Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), commonly called bloat, is a life-threatening emergency in which the stomach fills with gas and twists on itself. It is one of the most acutely painful and rapidly fatal conditions in veterinary medicine, with death possible within hours if untreated.
GDV is among the most acutely agonising conditions a dog can experience: the combination of gastric distension, ischaemic tissue death, and cardiovascular collapse produces profound pain and distress. Dogs suffering GDV are in a state of extreme suffering that escalates within minutes. Because the condition is most common in beloved large-breed dogs, it causes enormous owner distress too. Prevention is highly achievable for known high-risk breeds — prophylactic gastropexy, ideally performed at the time of spay or neuter, eliminates the risk of volvulus almost entirely. Owners of at-risk breeds who are not aware of this option, or who lack access to the procedure, remain at high risk of witnessing their dog's death from a preventable emergency.