Elective Gastropexy on a dog with a high bloat risk?

[SAcres]

My dog is a 4-year-old Akita mix. Big, deep-chested, and prone to digestive issues. He’s given me a few scares in the past presenting with symptoms commonly associated with bloat…dry retching, uncomfortableness, pacing, panting heavily, refusal to eat. He’s been at the emergency vet before and the vet has been concerned that he could have been starting to bloat, but nothing has ever escalated (thankfully), or actually been diagnosed as bloat.

In researching bloat prevention I came across gastropexy to prevent torsion if the dog were to bloat. It seems like this procedure is performed quite frequently on high-risk dogs, but most commonly during spay/neuter, or after bloat has actually occurred.

I guess I’m just looking for some opinions on the surgery as an elective for a dog that has never actually bloated, but seems to be at a higher risk. I do plan to discuss this with my vet, but he is older, more traditional, and based on past experience is unlikely to recommend this type of surgery unless absolutely necessary.

I hate the idea of doing a surgery that is not necessary, but knowing that it could prevent major problems down the road and potentially save my dog’s life makes it seem worth it.

TIA

[Townsend]

I have Standard Poodles, also a high-risk breed for bloat. Many, many years ago I lost my first one to bloat/torsion at 13, she was not a surgical candidate at that point. Having been through it, I can tell you it is a horrible experience. My second one did not have a pexy since no one really discussed it back then. My current girls are 11 and 6. Both had a prophylactic gastropexy at the time they were spayed. I do a lot of performance with my dogs and for various reasons let them have a heat before spaying them. They typically don’t come into heat until they are well over a year and I waited a couple months after so they were done around 21 months or so. I would not want to do a pexy on a dog whose stomach was not fully grown. Neither had any issues with the surgery and haven’t had any since. While a tacked dog can still bloat, which is still an extreme emergency needing immediate vet care, they should not torsion and will buy you some precious extra time in getting to the vet an having a favorable outcome. Frankly, I am amazed at how many Standard owners are not aware of their propensity for bloat, and also of the gastropexy procedure.

[Houndhill]

I have a friend who breeds large breed sighthounds. Over the years she had at least a couple of dogs she owned, and a couple more she bred that lived with other people, bloat and have torsion. Now, when her dogs are one year old, she has her vet do a laparoscopic gastropexy, and most of her puppy people do the same. Her vet is an excellent surgeon who has done many of these procedures, and her dogs have not had complications, although they must be kept quiet for some time after the surgery.

if your vet does not do this procedure routinely, I would find one who does, and perhaps consider having it done laparoscopicly since your dog will not be having any other surgery. Maybe there is a Specialty practice or vet school nearby you could take him to, where there is a surgeon who is experienced with this procedure.

if you think your dog is at high risk for it, I would certainly consider it. Then you would have one less thing to worry about.

[SAcres]

Thank you for the input. He is prone to little stomach issues, and with his breed/size, it definitely concerns me. My vet is older and I doubt he would be able to do the surgery laparoscopically, but we do have a major vet school about an hour away, so that would probably be a possibility. I hate the idea of putting my dog through surgery but I know I will seriously regret not doing it if he every bloats and twists.

Thanks!

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

My big dog has a family history of bloat, so we had a prophylactic pexy done when he was neutered.

My local vets charged the same amount for a prophylactic procedure as they charged for an emergency pexy ($1700-$4000), and the majority I called were not able to do the laparoscopic procedure. I ended up taking him to Purdue’s teaching hospital, and paid maybe $600 for the neuter and lap pexy together.

The recovery is not easy (and I imagine non-lap would be harder), but IMO the procedure is WELL WORTH the peace of mind.