Objective: To establish if splenectomy increases the incidence of gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) in dogs.
Methods: Two case-series studies of cases and controls were performed. Records of dogs that had undergone splenectomy (37 cases) were compared with records of dogs that had undergone other abdominal surgery (43 cases). Records of dogs that presented for non-elective gastropexy (33 cases) were compared with records of dogs presented to the hospital for unrelated reasons (39 cases). Survival following splenectomy and development of GDV in the first 12 months following surgery were retrieved from the clinical records and by questionnaire-based canvassing of the referring clinician. The incidence of GDV following splenectomy was established and the association between a current episode of GDV and previous splenectomy was assessed.
Results: There was no evidence that splenectomy was associated with an increased incidence of subsequent GDV (P=0.469). No association between a current episode of GDV and previous splenectomy was found.
Clinical significance: Splenectomy is not associated with an increase in the incidence of GDV.