Gastric dilatation volvulus in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), sometimes called gastric torsion, is a known emergency condition in dogs, although other species have been documented to suffer from this condition including monkeys, ferret, swine and humans (Dudley, 2011). In GDV, the stomach becomes dilated with gas and twists on its axis. This increases intragastric pressure and in turn causes compression of the gastric vessels causing ischaemic damage to the tissues of the stomach and spleen. The direct pressure of the dilated stomach on other vessels also causes portal hypotension and obstructive shock from the vena cava becoming compressed, thus reducing venous return to the heart and decreasing cardiac output. Without corrective treatment this condition leads to death. Mortality rates in dogs vary, but cases which are managed surgically have a higher rate of survival, one recent study suggesting 79.3% of surgical cases survived to discharge (O'Neill et al, 2017). Other studies have suggested survival rates as high as 90% in a referral centre setting, but this may not reflect general practice presentations.