Stomach tacking

[AdrianneIsabel]

Would you consider this preemptively to bloat?

I was at a new vet today with Sloan and the vet mentioned that a lot of military malinois have been opt'd to tack the stomach for torsion prevention with their high level of activity. He said it's relatively painless, they have trouble keeping the dog down after it, because now it's done with a scope and not an incision.

Is this something you would consider doing?

 

[Emily]

Would you consider this preemptively to bloat?

I was at a new vet today with Sloan and the vet mentioned that a lot of military malinois have been opt'd to tack the stomach for torsion prevention with their high level of activity. He said it's relatively painless, they have trouble keeping the dog down after it, because now it's done with a scope and not an incision.

Is this something you would consider doing?

I admit I would be very wary of doing it preventatively in any dog intended for breeding, my concern being that you would cover up a tendency towards bloat that may show up in the offspring later. Bloat runs in breeds and some people feel it runs in lines as well... if that's the case, for whatever reason, covering it up might be good the individual but bad for the breed.

That said, if I had a pet dog in a breed prone to bloat, hells yes I'd have it done. We just dealt with a terrifying case of bloat at work in a Doberman and it really struck how quickly this condition can leave your dog's life hanging in the balance. We have Bloodhound at work who was tacked when she got spayed, I think that was a good move.

 

[Shai]

FCRs are fairly prone to bloating. Something about their structure in theory...deep chest, small waist. Don't know if the science backs that up that reasoning so won't make any claims there.

Tacking isn't a bad idea, and I know people who've done it. I wouldn't put a dog under just for that, personally, but if at some point Mira is spayed I may elect to have her tacked at the same time. At that point she'd be removed from the gene pool anyway, and her family has no history of bloating to which I am aware.

 

[yoko]

I've thought about it. Yoshi has bloated each time and each time I've been lucky to catch it before there was any twisting but each time I've always had that 'what if' thought at the back of my mind.

I haven't done it but am still considering it and am on the fence about it.

I don't know how I feel about it being done just because it might be possible for a dog to bloat. But I'm also not someone who really likes surgery 'easy' or not unless there is a good definite reason for it. It's not something I'd look down on someone for if they opted for it.

 

[AdrianneIsabel]

That's a good point about good for the individual but bad for the breed.

I don't think I am considering it but it was interesting to hear either way.

 

[Saeleofu]

I don't know about putting a dog under for tacking alone, but I'd strongly consdier it if it's a breed or situation where there's a big risk of bloat. As it is, I'd consider it for any dog/breed prone to it at the time of speutering. If I ever have a Dane (or some other breeds), I WILL tack it, end of story.

There's nobody around here who does it with a scope, so for me personally it'd have to be a BIG risk to do it without having another reason to have them under/open.

 

[yoko]

That's a good point about good for the individual but bad for the breed.

I don't think I am considering it but it was interesting to hear either way.

My main things are

1. I don't think using a scope is an option every where.

2. I'd be REALLY REALLY REALLY *is that enough reallys?* worried that people would just hear 'stomach's been tacked' and then just think bloat is a nonexistent issue any more. They can still bloat with a tacked stomach and it is still VERY important to catch early. I'd just be worried a lot of people would label it as 'it's fixed' and never educate themselves about the symptoms or not take it as serious as they needed to.

 

[sassafras]

Not only have I considered it, I did it with Squash. I don't really know what his other half is, he's big, and I camp with him. I don't need to be trying to carry a torsed dog out of BF Nowhere, Wilderness USA while I'm freaking out.

I had it done laparoscopically when he was neutered so it was easy peasy, just two tiny extra incisions. The worst part was that the exercise restrictions were longer than for a basic spay or neuter, but we got through it.

 

[SaraB]

I did a laproscopic pexy on my first dane. Didn't on Classic. I would do the laproscopic pexy again in a heartbeat, the incision was 2", recovery time amazing and no complications. The surgery was pretty much BA too.

 

[poodlesmom]

Having lost a dane to it and almost losing Farley, to me tacking is a good idea. When Farley had his e-surgery for the torsion they tacked his stomach then. When Chloe was spayed I had hers tacked.

 

[elegy]

In a bloat-prone breed, I'd seriously consider it.

 

[Danefied]

I admit I would be very wary of doing it preventatively in any dog intended for breeding, my concern being that you would cover up a tendency towards bloat that may show up in the offspring later. Bloat runs in breeds and some people feel it runs in lines as well... if that's the case, for whatever reason, covering it up might be good the individual but bad for the breed.

That said, if I had a pet dog in a breed prone to bloat, hells yes I'd have it done. We just dealt with a terrifying case of bloat at work in a Doberman and it really struck how quickly this condition can leave your dog's life hanging in the balance. We have Bloodhound at work who was tacked when she got spayed, I think that was a good move.

It doesn’t prevent bloat, the dog will still bloat and will still need medical attention, it just buys you time and prevents torsion - the real killer.

Most dane owners have it done. Mine are not.

 

[Emily]

It doesn’t prevent bloat, the dog will still bloat and will still need medical attention, it just buys you time and prevents torsion - the real killer.

Most dane owners have it done. Mine are not.

Yes, I understand the surgery. I spoke casually and used the term bloat to refer to both the actually bloating and gastric torsion. After what happened a few weeks ago, I'm intimately acquainted with the condition, trust me.

ETA: Sorry edited for like a million left out words, lol.

 

[Danefied]

Yes, I understand the surgery. I spoke casually and used the term bloat to refer to both the actually bloating and gastric torsion. After a few ago, I'm intimately acquainted with the condition, trust me.

Right, so you would still know the dog bloated even with the pexy. A responsible breeder would still have the useful information, an irresponsible breeder could cover up a bloat death anyway.

 

[SaraB]

Right, so you would still know the dog bloated even with the pexy. A responsible breeder would still have the useful information, an irresponsible breeder could cover up a bloat death anyway.

This. There is no lack of information for a breeder, either the dog bloats or it doesn't. Pexy doesn't prevent bloat from happening.

 

[sassafras]

This. There is no lack of information for a breeder, either the dog bloats or it doesn't. Pexy doesn't prevent bloat from happening.

Exactly, it just prevents the torsion. Moot point for me personally since there are no lines or other breedings to worry about, but I think it can still be done in a way that doesn't harm a breed overall.

 

[Emily]

Exactly, it just prevents the torsion. Moot point for me personally since there are no lines or other breedings to worry about, but I think it can still be done in a way that doesn't harm a breed overall.

Well then it's good news all around and I'd definitely have it done.

 

[PWCorgi]

This may be a stupid question, but HOW is this done? What is attached to what and with what? kind of thing.

Not that I really have to worry about it with my corgi, but I do find it interesting.

 

[JustaLilBitaLuck]

This may be a stupid question, but HOW is this done? What is attached to what and with what? kind of thing.

Not that I really have to worry about it with my corgi, but I do find it interesting.

Basically the right side of the stomach is tacked/sutured to the right side of the abdominal wall. Since the stomach is attached to something, it cannot twist, so torsion can't occur. Like many have said, it can be done laproscopically - so a small incision is made, an instrument is inserted, and it is done from there, instead of completely opening the dog up - much less invasive, much smaller incision, etc.

I've never seen one done in person, only videos, so I'm not sure on the exact details. There are some good ones on YouTube, if you're not squeamish.

 

[sassafras]

There are a couple of different specific techniques that vary slightly, but generally a little flap is made out of the outer, muscular layer of the stomach (without actually penetrating the stomach), passed through a wee "tunnel" made on the inner layer of the muscles of the abdominal wall, and then sutured back in place on the stomach. That is, tab "S" is inserted through slot "M."