Vet pleads with dog lovers to look for signs of disease dubbed 'worst nightmare' (2025)

She warned the severity of the illness 'is not to be taken lightly'

A vet has warned dog owners never to 'wait it out' if they notice certain signs and symptoms in their pet - as they could be fatal. Talking about a deadly condition that many people don't know much about, Jade The Vet Nurse said GDV needs to be taken seriously.

GDV - gastric dilatation volvulus - is also known as bloat and, according to Jade: "...is often a dog owner's worst nightmare."

Highlighting its relative obscurity, she added: "However I have found quite a lot of dog owners still haven’t heard about bloat, or [if] they have heard about bloat, they actually don’t realise the severity of it, because bloat is a life-threatening emergency for dogs."

What is GDV?

Jade, known as @jade.the.vet.nurs on TikTok, explained: "GDV is when the stomach fills with air, which is 'gastric dilation' and twists - that’s the 'volvulus'. So when the stomach twists, it cuts off the entrance and the exit to the stomach meaning that any contents and in the stomach can't go either way."

In addition to this, any food that's in the "stomach carries on being digested, and in that digestive process, it keeps releasing gas." That means that the stomach keeps blowing up more and more with gas, "which is really painful and uncomfortable for your dog."

She further stressed: "So when the stomach twists, it can block the flow of blood to the stomach or to other vital organs and this can quickly send a dog into shock. It can cause organ damage, it can cause organ failure, and if you do not get your dog to the vet quickly and they get surgical treatment, this will be fatal."

Throughout the video, the registered veterinarian says this fatal condition "is not to be taken lightly" and it's "not the type of thing that if you start noticing symptoms, you should be thinking, 'we’ll wait it out'."

She added: "If your dog shows any signs or symptoms of GDV you need to get them to the vet as soon as possible, because from the time those symptoms start presenting, you’ve probably got one to two hours before your dog needs to be in theatre and having the stomach untwisted and the gas removed, before you start getting permanent damage that means your dog is not likely to survive."

What are the signs and symptoms of GVD?

Jade said: "Your dog is going to look very bloated and they are going to steadily and progressively getting more and more bloated. You can physically see when you look at them that their abdomen is quite distended and if you’re to touch the sides of their stomach, you can feel just how tight it is to touch."

She further added that other signs dog owners need to look out for is their dog looking at their stomach constantly and trying to vomit. She explained: "Your dog is going to keep trying to be sick, but because the entrance is blocked, the contents cannot go anywhere."

Because of this: "Your dog is going to keep trying to bring them up however it’s just going to present as retching and dry heaving - sometimes it might even bring up white froth or white foam they are drooling."

Other symptoms include:

• Restlessness – panting and pacing
• Excessive drooling
• Collapse
• Difficulty breathing

How is GDV diagnosed?

The best way to diagnose GDV is by x-raying the abdomen (tummy). However, if your dog is severely unwell, they may need some emergency treatment before your vet can diagnose them.

The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PSDA) say: "After their operation, it’s likely your dog will need to stay hospitalised for a day or two so they can be monitored. Your vet will check for further bloating and possible complications such as peritonitis (infection inside the abdomen). They will be discharged once your vet is happy they are recovering well.

"Once your dog is home, you’ll need to continue monitoring them for any symptoms of recurring bloat or infection."

How can I prevent GDV?

Jade suggests: "Instead of feeding them one or two big meals a day, you can split this up into three or four smaller portions that you can spread across the day. It helps to feed dogs out of a slow feeder, which stops them inhaling their food.

"Because when dogs eat really quick, they can also swallow a lot of air. So we’ve got food in the stomach and air in the stomach which is just a recipe for GDV."

When it comes to walks, you should also ensure you are not doing it too soon after or before eating. She suggests: "You should walk your dogs two hours before or after feeding and you can also get slow drinking bowls, as well as the same applies for water."

Ask your vet about surgery

If you want to prevent it, there is an option to have surgery. Jade added: "You can also speak to your vet about a preventative surgery, which is where your vet will attach your dog's stomach to their abdominal wall to prevent it flipping.

"This is normally during a routine procedure, such as neutering, but if you think your dog is susceptible to GDV, then I think it’s something you should definitely talk to your vet about in advance."