Retrospective Acid-Base Analysis in Dogs With Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (2003-2018): 100 Cases.

Semiquantitative acid-base analysis reveals complex acid-base disorders missed by traditional analysis in GDV.

This retrospective study analyzed acid-base status in 100 dogs with gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) presenting to an emergency department between 2003-2018. Traditional acid-base analysis revealed normal results in 37% of cases, with mixed respiratory and metabolic acidosis being the most common abnormality (22%), followed by primary metabolic acidosis (13%). Hyperlactatemia was present in 89% of dogs, yet elevated anion gap was detected in only 8%, suggesting the anion gap is unreliable for identifying lactate elevation in GDV. Semiquantitative analysis using the Stewart approach identified abnormalities in all 54 analyzed dogs, revealing complex concurrent processes: acidotic mechanisms primarily involved hyperlactatemia (87%), unmeasured anions (50%), and hyperchloremia (28%), while alkalotic mechanisms included hypoalbuminemia (59%) and contraction alkalosis (39%). These findings demonstrate that GDV-affected dogs present with highly variable acid-base disturbances that cannot be reliably assessed using traditional analysis alone. The authors recommend individualized patient assessment and suggest semiquantitative analysis may provide more complete understanding of underlying acid-base pathophysiology in GDV cases.

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