Dogs can still bloat after a tacking is done. Even when the tacking holds. All a tacking does is prevent torsion and gives you more time to get the dog to a vet. I know a surgeon at a major veterinarian school and he told me that dogs who were tacked after bloating can and do bloat again. When a dog's stomach is full of just air, it doesn't sag, but the pressure can close off both sphincters and neither "valve" will allow gas and gastric juices to pass and the stomach continues to swell. This vet told me that in most "spontaneous" cases of bloat, where the stomach suddenly and rapidly fills with gas, the stomach is empty. (Except for gas, that is.) This same vet had tacked the stomachs of hundreds of dogs when he served in the armed forces. I figured he knew what he was talking about... When my one of my dogs, who has a deep chest, was neutered, this surgeon did a "belt-loop" pexy on my boy. It's the strongest of all the methods of tacking, but is quite invasive and is considered major surgery. It is best performed by an experienced surgeon. Paulette McGuirt, GSDCA Member Wellborn-Allemande German Shepherds Qui Me Amat, Amat et Canem Meam ----- Original Message ----- From: <Pinehillgsds@xxxxxxx> To: <gina@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; <showgsd-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 6:32 PM Subject: [ SHOWGSD-L ] Re: Gassy dogs leads to another question... Here's how it was explained to me and how I understand it; when they aren't tacked the buildup of gas initially weighs/pulls the stomach downward in the stomach cavity and blocks the release of gas at either end (think of a kink in a garden hose). That's initially....then it can twist/rotate... When they are tacked, the stomach is held in a fixed position, allowing the release of gas. Now, there are at least four different techniques that I know of to tack, some very successful, others can tear away, so you CAN have a situation where a dog is tacked, the tack doesn't hold and the dog and torsions anyway. Kathy, member GSDCA, DVGSDC Celebrating generations of Dual Titled TC'd Champions visit www.geocities.com/pinehillgsds In a message dated 6/30/2009 5:53:51 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, gina@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes: Speaking of bloat and gassy dogs. I have a question. Why is it that dogs that have bloated and get their stomach tacked tend to not bloat afterward? The tacking only prevents torsion. Yet, a dog that bloats and doesn't have their stomach tacked tends to bloat again? Does tacking the stomach have something to do with allowing gases to be released? I've asked my vet and he has a theory, but says there is no real answer to this question. Curious minds want to know, Gina ROYAL T SHEPHERDS ============================================================================ POST is Copyrighted 2008. All material remains the property of the original author and of GSD Communication, Inc. NO REPRODUCTIONS or FORWARDS of any kind are permitted without prior permission of the original author AND of the Showgsd-l Management. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ALL PERSONS ARE ON NOTICE THAT THE FORWARDING, REPRODUCTION OR USE IN ANY MANNER OF ANY MATERIAL WHICH APPEARS ON SHOWGSD-L WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF ALL PARTIES TO THE POST AND THE LIST MANAGEMENT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN, AND IS A VIOLATION OF LAW. VIOLATORS OF THIS PROHIBITION WILL BE PROSECUTED. For assistance, please contact the List Management at admin@xxxxxxxxxxxx VISIT OUR WEBSITE - http://showgsd.org NATIONAL BLOG - http://gsdnational.blogspot.com/ ============================================================================