10/13/2026
🐾 Patient Success Story🐾
Meet Seven, a 7-year-old German Shepherd Dog, who presented to WVRC with a distended abdomen and non-productive retching.
On presentation, a right lateral radiograph was taken to confirm a GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus). The doctor quickly trocarized the stomach, which is when a large-bore catheter is inserted through the body wall into the stomach to release the life-threatening buildup of gas or fluid.
The team wheeled Seven into surgery right away, and the doctor rotated her stomach back into position. A gastropexy was performed, a procedure in which the stomach is tacked to the abdominal wall to prevent it from flipping again, and while in the abdomen, the doctor noticed the spleen itself appeared significantly enlarged and congested, so it was elected to remove it via splenectomy.
Post-operatively, her EKG was monitored, and she was on intravenous fluids and medications. After being hospitalized for two days, Seven made a full recovery and even went so far as to beg for a French fry snack before she went home!🍟 💕