Gastropexy thoughts?

[Straylight]

What are your thoughts/experiences with gastropexy (the surgery to prevent bloat)? Looking into getting it for Loki at the recommendation of my vet.

 

[Whybu1]

No Newf specific experience but the Dane rescue I worked with did it on the large, barrel chested dogs (especially if they were also active danes). The broader the chest the more likely to happen. Any reason the vet recommended it?

 

[Elizabeth]

I would do it, and will when Misha is spayed. My Gracie bloated twice as a pup with no torsion, she was tacked when she was spayed and never had a problem after that.

E
O

 

[WearingMidnight]

Bri had it done at the same time as her spay. It's saved me a lot of worrying. The cost was very fair too, not much at all in addition to the spay.

 

[2newfs4now]

When Asher is neutered, he will have it done. One of my past Newfs never bloated. He did, however, have a partial torsion that almost killed him. He had unexplained weight loss over a period of about two months. We finally nailed it down and he had emergency surgery (gastropexy).

 

[Straylight]

Any reason the vet recommended it?

I mentioned it to her as a possibility during our first visit a year ago, and she said she didn't know much about it but would call around. She called me later that day and said that she had called all of her vet buddies and they said it was a good idea.

She's encouraging me to do it laparoscopically (tiny incision, camera insertion, tiny tools, more expensive, less invasive) at a different business---she doesn't do laparoscopic surgery---that means that she's not just looking for the business (not that she would---I love my vet!), so I'm convinced it's very much for his health.

But I'm concerned about risks, complications, recovery time...all of that

 

[newflizzie]

Both my girls were spayed this summer and I chose to do the gastropexy. My surgeon said she felt more comfortable doing both spay and pexy the regular way rather than laproscopically because she could see better. I went with what she was most comfortable doing. The pexy added a couple of more days of down time so it was worth it to me to go ahead and do it. It will not prevent bloat, but will help with any torsion, basically what it does is buy you some time to get to surgery.

 

[Milliejb]

Millie had it dones when she was spayed and she also had it done laproscopically. It just helps me breathe easier. I am very glad I did it. For a female, I basically think its a no brainer to have it done when spayed... Just my opinion though..

 

[littlerosieuk]

Is there any evidence to prove that this works and is worthwhile surgery?

 

[Elizabeth]

Yes, the stomach is attached to the abdominal wall therefore preventing the stomach from twisting, which is what kills.

E

 

[victoria1140]

Max has an undescended testicle so his neutering surgery is going to be more involved.

How much more difficult would it be to do a male dog?

 

[Whybu1]

Male dogs do not have the abdomen opened for neuter so it is really an additional surg not just a bit more work while in there as it is for females.

 

[Straylight]

I'll give you the estimates from my vet just so you can see the price comparison:

Neuter $200
Gastropexy $350
Initial anesthetic $65
Extended anesthetic (for the second surgery) $60

and then there are a few more miscellaneous things on top of that.

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

Gracie bloated twice; second time hardly torsioned but Xrays were conclusive that she was indeed bloating. Had it done and nothing to it. Recovered and felt herself by 2nd day. Vet said it only took about 10 to 15 minutes, so she was not out long. Highly recommend it. I lost my first Newf Angus at 2 1/2 to bloat. Never want to see that again.

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

Male dogs do not have the abdomen opened for neuter so it is really an additional surg not just a bit more work while in there as it is for females.

If undescended testicle they may indeed have the abdomen open. Angus did. But the surgery for Gracie's gastroplexy was a tiny laproscopic incision. good luck