Bee’s Gastropexy/Neuter

What is a gastropexy?

Surgery to prevent gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), commonly known as bloat. GDV is when the stomach fills with gas and twists on itself; thereby, blood circulation is cut off and can lead to death. In a preventative gastropexy procedure, the surgeon stitches the stomach lining to the abdominal wall. So, even if the stomach fills with gas, it cannot twist and cut off blood supply due to the suture. This can be lifesaving.

What dogs are at risk?

GDV most commonly impacts dogs with large chest cavities: retrievers, great Danes, st. bernards, etc. However, our doctor told us that she had seen it in all kinds of dogs, even as small as a bulldog. So, please talk to your veterinarian to know your dog’s risk.

How does a dog get bloat/GDV?

The most common way that bloat occurs is from eating too fast or exercising after eating. This is why a lot of people use slow feeders. To prevent bloat on an everyday level, it is recommended to not exercise after eating.

Neuter vs. Spay?

Bee is a boy, so he needed a neuter which is an external procedure. However, if your dog is female, we recommend you 100% discuss a gastropexy with your doctor. This is because, for a spay, the surgeon is already in the cavity to do the gastropexy at the same time. Not only does this compress cost, but the recovery will also be the same as if they had only gotten a spay. Since Bee got neutered, his recovery was very different than if he had just gotten a neuter.

Why do the procedure?

We cannot speak to each dog; however, we recommend discussing the procedure with your veterinarian. We understand that not everyone is in a financial situation to do an elective procedure. We also understand why people say it is not worth it for something rare. However, the gastropexy gives peace of mind. I rest easy knowing that Bee cannot die of bloat. And if I had not gotten this procedure, I would be constantly afraid of the possibility. I see it as the same as vaccines in humans. The risk of getting sick might not be high, but why not make it zero? Why not do everything in your power to help your dog live a long time? Marley in Marley & Me died of bloat. I saw a dog die of bloat while working in veterinary clinics. Once the stomach flips, it becomes very hard to un-flip and save the dog. I want to do everything in my power to have Bee live a long, happy life, and getting a gastropexy was always part of that plan.

Laparoscopic vs. Standard procedure?

The debate of laparoscopic v standard procedure was the hardest part for me in regards to Bee’s surgery. I talked to over 4 hospitals while making my decision. The two options have tradeoffs, so I will describe my understanding of the two below. I was willing to pay for the laparoscopic procedure despite the large cost. However, ultimately, we decided to do it standard because we liked our hospital that did it standard more than the laparoscopic hospital. This was a huge factor for me. Our hospital addressed all of my concerns and questions. They gave me updates on how Bee was doing throughout the day. They made me feel that Bee was safe in their hands. Although the laparoscopic procedure is less invasive, there is a tradeoff of filling the stomach with gas. They do this during the laparoscopic procedure to get ahold of the stomach lining. The surgeons explained to me that this is the most painful part of the procedure. Often, the dog needs to be kept overnight to monitor their pain levels due to this. In the standard procedure, they do not fill the stomach with gas. Although the recovery time is shorter, the initial pain post-procedure is higher for laparoscopic. So, we ultimately decided to do the procedure non-laparoscopically. We recommend doing research and speaking with a variety of surgeons to know what is best for your dog.