My girls are getting spayed (finally) on friday. I have talked to my vet about gastropexy. Do any of your pets have it done? I am undecided about it, cost is one reason. It will double my bill to begin with. I know that their stomach cannot twist with the procedure done, but that they could still bloat. And from what I have read, bloat is a hard thing to recover from, if they do. So, I am just asking for opinions. Get it done at all, or maybe later after their spay. Thanks for your comments. Jane
My vet recommended having it
My vet recommended having it done at the same time as the neuter. That would have more than doubled my bill, however, and I'm just not made out of money. I opted for neuter only at the SPCA instead of the vet for cost reasons.
~Christi
gastropexy
After my first dane bloated and twisted (she did survive, but my bill was over $2500 and that was about 15 years ago) I vowed to never own a dane again without it. And yes, while they can bloat I've never actually known anyone who that happened to. It's the twisting that kills them most of the time because once the stomach flips over the blood supply starts to get cut off and worsens as the stomach fills with gas (the ends of the twist get tighter and tighter and the blood supply gets harder and harder to flow properly and can stop) the stomach muscle itself then starts to die off. that kills them. If the dogs stomach is tacked into place and they start to bloat, the vet can tube them and let the gas out is what was explained to me. Now I'm sure there is a failure rate just like anything.
The line on whether the gastropexy cost is worth it often is drawn between those who have dealt with bloat/torsion and those who haven't. If you've already been through it, the cost of gastropexy seems like less money for some peace of mind. Since Daisy had the emergency surgery 15 years ago I've owned 4 other danes (Mona and Moosey who passed several years ago, and Einstien and Lucy whom I currently fight with at night for my own bed space!) All 4 have had the preventive surgeries-- and i STILL with all 4 gastropexies added together have not reached the cost of Daisy's emergency surgery. Now i'll never know if they'd have had an emergency or not, but I consider it money very well spent.
i agree
our reilly was tacked before we got him because he had a spleenectomy and they tacked him then.
it has always made us much more relaxed with him.
our 11 year old (cowgirl) who was the least active dog you'd ever meet bloated around 1 in the morning so you just never know.
i would definately do it if you can manage the cost.