126 Explore the Reason behind Acute Vomiting- A Focus on Gastric Distension

Introduction

Have you ever experienced a situation where you are still happy with a slice of cheesecake or chocolate ice cream after a good dinner? I am not hungry anymore, but if it is for dessert, then yes, please! How can I still be able to eat more when I am “full” already? And what about vomiting after a huge meal? Well, it all starts with a phenomenon called gastric distension.

Student Learning Objectives

• Students will be able to describe the difference between physiological and pathological gastric distension and identify common causes such as overeating, rapid ingestion, and pica.

• Students will be able to explain the progression from acute gastric distension to Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) and recognize the potential symptoms and risks associated with GDV.

• Students will be able to summarize the diagnostic tools and treatment options for gastric distension and GDV, including the importance of early intervention.

Physiological Gastric Distension

Physiological gastric distension occurs when food is swallowed into the stomach. This is a natural process. The stomach enlarges itself to accommodate the entrance and storage of the food, allowing room for more food.

Causes of Acute Gastric Distension in Dogs

Think of a dog’s stomach like a balloon. Normally, this “balloon” has some air, food, and liquid in it. A problematic situation is when the stomach is overstretched or distended too much due to the excessive presence of air, fluid, and/or food. At this moment, the size of a regular balloon grows bigger and bigger, giving rise to some serious diseases, for example, gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) in dogs. Vomiting might be noticed during acute gastric distension. The gastric distension can happen for a few reasons:

1. Rapid Ingestion of A Large Meal: when dogs devour a large meal, they can swallow a lot of air along with their food. Accumulation of excessive food, water, and extra air in the stomach can lead to gastric distension.
2. Intake of the wrong things or foods: dogs are known for their passion for food. It is not uncommon that something that should not be inside the stomach ends up there, like spoiled food or garbage. Excessive gas is produced in the stomach as these unusual contents go under digestion. Some foods that are high in fat or hard to digest can be more bloat-inducing in certain species of dogs.
3. Health issues: in some cases, a dog might have a health issue that makes it hard for them to function normally, leading to a buildup of gastric contents.

All in all, when the stomach gets filled up with too much air, fluid, or food, it is like the balloon getting over-inflated. This over-inflation is what we call gastric distension. The stomach stretches out more than usual, and it can become very uncomfortable for the dog, even making them want to vomit, just like how you might feel if you eat way too much at once.

Causes of Acute Gastric Distension in Dogs

Think of a dog’s stomach like a balloon. Normally, this “balloon” has some air, food, and liquid in it. A problematic situation is when the stomach is overstretched or distended too much due to the excessive presence of air, fluid, and/or food. At this moment, the size of a regular balloon grows bigger and bigger, giving rise to some serious diseases, for example, gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) in dogs. Vomiting might be noticed during acute gastric distension. The gastric distension can happen for a few reasons:

1. Rapid Ingestion of A Large Meal: when dogs devour a large meal, they can swallow a lot of air along with their food. Accumulation of excessive food, water, and extra air in the stomach can lead to gastric distension.
2. Intake of the wrong things or foods: dogs are known for their passion for food. It is not uncommon that something that should not be inside the stomach ends up there, like spoiled food or garbage. Excessive gas is produced in the stomach as these unusual contents go under digestion. Some foods that are high in fat or hard to digest can be more bloating-induced problematic.
3. Physical issues: in some cases, a dog might have a health issue that makes it hard for them to release gas normally, leading to a buildup.

All in all, When the stomach gets filled with too much air or fluid, it’s like the balloon getting over-inflated. This over-inflation is what we call gastric distention. The stomach stretches out more than usual, and it can become very uncomfortable for the dog, just like how you might feel if you ate way too much at once.

Activity: Diagnostics and Treatment

Walk through this interactive storyline to see how a veterinarian would go about diagnosing and treating gastric distention.

Summary

Gastric distension could be physiological or pathological. When the enlargement process happens too rapidly due to large amounts of food or fast ingestion, acute gastric distension could occur and lead to symptoms such as vomiting and bloating. If left without caution, this situation might develop into life-threatening Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV) when the stomach gets twisted. Large amounts of meals, fast ingestion, pica, or other health issues could all cause acute gastric distension. Diagnostic tools include physical examination, bloodwork, and radiological imaging. Treatments require quick action to release the pressure during the early stages, medications and surgeries would be applied if the situation worsens.

Assessment

Test out your new knowledge with this short quiz!