Preventative surgery for my Dobe

[srat37]

I had my doberman puppy natas in to the vet last week for her 12 week shots and check up and we are going to spay her next month. The vet recommended another procedure that could be done at the same time. She could tac the outer two layers of her stomache to her outside wall and this would help her stomache from twisting up if she would have bloating problems in the future. She said there was no down side to this surgery. I am just starting to do some research and I thought I'd start here. If anyone has any info or links or had this done to a large breed dog I'd love for you to share. Meanwhile we have given her raised dog bowls and and trying to find ways to slow her eating down a bit, she gets the hiccups often.

Thanks,

Stacy and Natas

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Hi there ~

If you've been given the chance to have your dog's stomach tacked while under for a spay I not only recommend it but encourage you to have it done. Bloat can be an issue and one with often fatal circumstances. It is also something that more times than not can be avoided if the stomach is tacked.

Every single one of my girls that goes in for a spay or c-section has the stomach tacked. Same with my boys if ever in for surgery. There really is no reason not to have it done and plenty of reasons why it would be foolish not to do it in my opinion.

[srat37]

Thanks crossfire! That makes me feel better about it. I've just never had a puppy before so I never heard of it.

[kazkirkpatrick]

Ive never heard of that either! Why wasnt I told about this when rexie was spayed!

[srat37]

I'm not sure? My vet used to be only a large breed specialist? Not sure if that's what makes a difference or not.

[doberkim]

id do it in a heartbeat -- its DEFINITELy worth it.

your dog can still get the gastric dilitation portion of "bloat", but not the volvulus - and that tends to be the worst part.

[elegy]

i'd totally do it. bloat is ugly when it happens.

[Mellie]

I wish I was given this information at the time of Peanut's (a Saint Bernard)spay. I always have the thought of bloat in the back of my mind. A while ago, I read as much as I could possibly find on the subject. But I never stumbled upon this surgery option. I would've opted for it at that time.
It's good to hear vets are taking proactive measures.

[My_Baby_Loves_Me]

By bloat you mean where the stomache twists are it's self. If so it can happen in small dogs too, I know cause my Aunts Dachshund had they thought she had swallowed wrong and was trying to throw it up but couldn't, her stomache was severly distended that the rushed her to our vet and was told her stomache had twisted. So I would say go for get it done while you can.

[poodlesmom]

Definitely have it done! Many years ago I lost my Great Dane due to bloat and I almost lost Farley to it 3 yrs ago. I was lucky that emergency surgery saved him. His stomach is now tacked so altho he can get bloat again his stomach won't twist.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

This isn't something that just effects the larger breeds, any breed can have it occur, its just that the larger breeds seem to be more prone to the problem.

[srat37]

Well thanks everyone for your replys. I am feeling pretty good about having it done for Natas when she's spayed next month. I am feeling better about my vet too. Their office had eukanuba(sp?) I didn't feel that she was pushing it on me though. but she did give me a sample and she said Natas should be on a large breed puppy food. Right now I'm feeding wellness puppy super 5, and I think she's doing wonderfull on it. Her coat is beautifull! But wellness doesn't have a large breed puppy food. And the vet didn't think she was growing to fast and her legs looked great. So why switch is what I was thinking? I should have asked her that. Well I didn't mean to start a new thread or anything here LOL OOPS! I just have to add that the vet was incredible with my puppy. She had made a friend by the time we left and I am having a better time cleaning and taping her ears because it.

[Crossfire Bulldogs]

Glad you've pretty well decided to have it done, if for nothing other than peace of mind and personally......I'd stick with Wellness.

[Alexis]

I had Godiva's stomach tacked during her spay. SO worth it!!! I had a dog that bloated many times (fortunatly never torsed) just knowing that she is tacked gives me such ease of mind. I kept her even more quite than if she has just had a spay. You really want to make sure that the internal tack is healed before she does any exercise. The incision is pretty big and gross, but once it heals, it is headly noticable. If you have any other questions about it, or about bloat in general, please feel free to p.m. me or e-mail me. Oh, and I would pick wellness over Eukanuba.