Gastric dilation-volvulus in dogs attending UK emergency-care veterinary practices: prevalence, risk factors and survival.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To report prevalence, risk factors and clinical outcomes for presumptive gastric dilation-volvulus diagnosed among an emergency-care population of UK dogs. METHODS: The study used a cross-sectional design using emergency-care veterinary clinical records from the VetCompass Programme spanning September 1, 2012 to February 28, 2014 and risk factor analysis using multivariable logistic regression modelling. RESULTS: The study population comprised 77,088 dogs attending 50 Vets Now clinics. Overall, 492 dogs had presumptive gastric dilation-volvulus diagnoses, giving a prevalence of 0&#xb7;64% (95% Confidence interval: 0&#xb7;58 to 0&#xb7;70%). Compared with cross-bred dogs, breeds with the highest odds ratios for the diagnosis of presumptive gastric dilation-volvulus were the great Dane (odds ratio: 114&#xb7;3, 95% Confidence interval 55&#xb7;1 to 237&#xb7;1, P<0&#xb7;001), akita (odds ratio: 84&#xb7;4, 95% Confidence interval 33&#xb7;6 to 211&#xb7;9, P<0&#xb7;001) and dogue de Bordeaux (odds ratio: 82&#xb7;9, 95% Confidence interval 39&#xb7;0 to 176&#xb7;3, P<0&#xb7;001). Odds increased as dogs aged up to 12 years and neutered male dogs had 1&#xb7;3 (95% Confidence interval 1&#xb7;0 to 1&#xb7;8, P=0&#xb7;041) times the odds compared with entire females. Of the cases that were presented alive, 49&#xb7;7% survived to discharge overall, but 79&#xb7;3% of surgical cases survived to discharge. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Approximately 80% of surgically managed cases survived to discharge. Certain large breeds were highly predisposed.