A couple mourning the loss of their beloved pet dog have spoken out in the hopes of raising awareness of the condition that took his life.
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James Hocking and Natalie Quinton adopted Hamish the huntaway from the RSPCA back in 2011 and had already survived a parvo case when he was just a puppy.
But on Sunday, Mr Hocking found his pet laying motionless.
"I went round the side of the house to do something and I saw him laying near his box and I whistled to him and he didn't move," he said.
"I went to check him and he was gone."
Described as "lovely old soul" and "the biggest galoot" Hamish was taken to Orange Vet Hospital for a post-mortem as it was feared he may have been baited.
"That's when they told us it was a classic case of GDV," Mr Hocking added.
"It was something we'd never heard of and it's obviously shattered us.
"I'd hate to have anyone else have to find their dog like that."
GDC stands for gastric dilatation-volvulus and is a rapidly progressive life-threatening condition of dogs.
The condition is commonly associated with large meals and causes the stomach to dilate, because of food and gas, and may get to a point where neither may be expelled.
As the stomach begins to dilate and expand, the pressure in the stomach begins to increase.
Ms Quinton praised the vet for giving them some peace of mind.
"He was very appreciative that we'd allowed him to have a look at him and find out what had happened," she said.
"So many times they have dogs pass and they don't know why.
"That's why we had the autopsy done, it's just been really sad."
Mr Hocking agreed.
"He was so sympathetic," he said of the vet.
"He was so understanding and spoke to things in layman's terms and was a lovely young fella."
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