Gastric torsion and bloat is seen most often in large breeds including the Great Dane and Bloodhound, as well as some of the intermediate size breeds. It is a very serious situation and can be fatal! Please be aware and take precautions.
Torsion of the stomach is the abnormal positioning of the stomach caused by the stomach rotation about its axis. This is better explained as a mechanical twist of the stomach. In essence, the stomach becomes filled with gas, food, liquid, or a combination thereof which causes the stomach to become abnormally enlarged or distended. At this point when a dog engages in a sudden jump or plays and rolls around, the stomach actually swings in a pendulum-like motion which results with it swinging completely around the fixation point of the stomach where the esophagus passes through the diaphragm, thus giving rise to a twist.
Read more about bloat and torsion (or GDV)
