is there such an operation, dogs can have, to eliminate the risk of bloating?

No.
:(

I understand that if a dog has and survives bloat, they can stitch the stomach walls to the surrounding walls to prevent future torsion.
Kat

Not 100% gauranteed to work.
Dawn R.

so the dog cant have the operation unless it has bloated?

No. It's complex surgery, and carries its own risks.

Sorry for sounding thick but what is bloat? I have read a few posts now about it on this forum and still not clear as to what it is, is it similar to colic in horses? Also, are some breeds more susceptible to bloat than others?

Hi Sarah,
Bloat is the common name for 'gastric dilatation' with or without the complication of gastric torsion. The stomach fills with gas (thought to be due to excessive fermentation of carbohydrates), which blows up like a balloon. Without emergency treatment the stomach itself is liable to twist round on itself (torsion), thus preventing the gas escaping, either as burps or into the gut. The dog then very quickly goes into shock and death can follow very quickly.

It can happen in all breeds, but deep-chested breeds (boxers, greyhounds etc) are thought to be particularly at risk.

Yes, some breeds are certainly more suseptible to Gastric Dilatation with (or without) Volvuous. Thats bloat. Volvulous means, twist. Those breeds that are deeper in the chest, than they are wide in ribcage, are the ones most at risk. But it can happen to any dog of any breed or crossbreed.
The stomach twists on its axis sealing the entrance and exit, then any food residue remaining in the stomach, begins to produce gases as it is being to be broken down in the early stage of digestion. These gases cannot escape, so the stomach begins to distend, blood vessels that serve the stomach and other organs become constricted and tissue viability deteriorates.
Dawn R.

Sorry to sound like a repeat JG, I just take ages to type.
Dawn R.

You think you've got problems! I can type fast enough, but the have to go back and try to insert 'n's and spaces, because the keyboard is playing up, ad wordstedtobe very log ad hard to understad!

Thanks for the explanation both of you, it sounds horrific, once it starts I would imagine there being rapid deterioration, just another thing for me to worry about, Miss Worrybox as I am already. It does sound similar to horse colic, I will be careful about feeding my lad before and after exercising (I read the other posts about bloat).

You can have an elective gastropexy without waiting for your dogs to bloat. I know of someone who had this done to two of her dogs as so many in that line had GVD. A bit like some women having a mastectomy prior to developing breast cancer. Very drastic but they thought it was right for them because of the genes etc.

Personally I would havenot have a gastropexy done unless they were already on the operating table.

i know some vets do suggest having the operation done, when a dog is spayed/neutered.