogs
are predisposed to GDVs, but as
was the case for Bundi, quite often
there seems to be no inciting cause.
Prevention is not always possible,
but is based around avoiding
feeding around periods of exercise
and slowing down the speed
with which food is eaten as far
as is possible.
Bundi
is a 6 year old Boxer who came to us as an
emergency late one evening. Her owner called our
out of hours vet describing Bundi as having a swollen
stomach, panting and trying to vomit.