Four of the deadliest diseases known to man are familiar visitors in the labs of vet med researchers UGA VetMed clinicians keep the university's animal athletes healthy and competitive.
The University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine and the Georgia State Patrol are working together to protect the health of K-9 officers serving alongside troopers statewide.
Since 2025, surgeons at the UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital have been performing preventive surgery on the dogs to reduce the risk of a life-threatening condition called gastric dilatation-volvulus, or bloat.
Many of the state patrol’s canine officers are traditional military and law enforcement breeds such as German shepherds and Belgian malinois.
These dogs are more likely to develop bloat due to their size and body shape.
Bloat occurs when the stomach fills with gas or food.
Because the stomach is not anchored in the body it can flip on its axis when distended, cutting off digestion and the movement of air.
A bloated stomach can also press on major blood vessels in the abdomen and chest, blocking blood flow.
Chad Schmiedt, a soft tissue surgeon at UGA’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital, said bloat and rotation of the stomach triggers a cascade of complications throughout the body.
“It can definitely be a fatal problem,” he said.
To prevent it, surgeons perform a procedure called gastropexy, suturing the stomach to the abdominal wall so it cannot twist.
The report adds to ongoing university-led research relevant to veterinary medicine, animal health, and clinical decision-making.
university website: University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine
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