Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Gastric dilatation and volvulus in a brachycephalic dog with hiatal hernia.
- Journal:
- The Journal of small animal practice
- Year:
- 2014
- Authors:
- Aslanian, M E et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A brachycephalic dog, which is a breed with a short nose and flat face, was brought to the vet because it suddenly started retching and seemed to have a sore belly. This dog had been having trouble breathing and was less active for a while, which suggested it might have a breathing issue related to its breed. X-rays showed that the dog had a Type II hiatal hernia, where part of the stomach pushes through the diaphragm. Soon after arriving at the clinic, the dog became very painful and its belly swelled up. The vet performed emergency surgery to fix the stomach and also made some other repairs. Thankfully, the dog recovered well after the surgery.
Abstract
A brachycephalic dog was presented with an acute onset of retching and abdominal discomfort. The dog had a chronic history of stertor and exercise intolerance suggestive of brachycephalic airway obstructive syndrome. Radiographs were consistent with a Type II hiatal hernia. The dog was referred and within hours of admission became acutely painful and developed tympanic abdominal distension. A right lateral abdominal radiograph confirmed gastric dilatation and volvulus with herniation of the pylorus through the hiatus. An emergency exploratory coeliotomy was performed, during which the stomach was derotated, and an incisional gastropexy, herniorrhaphy and splenectomy were performed. A staphylectomy was performed immediately following the exploratory coeliotomy. The dog recovered uneventfully. Gastric dilatation and volvulus is a potentially life-threatening complication that can occur in dogs with Type II hiatal hernia and should be considered a surgical emergency.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24871205/