Preventive surgery good for stomach

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tong Duong
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The constant beeping of the heart monitor barely registers on the surgeon as she intently concentrates on the incision she is about to make on her patient, sprawled before her on the operating table on Sept. 22. 

Maj. (Dr.) Laura Lester, 56th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Veterinary Services Flight commander, is performing a preventive surgery known as prophylactic gastropexy on Mayo, a 4-year-old male German shepherd and 56th Security Forces Squadron military working dog certified in patrol and explosives detection. 

Mandated by the U.S. Army Veterinarian Command commander, the surgery prevents a highly fatal condition called gastric dilatation and volvulus. The disease causes the dog's stomach to bloat with gas or liquid and can result in death. 

"This condition is prevalent in deep-chest breeds such as the Great Dane, Labrador, German shepherd, Belgian malinois and Doberman pinscher. The stomach can twist up to 360 degrees upon the axis it's attached to, shutting off the blood supply and preventing the release of gas or fluid," Major Lester said. "This can lead to increased distention and result in shock and even death if not treated quickly." 

While there is no difference in susceptibility based on deployment theater, certain factors predisposing these dogs are their breed, age (risk increases with age), feeding style (risk increases with fewer meals per day), attitude of animal (risk is greater in hyper animals) and others. 

As a preventive measure, MWDs are not fed two hours before and after work. The handlers also monitor the rate and amount of water consumed, because the dogs can inhale large amounts of air possibly leading to GDV, said Staff Sgt. Justin Kitts, 56th SFS K-9 handler and Mayo's partner. 

Sergeant Kitts, who has seen a dog die from the disease while stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., feels the preventive procedure is the way to go. 

"It's definitely a good thing to have done on our dogs," he said. "It makes us more satisfied as handlers to know that they have the procedure done, as it increases their chance of survival." 

Dog handlers are also trained monthly by Major Lester to prepare them in case the condition strikes their dog. 

"Our training is helpful, because in the deployed environment, access to a veterinarian may be limited," Sergeant Kitts said. "So we have to be proficient in caring for our dogs to prolong their survival if need be." 

Luke currently has six military working dogs, five of which have already had the procedure. 

Major Lester performed her first gastropexy here in 2004 on a dog whose stomach was already bloated. She performed four more surgeries which were done in May and August of this year. So far there have been two GDV cases here, including one death, according to Major Lester. 

"This type of surgery is performed at Luke only on MWDs," Major Lester said. "Surgeries for privately owned animals are referred downtown to civilian practices." 

For more information on GDV, visit the Web site http://veterinarypartner.com.