When a dogs stomach flips what happens?

Answer 1

This condition is called gastric torsion and occurs in larger dogs after a heavy meal followed by vigorous movements, like playing. The stomach is suspended from the dorsal part of the abdominal cavity, so it just kind of hangs there freely. When the stomach is full, it will swing more easily and eventually start turning around it's longitudinal axis and starts twisting at the esophagus and duodenum.

The degree of torsion varies from 90 degrees to a full 360. This not only closes the stomach off to the esophagus and duodenum, but also the blood vessels get strangled in the process.

The stomach wall fills up with blood and becomes congested. At the same time, fermentation of the feed in the stomach continues and gas is produced, leading to a bloated stomach. The stomach becomes so big that the whole abdominal cavity becomes as tight as a drum and will eventually rupture. Because the spleen is attached to the stomach, it will follow its movements and becomes congested as well. The animal might look a little pale and become lethargic, because a lot of its blood supply can be stored in these two organs. The dog won't be able to eat as the feed is vomited back up again.

As the stomach becomes bigger, it will eventually start pressing on the diaphragm and inhibit respiration as this is the most essential respiratory muscle. The thoracic cavity becomes smaller and the lungs become compressed as a result. The animal dies of respiratory failure.

This is a very acute case and death can occur as early as a few hours after the torsion has taken place. Seeking veterinary care is essential as early as possible!

Treatment is done via surgery. The stomach is turned around to its original position and attached to the wall of the abdominal cavity to prevent this in the future via sutures. Prevention: Give your dog smaller portions several times a day and try to keep them calm for around an hour or more after a meal. Cold water should also not be given since this can cause cramping of the stomach.

Answer 2

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+1571&aid=402 What is bloat? Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is also known as "bloat," "stomach torsion," or "twisted stomach. GDV is an extremely serious condition, and should be considered a life-threatening emergency when it occurs. Dogs can die of bloat within several hours. Even with treatment, as many as 25-33% of dogs with GDV die. The gastric dilatation is one part of the condition and the volvulus or torsion is the second part. In bloat, due to a number of different and sometimes unknown reasons, the stomach fills up with air and puts pressure on the other organs and diaphragm. This makes it difficult for the dog to breathe, and compresses large veins in the abdomen, thus preventing blood from returning to the heart. Filled with air, the stomach can easily rotate on itself, thus pinching off the blood supply. Once this rotation (volvulus) occurs and the blood supply is cut off, the stomach begins to die and the entire blood supply is disrupted and the animal's condition begins to deteriorate very rapidly. Not all dogs that have a gas buildup and resultant dilatation develop the more serious and life threatening volvulus. However, almost all dogs that have a volvulus develop it as a result of a dilatation. GDV is a very serious and life threatening condition. Understanding the signs, prevention, and need for prompt treatment will help reduce the risk of mortality if your dog develops this problem.

Answer 3

The exact mechanics are not well described, but the overall sequence is something like this:

1. The dog rapidly fills his stomach with something heavy, usually from drinking too much water too fast or eating his food too fast.

2. The stomach is only tethered at two points - the esophagus and the pylorus, which is where the small intestines start. The heavy stomach sinks and starts to act like the pendant of a necklace, swaying back and forth against these two fixed points.

3. With moderate to intense exercise, or rolling/playing, the heavy stomach starts to swing further and further. Eventually the stomach swings far enough to drop back over itself, twisting around the the two fixed points.

4. At this point the inflow and outflow of the stomach are cut off, and blood and nerve supply are compromised. This hurts like crazy, which often causes the dog to start wriggling, twisting and trying to relieve the pressure and pain, which can cause the stomach to twist further on itself.

This is a life-threatening medical emergency, and can only be fixed through surgery to untwist the stomach. The faster the dog gets into surgery, the less damage and tissue death there is and the better chances the dog has of surviving surgery and recovery.

Answer 4

Sometimes dogs eat weird stuff so it could mean they are just digesting something. It could also be from eating too fast or eating and then running around and could upset their stomach. Usually it is not a bad thing, but if you notice it getting louder, occuring more, or etc. you should probably see a vet to make sure their digestive system is still working O.K. Another thing could be their food so you could also ask the vet about that.

Answer 5

What kind of question is that of course they do every dog will get stomach ache at some point in theyre lives

Answer 6

I've heard that the vets. think the dog's stomach twists because they ate or drank to fast. If that happens top your dog then take him or her to the vet right away.