EMERGENCY: If your dog is showing signs of bloat RIGHT NOW, do not wait. Call Dogwood at (404) 609-1234 or drive directly to 1234 Powers Ferry Common SE, Marietta, GA 30067. We are open 24/7 with veterinary surgeons on-site.

If Your Dog’s Stomach Looks Swollen and Hard Right Now, Call Us Immediately

We know you might be reading this from your car, from the floor next to your dog, or in the middle of the night while everyone else is asleep. Take a breath. You’re doing the right thing by looking for answers.

If your dog’s stomach is swollen, hard to the touch, or your dog is trying to vomit but nothing is coming up, this could be a life-threatening condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus, or GDV. Most people know it as bloat — but this isn’t the kind of bloating that goes away on its own. A bloated dog emergency requires immediate veterinary intervention, and every minute counts.

Dogwood Veterinary Specialty and Emergency in Marietta, GA is open 24/7 with surgeons ready to perform emergency GDV surgery. If you’re searching for an emergency vet near me or an emergency vet Marietta, you’ve found the right place. Call us at (404) 609-1234 now, or keep reading to learn what’s happening and what to do.

What Is GDV? Understanding Dog Bloat and the Stomach Twist

GDV stands for gastric dilatation-volvulus. In plain language, here’s what happens: your dog’s stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid (that’s the dilatation part). Then the stomach rotates or twists on itself (that’s the volvulus). When this twist happens, it seals off both ends of the stomach — nothing can get in or out.

This is why you may hear people refer to it as a stomach twist in dogs. The twist cuts off blood supply to the stomach and surrounding organs, including the spleen. Pressure builds rapidly, compressing major blood vessels and reducing blood flow to the heart. Without treatment, GDV leads to shock, tissue death, and can be fatal within hours.

It’s important to understand that simple bloat (gastric dilatation without the twist) can progress to GDV without warning. That’s why any sign of a dog stomach swollen hard should be treated as a potential emergency. You cannot diagnose the difference at home — only X-rays and a veterinary exam can determine whether the stomach has twisted.

GDV Symptoms: Know the Warning Signs

GDV can develop suddenly, sometimes in as little as 20 to 30 minutes. Watch for these symptoms:

• Distended, swollen abdomen that feels tight or hard to the touch
• Nonproductive retching — your dog tries to vomit but nothing (or very little) comes up
• Restlessness, pacing, or an inability to get comfortable
• Excessive drooling or hypersalivation
• Rapid or shallow breathing and elevated heart rate
• Pale or dark red gums
• Weakness, staggering, or sudden collapse
• Looking at or biting at their abdomen

You do not need to see all of these signs to act. Even one or two of these symptoms — especially a swollen belly combined with retching without vomiting — warrants an immediate trip to the emergency vet. Trust your instincts. If something feels wrong, it probably is.

Why Time Matters: The 1–2 Hour Window

GDV is one of the most time-sensitive emergencies in veterinary medicine. Research shows that dogs who receive treatment within the first one to two hours of symptom onset have significantly higher survival rates — often above 80 percent. After that window narrows, the risk of complications climbs steeply.

Here’s what happens when GDV goes untreated: the twisted stomach continues to expand, compressing the vena cava and portal vein. Blood can’t return to the heart efficiently, causing cardiovascular shock. The stomach wall begins to lose blood supply and can start to die (a process called necrosis). Toxins build up and are released into the bloodstream. The spleen, which is attached to the stomach, may also twist and lose its blood supply. Cardiac arrhythmias — dangerous irregular heartbeats — are common and can be fatal even after surgery if not monitored.

This is not a condition where you can “wait and see.” This is not something that will resolve with a home remedy or by waiting until morning. If your dog is showing symptoms, the safest decision you can make is to head to an emergency veterinary hospital right now.

What to Expect at Dogwood: From Arrival to Recovery

When you arrive at Dogwood Veterinary Specialty and Emergency, our team is prepared to move quickly. Here is what the process typically looks like:

• Stabilization. Our emergency team will immediately assess your dog’s vital signs, start intravenous fluids to combat shock, and manage pain. We may attempt to decompress the stomach using a tube or trocar to relieve pressure before imaging.
• Diagnostic imaging. X-rays will confirm whether the stomach has twisted. A classic “double bubble” sign on radiographs indicates GDV and tells us surgery is needed.
• Emergency GDV surgery. Our surgeons perform emergency GDV surgery to untwist the stomach, assess tissue viability, and remove any portion of the stomach or spleen that has been irreversibly damaged. During surgery, we also perform a procedure called gastropexy, which tacks the stomach to the body wall to prevent the stomach from twisting again in the future.
• Post-operative recovery and monitoring. After surgery, your dog will be closely monitored in our intensive care unit. We watch for cardiac arrhythmias (which can develop 12 to 72 hours after surgery), manage pain, and ensure your dog is recovering well. Because Dogwood is a full specialty hospital — not just an ER — your dog has access to specialists in surgery, internal medicine, critical care, and more, all under one roof, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our goal is not just to save your dog’s life in the moment, but to give them the best possible outcome for long-term recovery.

Which Dogs Are at Higher Risk for GDV?

While GDV can happen to any dog, certain factors increase the risk significantly:

• Large and giant breed dogs with deep, narrow chests: Great Danes, German Shepherds, Standard Poodles, Doberman Pinschers, Weimaraners, Irish Setters, Gordon Setters, Saint Bernards, and Basset Hounds
• Older dogs — risk increases with age, particularly in dogs over seven years old
• Dogs who eat one large meal per day instead of two or three smaller meals
• Fast eaters who gulp their food and swallow air
• Dogs who eat from elevated food bowls (contrary to an old myth, elevated bowls may actually increase risk in large breeds)
• Dogs who are stressed or anxious, particularly in boarding or kennel environments
• Dogs with a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) who has had GDV

Great Danes are the breed most commonly affected, with a lifetime GDV risk estimated at over 40 percent. But do not assume your dog is safe simply because they are not a “high-risk” breed. Mixed-breed dogs and smaller breeds have also been diagnosed with GDV. The key is recognizing symptoms early and acting fast.

Prevention Tips: Reducing the Risk of Dog Bloat

While there is no way to guarantee your dog will never develop GDV, there are evidence-based steps you can take to reduce the risk:

• Feed two to three smaller meals per day rather than one large meal
• Use a slow feeder bowl to prevent gulping and reduce the amount of air swallowed during meals
• Avoid vigorous exercise for at least one hour before and after meals
• Keep fresh water available at all times, but discourage your dog from drinking large quantities rapidly after exercise
• Minimize stress during feeding times — feed dogs separately if there is competition over food
• Discuss prophylactic gastropexy with your veterinarian, especially if you have a high-risk breed

Prophylactic gastropexy is a surgical procedure that can be performed at the time of spaying or neutering. It involves tacking the stomach to the abdominal wall before any emergency occurs, dramatically reducing the risk of the stomach twisting in the future. If you have a breed at higher risk for GDV, ask your primary care veterinarian or one of our surgeons at Dogwood about whether this procedure is right for your dog.

Don’t Wait. Call Dogwood Now.

GDV is one of the few emergencies in veterinary medicine where the difference between life and death is measured in minutes, not days. If your dog’s stomach is swollen, if they’re retching without producing anything, if they seem restless or in pain — do not wait for symptoms to get worse.

Dogwood Veterinary Specialty and Emergency is here for you right now. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our surgeons and emergency team are ready to help your dog the moment you walk through our doors.

Call (404) 609-1234 | 1234 Powers Ferry Common SE, Marietta, GA 30067 | Open 24/7