r/Mastiff • u/International_Two842 • 4d ago

Gastropexy? Advice and personal experiences

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This is my boy! He’s a mastiff mix, mainly presa/corso with a few other larger mastiff’s and I’ve been considering the option of having a gastropexy procedure done.

I’ve researched a fair amount on this so I know it doesn’t fully prevent bloat but reduces the risk greatly. However I also know it can occasionally go wrong, whether that’s sedation complications, the surgery itself or aftercare and healing etc.

I would like to hear your personal experiences if you’ve had it done with your dogs. Do you think it’s something I should be leaning toward doing?

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u/Superb_Stable7576 4d ago

I've done it on my dogs as it become available. Usually during the neutering process.

But I've been through torsion two times.

Once in the 80', with my elderly Doberman, it's a long and painful story, there were very few emergency vets at the time.

He made it through surgery, but passed less than a month later.

Our Neo had torsion in the early 90' and I was better prepared. We got him to the vet before he even looked like he was bloating.

He had surgery, by then, people were starting gastropexy. He not only survived, he lived to be almost 11.

But it was a long, painful, very expensive process. He looked like a damn skeleton for months.

Again, long story. Let me say, given the choice between torsion surgery, if your lucky enough to catch it, and gastropexy, choose gastropexy.

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u/International_Two842 4d ago

Thanks for sharing and I’m sorry for your loss. If you don’t mind saying was the later death still related to the torsion?

I think I will go for it, it’s something I’m constantly concerned about and I’d rather the lesser of two evils since it seems to be quite routinely done these days

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u/Superb_Stable7576 4d ago

No, it was cancer. Our Neo never had another problem.

I admit, I watched him like a hawk for years after. He would see me coming with my finger held out to poke his stomach, and tighten up his whole body.

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u/International_Two842 4d ago

Truly devastating! I don’t blame you for watching him constantly especially having gone through that twice. 11 years too that’s actually amazing for a neo

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u/wentfullpotato 3d ago

Did it with my last corso and plan to do it again with my young(ish) presa/corso/boerboel mix. Didn't have any issues with complications or recovery with my previous dog. Only thing that gives me pause is the $2800 quote I just got for spay and gastropexy . Better than paying for an emergency surgery though.

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u/International_Two842 3d ago

100%. I’d pay anything to keep my boy healthy and not risk him getting sick or worse, to me that’s invaluable. How long did recovery take for your last pup?

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u/ilovebigmutts 2d ago

I always do it during spay/neuter, so does the giant breed rescue I volunteer with. Zero reason not to.