Gastric Dilitation-Volvulus (Bloat) Study

Dr. Lawrence Glickman et.al. at Purdue University have recently published the findings of a 5-year prospective study which attempted to identify non-dietary factors that might predispose to Gastric Dilitation-Volvulus (GDV) or "bloat" in large and giant breed dogs in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. The study involved 1,637 dogs (11 different breeds). Although Chesapeake Bay Retrievers were not included in the study, it is likely that the information gathered regarding other "large breed dogs" should be applicable to the CBR.

Dr. Glickman’s findings indicated that the overall risk for GDV in large and giant breed dogs was about 6%. Factors that were found to significantly increase the risk of GDV included increasing age and having a first degree relative (parent, sibling, or offspring) with a history of GDV. Interestingly, their findings failed to support many of the currently recommended procedures intended to decrease the incidence of GDV. The results of their study indicated that feeding several smaller meals, avoiding exercise or excessive water consumption before and after meals, and moistening dry food were not effective in reducing the risk of GDV. Medications to reduce gas formation or to increase gastric motility also did not appear to be effective in reducing the risk of GDV in this study. The practice of elevating the feed bowl actually appeared to increase the risk of GDV rather than decrease it. A rapid rate of eating was found to increase the risk of GDV in large breeds but not giant breeds.

At this time based on Dr. Glickman’s study it would appear that slowing the rate of food consumption in large breed dogs (Chesapeake size) and not feeding from an elevated food bowl might be helpful in decreasing the risk of GDV. If you are aware of a first degree relative of your dogs that has had a GDV, you might want to discuss with your veterinarian the possibility of a prophylactic surgical procedure to attach the stomach to the body wall.

Dr. Glickman’s study also included the collection of detailed dietary information on the dogs. The results of that analysis will be published in a future report.

—Eric Reinertson DVM