I received this the other day. Thought maybe you all would be interested in it - and possibly participate.
Dear Greater Cincinnati Saint Bernard Club,
my name is Taimur Alavi and I’m a UK-based vet that’s running a study investigating the link between gastric dilatation and volvulus (a condition I can see from your website that you’re very much aware of) and the surgical procedure ‘splenectomy’ (removal of the spleen).
Currently veterinary literature is confusing as to whether or not your dog having a splenectomy increases the risk of them subsequently having a GDV. This is important as vets don’t know whether or not the additional risks involved in performing a surgery to prevent a GDV (‘gastropexy’) are worth taking at the same time as they perform a splenectomy.
We are hoping to investigate this issue and, through this, be able to issue some guidelines based on hard facts that will help prevent GDV’s occurring.
At the end of this email is a link to a (very) short survey that, with enough responses, would allow us to investigate this association.
I would be massively appreciative if you would be willing to spread this amongst your breeders and owners, - perhaps via your newsletter or a link on your website?
https://www.survey.bris.ac.uk/awb/splenectomy_gdv_association/Please let me know your thoughts.
Sincerely,
Taimur Alavi
Mon Dec 10, 2012 11:12 pm
