Gastric dilation / torsion

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This is one of the causes of abdominal distension and is an emergency. It most commonly occurs in large breeds of dog following a meal and the abdomen swells rapidly (within hours). Initially the stomach becomes distended with gas resulting in a gastric dilation. The dog becomes breathless and distressed because of the pressure on the diaphragm and other organs. The swollen stomach may then rotate within the abdomen to produce a gastric torsion. The abdomen becomes very tense – like a drum. If uncorrected the dog will die in great distress within a couple of hours.

What your veterinarian will want to know

When did you first notice the abdominal swelling?
When the dog was last fed?

What your veterinarian may do

This is an emergency situation that requires the dog being taken to the clinic without delay.
The diagnosis can often be made on clinical examination, though the gas filled stomach can be seen on an X ray. Depending on the extent of the swelling, the priority is to decompress the stomach. This may be done under anaesthesia by passing a tube into the stomach (though this may not be possible in the case of a torsion), or by passing a needle through the wall of the abdomen into the stomach. 

A gastric torsion needs to be corrected surgically – the stomach being un-twisted to its normal position. The surgery is not without significant risk as the stomach wall can have become severely damaged during the torsion.
Once returned to its normal position, it is common to fix the stomach to the inside of the abdominal wall to prevent a further torsion.