What is 'Tack the Stomach' mean for big chested breeds?

[Guest Anonymous]

We went to visit our former Vet, that helped us alot with our late Min-Pin, to show her Onyx. She mentioned if we were gonna 'Tack(sp?) his Stomach'? She said it is to prevent his internal organs from moving around to his chest. She said that this is common in breeds with big chest(Dobermans, Greyhounds, Great Danes, ect...). Is anyone familiar with this?

[deepseasnake]

doesn't sound very fun does it, I have not known anyone with a "tacked" stomache either

[Guest Anonymous]

Underdog napisał(a):

We went to visit our former Vet, that helped us alot with our late Min-Pin, to show her Onyx. She mentioned if we were gonna 'Tack(sp?) his Stomach'? She said it is to prevent his internal organs from moving around to his chest. She said that this is common in breeds with big chest(Dobermans, Greyhounds, Great Danes, ect...). Is anyone familiar with this?

This is a procedure done to keep the dog from torsioning when it bloats.
The more preferred surgery involves putting a bit of the muscle around a rib too.
Far better prevention is to purchase a dog from a line clear of the problem.

[Guest Anonymous]

That's very interesting. I know that they do a similar procedure while a dog is experiencing bloat and there has not been serious interruption to the blood flow of the major organs, but I have not known anyone who has had it done to a dog that has not been in bloat, but you learn something new everyday.

I don't think you can pick a line specifically not having bloat, as most of what I've read doesn't believe it to be a hereditary problem. I've had a dog die of bloat and knew the breeder very well. After tracing back 4 generations, no instances of bloat were noted.

[bk_blue]

This is a good site to go to for bloat info:
http://www.canismajor.com/dog/bloat.html
Apparently most breeders and vets think genes do play a small part in bloat, the info is all at the site.
In Australia there are some breed clubs (eg. Weimaraners, Bassets) that believe stomach tacking is a good pre-emptive measure, from what I have read anyway :wink:

[Guest Anonymous]

Guest Pat napisał(a):

That's very interesting. I know that they do a similar procedure while a dog is experiencing bloat and there has not been serious interruption to the blood flow of the major organs, but I have not known anyone who has had it done to a dog that has not been in bloat, but you learn something new everyday.

I don't think you can pick a line specifically not having bloat, as most of what I've read doesn't believe it to be a hereditary problem. I've had a dog die of bloat and knew the breeder very well. After tracing back 4 generations, no instances of bloat were noted.

Bloat does run in lines though - and even if its not the torsion that runs in the lines it may be the temperament that seems to play a part in the problem that is familial or the particular structure - all I know is if the puppy bloats it seems that 9 times out of 10 there was a direct ancestor who also had the problem.

[Aroura]

If you are really worried about your dog bloating it may be a good idea, but there are other ways to prevent it.
Part of the reason I feed BARF is that it greatly reduces the risk of bloat, as when a dog eats dry food it is likely to swell in the stomach.
Also, let your dog rest for an hour before and after meals, and with deep chested breeds feed them two small meals a day rather than one large meal.