Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV or bloat) is one of the most acute welfare emergencies in dogs, causing death within hours and disproportionately affecting large and giant breeds.
GDV causes exceptional acute suffering that progresses with terrifying speed. Dogs with GDV experience intense abdominal pain from distension, cardiovascular shock from the stomach compressing major vessels, and progressive tissue necrosis as blood flow is cut off. They pace restlessly, attempt to vomit without success, and show profound distress. The window between symptom onset and death without treatment can be as short as 2–4 hours. Because the condition strikes suddenly, often overnight, owners frequently find severely compromised dogs in the morning. The welfare case for prophylactic gastropexy in high-risk breeds is strong — a single elective procedure eliminates a lifetime of risk for one of the most agonizing emergencies in veterinary medicine.