Gastric dilatation volvulus: a retrospective study of 203 dogs with ventral midline gastropexy

Preventive Health Care for Working Dogs

The goal of preventive care is to maintain and optimize health by averting preventable problems. Effective preventive care programs for working dogs must incorporate standard procedures applicable to dogs in general with additional elements pertinent to the more specific characteristics of breed, geographic location, living and working conditions, and physical and mental tasks required of the working dog. This article covers the basic essential preventive health guidelines for all working dogs as well as the specific breed, occupational, and regional considerations to be taken into account.

Influence of length of incision and number of suture lines on the biomechanical properties of incisional gastropexy

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of the length of incision and of the number of suture lines on the load to failure of incisional gastropexy in an ex vivo model.

STUDY DESIGN

Ex vivo study.

SAMPLE POPULATION

Thirty-six hound-mix fresh canine cadavers.

METHODS

Specimens were randomly divided into four groups of incisional gastropexies varying in length of incision (2 or 4 cm) and number of suture lines (one or two). Load to failure was measured. Number of suture bites on each side of the gastropexy and number of inadvertent full thickness gastric suture bites were recorded.

RESULTS

Incisional gastropexies performed with one or two suture lines sustained loads to failure of 53.80 ± 12.10 N and 53.30 ± 10.60 N (P = .887), respectively. Loads to failure equal to 49.70 ± 10.80 N and 57.30 ± 10.60 N (P = .048) were measured on incisional gastropexies performed with 2- or 4-cm-suture lines, respectively. There was no interaction between the length of the incision and the number of suture lines (P = .634).

CONCLUSION

Length of incision but not number of suture lines influenced the biomechanical properties of gastropexies in this acute cadaveric model.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

According to this acute in vitro experiment, gastropexy can be performed with either one or two suture lines.

Pyloric localisation in 57 dogs of breeds susceptible to gastric dilatation-volvulus in the UK using computed tomography

OBJECTIVE

Describe the location of the pylorus using CT in dog breeds susceptible to gastric dilatation-volvulus in the UK.

METHODS

Descriptive anatomical study. Abdominal CT scans of 57 client-owned dogs were reviewed to assess pyloric position relative to the 9th, 10th, 11th and 13th ribs and 2 and 3 cm caudal to the 13th rib at the 8, 9 and 10 o'clock positions. The angle of the pylorus from the centre of the abdominal cavity relative to the sagittal plane was also determined.

RESULTS

In 88 per cent of cases, the pylorus was located in the right cranioventral abdomen with 63 per cent positioned at the 9-10 o'clock position. The overall distance between the pylorus and right abdominal wall (RAW) at the 13th rib 10 o'clock position was equivalent to 29 per cent of ventral abdominal length, significantly greater than the median overall distance of ∼14 per cent of ventral abdominal length between the pylorus and RAW at the 9th or 10th rib 10 o'clock position (P<0.0001).

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Common gastropexy locations may result in considerable displacement of the pylorus relative to its natural anatomic location. Further case-control studies are required to assess the clinical significance of this finding.