I think it is time to change my vet.
My GSD, Bo is a 5 month old male. This vet came highly reccomended from references at my wifes work and also a few references on the internet, we think we did our due dilligence in selecting him.
Upon our first visit the first thing you notice is that he has "sold out" to a large brand of dog food, I would never feed him.
First thing out of the assistants mouth is "we reccomend" this diet.
Our last trip was the vaccinations. Which thankfully I had done some homework. The final parvo was the only shot I allowed. The 4 others "reccomended" were declined.
Now we are at a point where he is going to be fixed, my wife calls to make an appointment and they suggest/reccomend the stomach stapling for torsion. I have read Eds thoughts on the matter. I just want to be 100% certain I am making the right decision here.
This is our first GSD, and I have read here that we are going to make alot of mistakes (screw him up). However in this situation, I want to know I am doing the right thing.
Thank You

I'd find a new vet.
He seems to have really latched on to the profit side of the job, and is literally asking you to disregard your dog's health and well-being, to fatten his wallet.

 Quote: alyssa myracle

I'd find a new vet.
He seems to have really latched on to the profit side of the job, and is literally asking you to disregard your dog's health and well-being, to fatten his wallet.

I agree. It's so hard to find good vets who aren't trying to sell you some shot, pill or bag of "scientifically formulated" cereal... if you have other choices, I'd check them out. If not, or if the other choices are even more inferior, then you'll just need to firmly let this vet know where you stand on diet, vaccinations, and any other issues - let them know you have a right to your own decisions and you won't tolerate their sales pitches.

~Natalya

Does his parents and/or siblings have a history of bloat? I think I would be getting a 2nd opinion from another vet. JMO.

 Quote: Marylou Wilton

Does his parents and/or siblings have a history of bloat? I think I would be getting a 2nd opinion from another vet. JMO.

No history

From what I understand they only should staple the stomach if the dog actually bloats. Because if a dog bloats it has a better chance of bloating again. I have never heard of anyone doing it "just because" the dog is a GSD (or other bloat prone breed).

A neuter operation does NOT open the abdominal cavity. They would be doing two separate surgeries. Opening the dog's stomach just to do that, and at the same time as a neuter, would be very tough on the poor little guy.

 Quote: angela burrell

From what I understand they only should staple the stomach if the dog actually bloats. Because if a dog bloats it has a better chance of bloating again. I have never heard of anyone doing it "just because" the dog is a GSD (or other bloat prone breed).

I would not advocate stomach stapling here (seems HIGHLY unnecessary in this case), though in reference to Angela's post - I've actually heard of many, many bloat prone dogs (mostly Great Danes) getting their stomachs stapled as a precautionary measure - many Dane breeders actually recommend the procedure, and the easiest time to have it done is when the dog is already under for a spay/neuter (in females you DO have to go into the abdomen, so it's a bit easier there). The stapling should be done no earlier than 6 months old, but is most effective if done after the dog reaches it's adult size (allowing internal organs to grow freely). The incidence of bloat in Danes is quite high though, compared to so many other large breeds... whether the invasiveness of stapling is really the best way to avoid catastrophe, I don't know, but I do know it's a major worry for Dane owners.

I personally don't have experience with dogs bloating, nor do I own a breed that is considered especially at risk, but it seems like a pretty extreme preventative that should be reserved for only seriously at-risk dogs. A 5 month old Shepherd pup doesn't fit that bill.

~Natalya

A woman I work with had her Basset Hounds stomach tacked at the time of spaying. Her vet also recommended spaying at 5 months! Grrrr. It cost her an extra $400 to tack on top of the $500 spay. Unless there is a serious history, or REALLY high incidence in the breed, personally I wouldn't. But that's just me.

I did have a Fila that bloated and had torsion (while I was away on my honeymoon), that was tacked during the surgery. I still wouldn't preemptively do a surgery that was not necessary. JMHO

 Quote: larry johnson

I think it is time to change my vet.
My GSD, Bo is a 5 month old male. This vet came highly reccomended from references at my wifes work and also a few references on the internet, we think we did our due dilligence in selecting him.
Upon our first visit the first thing you notice is that he has "sold out" to a large brand of dog food, I would never feed him.
First thing out of the assistants mouth is "we reccomend" this diet.
Our last trip was the vaccinations. Which thankfully I had done some homework. The final parvo was the only shot I allowed. The 4 others "reccomended" were declined.
Now we are at a point where he is going to be fixed, my wife calls to make an appointment and they suggest/reccomend the stomach stapling for torsion. I have read Eds thoughts on the matter. I just want to be 100% certain I am making the right decision here.
This is our first GSD, and I have read here that we are going to make alot of mistakes (screw him up). However in this situation, I want to know I am doing the right thing.
Thank You

One thing that does make sense to me is the stapling of the stomach of a dog who has bloated even without torsion. Is there anything at all about this dog that makes him appear to be more vulnerable? Is he gassy? Does his stomach visibly puff up for a while after he eats? Have first-degree relatives bloated?

Nico bloated without torsion and they presented the surgery as an option after she was totally recovered.
but we opted instead to change her eating habits and keep the treats well up and out of the way. With the thought that if she bloated again we would then do the surgery.

She bloated after eating an entire box of Wellness large dog treats and 1/4 bag of dog food.

Now she gets three smaller meals a day and at least an hour of rest after each meal, we have had no problems since other than some serious gas if she over eats.