Association between previous splenectomy andamp; GDV in dogs | VETgirl Veterinary CE Podcasts

In this VETgirl online veterinary CE podcast, we review the association between previous splenectomy and gastric-dilatation volvulus (GDV) in dogs. Picture this scenario: it’s late into your overnight emergency shift, and you’re cutting a hemoabdomen in a middle age, large breed dog. You found a bleeding splenic mass and removed it, and now you’re trying to decide if you should do a prophylactic gastropexy. Sounds familiar, right? Well, there are actually some theories out there that suggest splenectomy might increase a patient’s risk for GDV, so considering that pexy might be smart. Possible reasons for this increased risk include the void created by removal of the spleen (especially if it was enlarged) leading to increased gastric mobility, or stretching of the ligaments in the cranial abdomen due to a splenic mass, torsion, or previous episodes of gastric dilatation (without volvulus). But, regardless of these theories, previous studies have been mixed, so how are you going to decide if you should pexy this dog that’s on the table?