A 12-year-old Basset Hound named Sherman has made a remarkable recovery after undergoing emergency life-saving surgery for a twisted stomach. Tracey and Peter Waddell, from Linlithgow, adopted Sherman from Basset Rescue Network GB and describe him as “a cheeky and loving natured dog.” After taking Sherman for his usual walk, they noticed he was struggling to walk and his abdomen was swelling rapidly. They immediately rushed him to Westport Vets in Linlithgow.
Emergency Diagnosis and Treatment
Veterinary Surgeon Matthew Erskine, an advanced practitioner in small animal surgery and one of the Senior Vets at Westport Vets, examined Sherman. “On examination his heart rate was very high and his abdomen was large and painful. X-rays were taken of the abdomen after providing pain relief and starting him on intravenous fluids, which showed a very large gas and food filled stomach which had twisted on itself. This instantly became an emergency situation as gastric dilation volvulus (enlargement and twisting of the stomach) is fatal if not treated promptly,” Erskine said.
Gastric Dilatation Volvulus (GDV) occurs when the stomach fills with gas and twists, trapping pressure inside and cutting off blood flow to vital organs. Without emergency surgery, survival is unlikely. The team anaesthetised Sherman quickly and attempted to relieve gas build-up with a tube down his oesophagus, but the stomach was so twisted the tube could not pass. They placed an emergency needle directly into his stomach to relieve pressure on his internal organs. In the operating theatre, they de-rotated the stomach and passed a gastric tube, but the stomach was still so full of food that they had to perform an incision into the stomach to drain it directly before closing it and stitching it to the body wall to prevent future twisting.
Critical Recovery Period
Sherman’s recovery was high risk for complications. Registered Veterinary Nurse Susan Tennant took care of him in recovery. “There was a lot going on with poor Sherman, he’d gone through some really drastic surgery. Recovery was a critical period, it was vital that he was monitored really closely. He was on constant observation, so I sat in the kennels with him. He was pretty unaware of what was going on around him for the first part of his recovery so it was really important we took things slowly and didn’t give him a fright when he was coming back round,” Tennant said.
He was hooked up to multi-parameter machines and fluid pumps for medications and fluids. During the night, further tests and an ultrasound scan were performed to check for postoperative complications. The team routinely changed his positions and assisted with bladder relief, and closely monitored his pain levels using pain scoring. “We monitored everything continually throughout his stay, maintaining stress free care and interactions, with lots of reassurance - he knew that we were trying to help him,” Tennant added.
Return Home and Owner's Gratitude
After two days and two nights at Westport Vets, Sherman was discharged to continue his recovery at home. Tracey said: “We didn’t think that he was going to make it initially as he refused to eat for a couple of days. We had a few trips back and forward to Westport Vets, but thankfully he started to eat again. If you think that there is something wrong with your animal, go with your gut instinct. You know your dog and what is usual and unusual. Speed is of the essence. I am so glad that Westport operates an on site 24/7 service. We had recently moved to Westport, and previously we would have had to drive Sherman into Edinburgh. The time that this would have taken, would have almost certainly caused Sherman to have a different outcome to the one that he had. Phew! Sherman means the absolute world to us!”
