Bloat (GDV - Gastric Dilation-Volvulus)
Researched & Compiled by the PetAuthority Editorial Team
Clinical Data Sources: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center & Merck Veterinary Manual
These pages describe clinical possibilities and a Green, Yellow, or Red triage path. They do not diagnose an individual animal or replace an examination by a licensed veterinarian. Read the editorial standards.
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What is bloat (gdv - gastric dilation-volvulus)?
Bloat is a gas-filled stomach, and GDV means the stomach has twisted and cut off blood flow. Unproductive retching with a swelling abdomen is an emergency within 60 minutes in deep-chested dogs. Go to a hospital, and do not wait to see if it passes.
Bloat is a gas-filled stomach. In GDV the stomach also twists, which traps gas and cuts off blood flow. Deep-chested dogs are at higher risk, but any dog with unproductive retching and a swelling abdomen needs an emergency hospital now; this condition can become fatal within an hour.
What to Do in the Next 15 Minutes
What NOT to Do
- Do not give food, water, antacids, or simethicone.
- Do not try to pass a tube, massage the stomach, or induce vomiting.
- Do not wait overnight because the dog seemed hungry earlier.
- Do not give human painkillers.
Signs the team will ask about
- Repeated retching with little or no vomit
- A tight, swollen, or drum-like abdomen
- Restlessness, stretching, drooling, or looking at the belly
- Pale gums, weakness, or collapse
What the ER Vet Will Do
The team treats shock first, then confirms the twist with an X-ray when the dog is stable enough. They decompress the stomach and usually take the dog to surgery to untwist it and attach the stomach so it is less likely to twist again. Intravenous fluids and pain control continue through recovery.