Gastric dilatation volvulus in dogs – signs and care

Updated 2026-09-30 · 1 sources

Based on: PDSA

See a vet now

This is an emergency – contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet right now. Gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV) is when a dog’s stomach fills with gas and then twists.

What to do now

What you can do now

Contact your vet or the nearest emergency vet now.
Note when it started, how often it happens and what else you see.
Take a photo or short video to show the vet.
Let your dog rest somewhere calm.

Don't

Do not give any human medicine.
Do not wait if it gets worse.

What it is

GDV is when the stomach bloats, fills with gas and then twists.^[1] It is a painful, life-threatening condition.^[1] Symptoms often develop suddenly and get rapidly worse, so rapid veterinary treatment matters.^[1]

Signs

Retching or trying to vomit without bringing anything up, or bringing up a small amount of foam
A swollen tummy
Restlessness
Excessive drooling
Collapse
Difficulty breathing
Pale gums

sudden

Causes and risk factors

Large dogs
Giant dogs
Deep-chested dogs
German Shepherds
Great Danes
Dobermanns

How a vet finds out

Abdominal x-rays

How vets treat it

Surgery
Antibiotics
Pain relief
Fluids or a drip
Releasing gas from the stomach before x-rays or surgery, depending on how bloated the dog is

Breeds prone to this

Veterinary charities list these breeds as more likely than others to get this condition. Each breed page lists the inherited conditions documented in the breed.

What the experts say

“If your dog has a GDV they will need rapid treatment from your vet, which is likely to include: Reduce bloat – depending on how bloated they are, your dog may need some gas released from their stomach before having x-rays and/or surgery.”
— PDSA [1]

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure or can't stand up: go to the nearest vet now.

Not sure how serious it is?

OkPaw asks a few quick questions about your pet and tells you in 30 seconds whether it can wait. Free on Google Play for Android.

OkPaw is on Android now – an iPhone version is on its way.

Common questions

What is gastric dilatation volvulus?

It is when a dog’s stomach fills with gas and then twists.^[1]

What signs can GDV cause in dogs?

Signs include retching or unproductive vomiting, a swollen tummy, restlessness, excessive drooling, collapse, difficulty breathing and pale gums.^[1]

When should I contact a vet?

Contact your vet straight away if your dog has symptoms of GDV.^[1]

Sources

PDSA

How this page was made: written with the help of AI from the sources below, then checked claim by claim against those sources. Urgency levels follow OkPaw’s fixed safety rules. It is guidance, not a diagnosis. How we write our pages