GDV is a life-threatening emergency in large breeds that causes extreme pain and death within hours, with preventive surgery available for high-risk dogs.
GDV causes rapidly escalating abdominal pain, distress, and shock before death. Dogs suffer intensely during the acute phase as their distended stomach cuts off circulation. Prophylactic gastropexy eliminates the risk of this specific, preventable death and suffering in high-risk breeds. The welfare case for routine preventive gastropexy in predisposed breeds is strong.