It has come to my attention that there is some confusion or misunderstanding about terminology concerning "tacking" or pexying the stomach.  Whether it is a prophylactic procedure  or one done at the time of GDV or bloat episode (or shortly after)--there is a big difference between the two procedures.  We may loosely use the term "tacking" when referring to fixing the stomach in position, but some veterinarians literally do just tack the stomach in position with a few sutures opposed to actually permanently attaching the stomach in the correct position.  The tack of a suture or two will break down within a few days to a weeks, and then the stomach is no longer fixed in the correct position and can torsion again.  A gastropexy is a procedure where the stomach is attached to other tissues to keep it in the correct anatomical position (hopefully) permanently.  There are several procedures to pexy the stomach (circumcostal, belt-loop or incisional), and all are equivalent in strength once the incision has healed.  Which procedure is used is up to your veterinarian and you is also dependent on the time available.  But next time you hear someone say the stomach was "tacked" be sure to clarify what procedure was done and be sure that it was actually pexied.

Fall 1999 American Bloodhound Bulletin