Symptoms of gastric torsion in dogs

Abdominal pain and difficulty breathing; the dog’s belly will become bloated and hard, and the diaphragm in the cavity will be compressed, making it difficult for the dog to breathe, and the dog will also have difficulty breathing. They will become restless because of stomach discomfort and will not let people come close to touch their bellies.

Vomiting, retching and drooling; the sick dog will appear to want to vomit but cannot vomit anything. This is a typical feature of gastric torsion, and the dog will unconsciously spit out the food in its mouth. Symptoms include frequent salivation or involuntary discharge of saliva, whitening of the oral gums, and shortness of breath.
If you experience the above symptoms, you should seek medical treatment immediately without delay!

Dog breeds prone to gastric torsion

Gastric torsion usually occurs in adult dogs and large, deep-chested dogs. Because large dogs are strong, the stomach has more room for movement in the abdominal cavity. When When there is food or water in the stomach, it is easy to cause the stomach to shake significantly during strenuous exercise.
Among the dog breeds prone to the disease, there are Great Danes, German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, etc.
In addition to viral infectious diseases, gastric torsion is also a serious disease that can be life-threatening in dogs.

Causes of gastric torsion

1. When the dog’s stomach is empty, it will not shake and turn. Once the stomach is heavy (for example, drinking a lot of water after eating, and then panting rapidly, the stomach There is a lot of air), and there is a huge external force that makes the stomach shake, which may cause gastric torsion.
2. Huge psychological pressure can also cause gastric torsion, such as: dog competitions, mating, giving birth to puppies, boarding, just arriving at a new home, etc.
3. Other factors that are prone to gastric volvulus
1) Age. Older dogs are prone to gastric torsion. Dogs over 7 years old are twice as likely to develop gastric torsion as dogs between 2 and 4 years old.
2) Gender. Male dogs are more likely to develop gastric torsion.
3) Body shape. Slender dogs are more susceptible to gastric torsion.
4) Temperament. Dogs who are more anxious, nervous, and easily fearful are more likely to suffer from gastric torsion.