Vol. 12, Issue 6 (2023)

Author(s):
Bharathidasan Murugan, Pratickshaa Premkumar, Mohamad Ali, Sivaranjani S, Aravind R and Mohamad Shafiuzama

Abstract:
Gastric dilatation and volvulus is commonly encountered in deep-chested dogs characterized by gastric distension and malposition. A four-year-old female Chow Chow weighing 30 kg was reported to the Small Animal Surgery Outpatient Unit of Madras Veterinary College with a history of dyspnoea, tachycardia, tachypnoea, and severe abdominal bloating, which had a tympanic sound on percussion. The capillary refill time was less than 3 seconds. The heart rate was 234 per minute, and the respiratory rate was 65 per minute. Haematology revealed a mild reduction in PCV, and serum biochemistry results revealed hypokalemia. Thoracic and right lateral abdominal radiographs revealed severe gastric dilatation with a double bubble appearance. An ECG was taken before surgery, which indicated ventricular tachycardia. A stomach tube was passed to decompress the stomach, and antioxidant therapy was initiated. Laparotomy was performed, the stomach was derotated, and the stomach tube was passed to empty the contents. A gastrotomy incision was made to remove large bone pieces and was closed using a simple continuous pattern followed by a Cushing pattern. The spleen was normal, and incisional gastropexy was performed. The animal was monitored postoperatively for 96 hours. The animal had a successful recovery.