[crowconor]

Hi all, I am looking for vet suggestions for my 1yr GSD. I want to have his hips/elbows xrayed for SV. I have been contemplating a laparoscopic gastropexy while he is under. Does any one have any vets that can accomplish thisthat they would recommend, or have any strong opinion about prophylactic gastropexy? I live in Massachusetts.

 

[ausdland]

X-rays can be taken w/o sedation or sedation at most. The gastropexy will require anasthesia, that's great it can be done laparoscopically. I had that done when my girl was spayed. Her belly had bloated up twice when I ran her too much and she drank too much water prior to the surgery, but we got lucky it didn't twist. I know plenty of GSDs that haven't had gastropexies and haven't bloated. I'd consider it if your dog is a hard charger or is inclined to eat non food items.

 

[Jax08]

SV requires sedation. I had Segers OFAs done in Mass. I'll look thru his records to find the place tomorrow. You'll need to check if they are signed up to submit them directly

 

[crowconor]

SV requires sedation. I had Segers OFAs done in Mass. I'll look thru his records to find the place tomorrow. You'll need to check if they are signed up to submit them directly

Oh super, I would appreciate that. How do I check if they are signed up to submit directly? Just ask the vet?

 

[crowconor]

X-rays can be taken w/o sedation or sedation at most. The gastropexy will require anasthesia, that's great it can be done laparoscopically. I had that done when my girl was spayed. Her belly had bloated up twice when I ran her too much and she drank too much water prior to the surgery, but we got lucky it didn't twist. I know plenty of GSDs that haven't had gastropexies and haven't bloated. I'd consider it if your dog is a hard charger or is inclined to eat non food items.

From what I have read the gastropexy is great peace of mind. I can not find many downsides to having it done other than the recovery time.

 

[Jax08]

Oh super, I would appreciate that. How do I check if they are signed up to submit directly? Just ask the vet?

You'll have to call them. There is a list of vets that submit to SV on a USCA site somewhere but not sure where. I started taking my dogs to VA to a friend who has a ton of experience but this place in MASS is very good. It's somewhere near Ludlow.

 

[Jax08]

I hve two deadlines today so message me later tonight to remind me to look.

 

[crowconor]

You'll have to call them. There is a list of vets that submit to SV on a USCA site somewhere but not sure where. I started taking my dogs to VA to a friend who has a ton of experience but this place in MASS is very good. It's somewhere near Ludlow.

I found the list you were talking about on the USCA website. It looks like there is only one vet in MA registered with SV. Foxboro Animal Hospital.

The USCA website does say "If your veterinarian is not approved by the SV to send digital films to the SV you MUST have them transferred to film. DO NOT send the CD to the USCA Office."

I want to find a vet surgeon to do the gastropexy that has done a fair bit of them, so I suppose I can find a vet to do the gastropexy and hips while under sedation. Then have the imagines transfered to film and send them to SV myself.

 

[Jax08]

Foxboro may have been it.

I think you are making this way more difficult on yourself. the sedation for xrays is knock them out and wake them up. The surgeon that does the gastropexy may or may not be good at positioning and taking xrays and why would you want your dog under general longer than necessary? then have to figure out how to send the films to the SV? You do you but I don't think you'll be saving any money or real stress on the dog.

 

[crowconor]

Foxboro may have been it.

I think you are making this way more difficult on yourself. the sedation for xrays is knock them out and wake them up. The surgeon that does the gastropexy may or may not be good at positioning and taking xrays and why would you want your dog under general longer than necessary? then have to figure out how to send the films to the SV? You do you but I don't think you'll be saving any money or real stress on the dog.

Thats a fair point. So maybe I should just plan to have the hips done at an approved vet. Then gastropexy later on.

 

[Cassidy's Mom]

When I had Cava in for her spay I had them do a gastropexy, and also hip and elbow x-rays. The surgery was laparoscopic. It cost quite a bit more and I had to wait longer to get her scheduled than if we'd gone the traditional route but I liked the idea of a shorter recovery with smaller incisions. I went to a much larger practice than my usual vet at the time because they had more experience and did all the procedures often so I trusted them to get it right.

In over 35 years of owning GSDs we've just had one bloat experience. Fortunately I realized right away what was going on and we live less than 5 miles from an emergency vet so we were able to get in him in fast enough to save his life. Of course, it happened on a Sunday evening. The on-call surgeon and team got there quickly and had him on the table not long after they confirmed GDV. About 3-1/2 hours after we'd walked in the door with him the surgeon called to let us know it had gone well. It was a couple of days before Keefer's 12th birthday, and he lived another year and 8 months, so it was worth it, but I decided that any future dogs would get a preventive 'pexy.

 

[crowconor]

When I had Cava in for her spay I had them do a gastropexy, and also hip and elbow x-rays. The surgery was laparoscopic. It cost quite a bit more and I had to wait longer to get her scheduled than if we'd gone the traditional route but I liked the idea of a shorter recovery with smaller incisions. I went to a much larger practice than my usual vet at the time because they had more experience and did all the procedures often so I trusted them to get it right.

In over 35 years of owning GSDs we've just had one bloat experience. Fortunately I realized right away what was going on and we live less than 5 miles from an emergency vet so we were able to get in him in fast enough to save his life. Of course, it happened on a Sunday evening. The on-call surgeon and team got there quickly and had him on the table not long after they confirmed GDV. About 3-1/2 hours after we'd walked in the door with him the surgeon called to let us know it had gone well. It was a couple of days before Keefer's 12th birthday, and he lived another year and 8 months, so it was worth it, but I decided that any future dogs would get a preventive 'pexy.

I have had a dog die from GVD and she was not a GSD. It happens so fast and is scary.
That is why I am so interested in having the gastropexy done. There is a large academic vet near me who offers laparoscopic gastropexy. I will likely use them. I don't plan on having my boy neutered so I will probably have to do the gastropexy seperately from his hips / elbows.

 

[Cassidy's Mom]

I have had a dog die from GVD and she was not a GSD. It happens so fast and is scary.

I'm so sorry. If I hadn't been home at the time, Keefer might not have lived. My husband could tell something was wrong but did not recognize it as a life or death emergency requiring immediate action. I had a couple of my flyball teammates over for dinner that night. They'd originally suggested we go out to dinner but I said to come over and I'd cook instead. So I was there when he started retching like he was going to throw up but nothing came out. My first thought was oh crap, this could be bloat. I felt his tummy and it was hard. I told Tom we have to bring him in, I think it's bloat. My friends left, we loaded him up, and off we went. Also fortunate that the EV was so close, if we'd had to drive for a half hour or more he may not have made it. It was terrifying, and we were so lucky.

 

[crowconor]

I'm so sorry. If I hadn't been home at the time, Keefer might not have lived. My husband could tell something was wrong but did not recognize it as a life or death emergency requiring immediate action. I had a couple of my flyball teammates over for dinner that night. They'd originally suggested we go out to dinner but I said to come over and I'd cook instead. So I was there when he started retching like he was going to throw up but nothing came out. My first thought was oh crap, this could be bloat. I felt his tummy and it was hard. I told Tom we have to bring him in, I think it's bloat. My friends left, we loaded him up, and off we went. Also fortunate that the EV was so close, if we'd had to drive for a half hour or more he may not have made it. It was terrifying, and we were so lucky.

That’s a very lucky story, glad you were home when he developed symptoms.