Twisted intestines: symptoms in dogs, treatment and prevention

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Suddenly occurring disease, in most cases leading to death - volvulus. The symptoms in dogs are quite specific, indicating wrapping of the spleen/stomach around the esophagus so food can no longer be passed.

Most often this disease affects large breeds of dogs. There are many reasons for the incident. They can only be treated surgically, but there are no guarantees - often the animal's heart can not stand it.

The main danger lies in the swiftness of the disease. In order to have time to respond in time, you need to know how the volvulus of the intestines in a dog begins. Symptoms, treatment and likely causes should be known to all four-legged pet owners.

Most often the situation is as follows: the pet goes out for a walk, suddenly loses his calmness, groans, falls, he can vomit, his stomach swells. The condition worsens very quickly, in just two hours the animal dies due to a stopped heart, squeezed by gases.

Dog stomach

Animal stomach representsa pouch, which is wrapped forward with a wide part, while its back part is noticeably narrowed. On one side is the esophagus, the other is facing the intestines. The fold at the exit from the esophagus is located so that you have to make an effort to push food, and at the same time air would be pushed out.

The empty stomach is under the ribs, when full it reaches the lower abdomen. This ability of the stomach allows the spleen to turn around and the stomach to move quite freely.

Why volvulus happens

Symptoms in dogs of this disease are listed below, for a start it is worth considering why it occurs. First of all, the following factors are considered to be the causes of the disease:

- Individual characteristics of an individual: age, volume, physique. Dogs weighing more than 25 kg are most susceptible to the disease. This happens due to weakness and high sprain. In this condition, the muscles cannot hold a full stomach in place. In addition, the disease depends on the shape of the abdomen and the depth of the chest. Veterinarians believe that most often bloat occurs in Labradors, Shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans, Greyhounds, Black Terriers and other similar breeds;

- Wrong diet. Many people find it acceptable to feed their pets with inexpensive cereals, liquid foods, vegetables, and low-quality foods. However, none of this menu is natural for animals, so stomach problems are very common. Increasing the amount of food leads to stretchingstomach. Overeating can lead to sagging of its walls. These data are typical for dogs at risk.

- Genetic predisposition. Before you buy a puppy, you should find out in detail what diseases his ancestors had, whether they had stomach problems. Although the gene that is responsible for stomach diseases has not been found by scientists, most experts argue that one of the determining factors for volvulus is heredity.

- Infrequent feedings. Some owners find it easier to feed their dog once than to give them several small meals a day. However, this approach contributes to the emergence of serious problems with the gastrointestinal tract, including intestinal volvulus.

- Walking right after eating. This version is controversial, but many doctors believe that volvulus in dogs, the symptoms of which are familiar to every specialist, is more likely to occur with active movement with a full stomach.

- Character. It does not seem to be related to stomach problems, however, according to research, dogs with a cheerful type of character practically do not suffer from such an ailment. While constantly anxious animals, experiencing anxiety, quite often fall under the knife of the surgeon.

Development of disease

Twisted intestines (symptoms in dogs develop very quickly) has several stages:

- gas produced during fermentation accumulates in the stomach, causing painful cramps;

- stomach with spleen twisted;

- increased pressure in the sternum and peritoneum;

- water metabolism is disturbed, toxicosis occurs, and as a result - death.

Turbo-intestinal symptoms in dogs

The first symptoms appear immediately after the twisting of the organs: the state of he alth worsens significantly, often against the background of a heavy meal or physical activity. In addition, the animal is worried, clearly experiencing pain, and a comfortable position cannot be appropriate. Sometimes there are impulses to vomit, the belly increases. At the same time, there is no vomiting, since the twisted organs do not allow the absorbed products to come out.

If an owner suspects volvulus in a dog, symptoms in just a few hours will be as follows:

- drop in body temperature;

- shortness of breath;

- sudden expansion of the abdominal walls;

- pallor of mucous membranes;

- shortness of breath;

- apathy that replaces anxiety;

- limb weakness;

- strong salivation.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing a disease is not so easy, it requires a set of measures. First of all, specialists study the picture of the disease. After that, they need to determine if the animal's stomach is dilated or twisted, since these problems share the same symptoms. For clarification, a probe is inserted. Its dimensions depend on the volume of the animal. If the probe enters the stomach without difficulty, we are talking about bloating. If the passage is difficult, there is a volvulus of the intestines in dogs. Symptoms, causesdiseases are clear enough, so the diagnosis will be made quickly.

If there are problems in diagnosing, an x-ray of the cavity is required, which will clarify whether the dog has volvulus.

Treatment

It is pointless to fight this disease with folk remedies - this leads to a loss of time and a quick death of the animal. It is necessary to carry out therapy, which consists of a puncture of the abdominal cavity, which allows to reduce pressure and remove gases. At the same time, the doctor injects painkillers and hormones. With this, remedies for vomiting and spasms are used.

As soon as the preliminary procedures are completed, the operation begins, during which it is required to expand the stomach to its proper place, install the probe and remove food residues from the cavity. After that, the stomach is washed and sutured to the wall of the abdomen to avoid a repetition of the situation.

If part of the stomach has undergone necrosis, it is removed. Sometimes the spleen has to be removed as well.

After the operation, the animal remains in the hospital, where it can be fed through a tube. The condition of the dog is controlled with antiemetics and antibiotics. In addition, it is required to take care of the seams with the use of antiseptics.

What threatens the disease

Turn of the intestines in a dog (what to do in this case - everyone needs to know) is accompanied by serious changes in all organs.

Significant distension of the stomach provokes mucosal ischemia, leading to the death of cells lining the stomach. Due to the fact that the veins are compressed,there is a weakening of the venous return of blood to the heart, a malfunction of the brain and heart. Blood stasis is a common consequence of volvulus. It leads to active reproduction of bacteria, thrombosis of various veins.

Bloop leads to respiratory failure as the enlarged stomach presses on the diaphragm.

Prevention

In order to avoid this terrible disease, you must follow certain rules for handling animals. It is required to feed the pet often, trying to provide him with as much as possible natural products. Do not take the animal for a walk immediately after eating. At the slightest suspicion of intestinal volvulus, you need to give the animal analgesics and urgently deliver it to the veterinarian.