Evaluation of splenectomy as a risk factor for gastric dilatation-volvulus.

Objective: To evaluate whether dogs undergoing splenectomy had an increased risk of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), compared with a control group of dogs undergoing enterotomy.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Animals: 219 dogs that underwent splenectomy for reasons other than splenic torsion (splenectomy group; n = 172) or enterotomy (control group; 47) without concurrent gastropexy.