Poisoning of Portuguese fauna: a significant threat?

Abstract

ResumoIntroduction: Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) is associated with a wide range of pathophysiology including obstructive shock, hypovolemia, cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal and renal dysfunction [1]. Diagnosis will be made using X-ray or ultrasound imaging. After repositioning the stomach, the operation performed is a gastropexy. Each method of gastropexy has benefits and disadvantages, with different effectiveness. Gastropexy is an operation that can be used to prevent a first torsion, especially when dogs undergo splenectomy, or to avoid a reoccurrence [2]. Post-operative management is critical to avoid complications which are responsible for the majority of deaths. The treatment is very broad as it is necessary to comprise different conditions, such as renal insufficiency, cardiac problems or post-ischemic lesions for example [3]. GDV is a pathology that mainly affects dogs and can be fatal. Three types of torsion are known: the organoaxial, the mesenteroaxial, or in both planes [4]. The predetermining factors for this disease include large and very large breeds, age, sex, temperament, stress or stretching of the hepatogastric ligament [5]. Objectives: The aim of this article is to understand the causes and factors of GDV and to study the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, post-operative management and treatment. Methods: Literature revision. Conclusions: GDV is a critical syndrome that can be fatal but it can be treated. The predisposing factors of this syndrome make it possible to perform preventive gastropexy, and avoiding complications which increase the risk of death. Post-operative monitoring is fundamental as most losses do not occur during operations but afterwards, due to complications. Monitoring of vital indicators, biochemical tests, antibiotics and analgesics are therefore essential.Introduction: Wild animals' intentional poisoning of is a crime in the EU (and Portugal), even though these practices are still used to eliminate some individuals from agricultural areas, and some of these intoxication events are