The Effect of Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy on Weight Loss, Insulin and Glucose Levels in Dogs

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of sleeve-gastrectomy procedure on weight loss, glucose and insulin blood levels in overweight dogs.

In the current study, 5 overweight dogs (31.6±3.03kg) were selected for sleeve-gastrectomy procedure. Insulin and glucose levels were measured from the blood samples that were taken before the surgery and weekly 1.5 month post-operatively. The weight of the dogs was also measured at the same time. The surgery was performed according to the technique described by Gagner 2009, and the dogs received special diet during the recovery period to end of the study.

One dog died due to dehiscence and leakage 48 hours post-operatively. Decrease in mean weight was 6.25±0.44 in the first week after surgery and the weight loss process continued to end of the study. Changes in insulin and glucose blood levels demonstrated to have pulsatile patterns. Insulin levels decreased for the first week, but its level increased in the second week period. Again, insulin levels demonstrated to have decreasing pattern in the following 4 weeks. On the other hand, the glucose levels changed each week and did not show any certain pattern.

Post-operative weight loss was observed in all cases but it was not statistically significant. It could be due to limited number of the samples. The glucose and insulin changes were attributed to hormonal changes particularly gut hormones that were affected by sleeve-gastrectomy procedure but further detailed studies on hormonal effect are required.