It's a life or death case

Gastric torsion is where the stomach has moved to the wrong place. It has twisted around on itself so there is a rapid accumulation of gas producing a huge increase in stomach pressure. This leads to shock, and almost always death, if left untreated.

Larger dogs, especially pedigree breeds like Great Danes or Setters, seem to be more prone to gastric torsion. The actual causes of the stomach twisting are largely unknown but it is linked to breeds that have a deep chest as well as dogs with a heavy body weight for their breed. The syndrome often occurs just after feeding, often when the meal was quite large and the dog has swallowed air with the food. The patient almost invariably will have exercised immediately after eating.

Affected dogs become very depressed very quickly. They try to be sick but cannot and salivate a lot. Their stomach swells up due to the swallowed air and the food . The owner will notice the abdomen has suddenly become rock hard and tense, like a drum. This swollen stomach then presses against the diaphragm (the muscle layer separating the abdominal organs from the chest) and the dog will not be able to breathe easily. The stomach will then twist around on itself blocking its blood supply. The affected tissue will then die if not treated.

Dogs with gastric torsion develop shock very quickly and this is why the vet will need to give fluids and emergency first aid to stabilise the patient before doing anything else. The vet will only operate to completely decompress the dog's stomach, remove any dead tissue and return the stomach to its normal position when they are quite happy the high risk of this surgery is acceptable. The vet may also have to do further operations afterwards to anchor the stomach in the correct place. After the operation no oral liquids and food are allowed, the patient only gets intravenous fluid therapy. If everything goes well, the dog may have the first small amount of food some 24-48 hours later.

Owners of breeds that are at risk often ask me if there is anything they can do to prevent this condition. They can try to minimise the likelihood by feeding several small meals a day instead of one big one. They can make sure their dog rests one or two hours after feeding as well as only providing small amounts of cereal in the dog's diet. Any biscuit meals should be pre-soaked and the food bowl should also be raised to try and prevent the dog swallowing too much air.

Remember GDV has a very high fatality rate and swift emergency veterinary treatment is essential to maximise the survival rate. This is one of the few conditions where you have to act quickly. Q: My little Yorkshire Terrier has dreadful problems with her skin. She develops a severe irritation in her feet over the summer and bites and chews at them until they are raw. Any suggestions? Joanne Simpson

A: First of all you must make an appointment for your dog to see a vet. The vet will no doubt start her on a treatment regime after a thorough clinical examination. However, part of the therapy may well involve identifying the cause of the dermatitis and eliminating it from the dog's life. For example, a dog may react to something in the environment such as house dust, house dust miles, fungi and pollens. This is found initially in younger dogs and is often seasonal at first but may become a permanent problem. The patient will have severe irritation, especially around the face, feet, armpits and abdomen. The dog will scratch and chew so much at their skin that it can become infected and the dog may lose their hair.

The dog may be allergic to a particular food such as beef, milk, eggs or fish. This hypersensitivity may cause itchy skin as well as occasional gastroenteritis. Identification of the cause involves "elimination diets" where the dog has a diet of new food, absolutely no other food is allowed and the clinical signs should regress within eight weeks. At this point, other foods can be introduced into the diet to identify the cause.

The patient may have contact dermatitis where items such as soaps, detergents, shampoos, topical drugs, rubber and other synthetic agents cause an allergy. The reaction may develop with 4-6 weeks of exposure but more commonly over a period of two years. The reaction is most often found on feet, underneath the dog and the neck and chin. The skin is very red and often infected due to self-inflicted wounds.

Identifying the cause of the irritation and making sure the dog has no contact with it may well alleviate the condition.

Q: I have a Bishon Frise dog called Benny who is about one-year-old. I took him to the vet recently as he was lame and the vet said he had to lose his kneecaps. He is fine now and will walk forever if we let him, but his joints do crack when he gets up. Are there any vitamins we could give him to strengthen his joints? Stephen Hirst

A: Young animals have quite specific dietary needs and excessive supplementation can actually cause more problems and are also more difficult to treat. For instance, excessive amounts of calcium can cause bone abnormalities and thickened cartilage, found on the ends of bones forming the joint. I would suggest you talk to your vet about any dietary modifications or changes you are considering for Benny.

Most bone problems occur in younger animals and good preventative dietary advice from a vet or practice nutritionist is very important to avoid future problems. In addition make sure Benny stays his ideal weight. This reduces any strain on joints. Q: My little Cairn Terrier is a handful when I walk him. He barks at cars and pulls me around. Any suggestions? Mavis Connelly

A: Cairns are very energetic, intelligent dogs that need a lot of exercise. They also need mental stimulation when they are exercising. Unfortunately a walk is not enough for this type of dog, so take along something for them to play with. They may also bark through excitement, often jumping around as well as making a noise. Therefore, as well as exercise, they need firm obedience training. and it is worthwhile investigating local dog training classes. It may be also worthwhile considering a dog walking service. There are quite a few people around who will exercise your dog for a small fee. Make sure you check their references or ask another dog owner you know if they can recommend anyone. Good luck.