04/09/2026
We’ve seen way too many of these lately. And honestly? It’s time we talked about it.
GDV (gastric dilatation-volvulus), or ✨️bloat with a twist✨️, is an emergency.
The stomach fills with gas, food or fluid, and then twists. As it twists, blood flow gets cut off and the rest of the body starts to go into shock.
What to look out for:
• A suddenly bloated or distended abdomen
• Repeatedly trying to vomit, but nothing comes up (retching)
• Restlessness or obvious discomfort
• Excessive drooling
• Panting or difficulty breathing
• Weakness, collapse or pale gums
Not every dog will show every sign. And GDV can progress frighteningly fast.
Who’s most at risk? Middle-aged to older large breed dogs with deep chests (but any dog, really).
How to try prevent GDV? Don’t exercise or play with your dog directly before or after mealtime and feed two meals per day instead of one.
Your vet can also do a prophylactic gastropexy to help prevent twisting of the stomach.
The longer that stomach stays twisted, the worse the damage is, and sadly, many dogs don’t make it.
So, if your dog is showing these signs, don’t wait until morning, don’t Google it, and definitely don’t see if they feel better later.
Treat it as an emergency and get to a vet immediately. Because with GDV, time matters the most.
