Title: Purdue Bloat Study 2000 Update | |
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Date Posted:01/26/2009 5:24 AMCopy HTML Canine Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat)
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Non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in large and giant breed dogsLawrence T. Glickman,
VMD, DrPH; Nita W. Glickman, MS, MPH; Diana B. Schellenberg, MS; |
Summary of
findings
(references 1 & 2) -A 5-year prospective study was conducted to determine
the incidence and non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) in 11 large- and giant-breed dogs and to
assess current recommendations to prevent GDV. During the study, 21 (2.4%) and
20 (2.7%) of the large and giant breed dogs, respectively, had at least 1
episode of GDV per year of observation and 29.6% of these dogs died. Increasing
age, increasing thorax depth/width ratio, having a first degree relative with a
history of GDV, a faster speed of eating, and using a raised feed bowl, were
associated with an increased incidence of GDV. Table 1 summarizes the magnitude
and direction of GDV risk associated with having each of these factors. The
relative risk (RR) indicates the likelihood of developing the disease in the
exposed group (risk factor present) relative to those who are not exposed (risk
factor absent). For example, a dog with a first degree relative with a history
of GDV is 1.63 times (63%) more likely to develop GDV than a dog without a
history of GDV. As another example, if dog ‘A’ is a year older than dog ‘B’,
then dog ‘A’ is 1.20 times (20%) more likely to develop GDV than dog ‘B’.
Risk Factor |
Relative Risk |
Interpretation |
Age in years |
1.20 |
20% increase in risk for each year increase in age |
Chest depth/width ratio |
2.70 |
170% increase in risk for each unit increase in chest depth/width ratio |
First degree relative with GDV (yes vs. no) |
1.63 |
63% increase in risk associated with having a first degree relative with GDV |
Using a raised feed bowl |
2.10 |
110% increase in risk associated with using a raised food bowl |
Speed of eating (1-10 scale) |
1.15 |
15% increase in risk for each unit increase in speed of eating score for large dogs |
Most of the popular methods
currently recommended to prevent GDV did not appear to be effective, and one of
these, raising the feed bowl, may actually be detrimental in the breeds studied.In order to decrease the incidence of GDV, we
suggest that dogs having a first degree relative with a history of GDV should
not be bred.Prophylactic gastropexy appears indicated for breeds at the highest risk
of GDV, such as the Great Dane.
References:
1. Lawrence T. Glickman,
VMD, DrPH; Nita W. Glickman, MS, MPH; Diana B. Schellenberg, MS; Malathi Raghavan, DVM, MS; Tana Lee, BA.
Incidence of and breed-related risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in dogs.Journal of the
American Veterinary Medical Association, 2000;216(1):40-45.
2. Lawrence T. Glickman,
VMD, DrPH; Nita W. Glickman, MS, MPH; Diana B. Schellenberg, MS; Malathi Raghavan, DVM, MS; Tana Lee, BA.
Non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in large and giant breed dogs. Journal of the
American Veterinary Medical Association, 2000;217(10):1492-1499.