Bloat risk factors - Page 4

boxer · #31 08-03-2005, 05:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lmuglia

II know most Boxers drink alot, but I'm afraid that when we're playing, etc., and she drinks from her dish that I make sure is outside in case she needs it, can she drink too much and then go play hard again without concern? I know after she eats we don't do anything major like a walk or play/roughhouse until at least an hour later. Am I being overprotective?

Well, the research of Purdue University (two separate studies) showed that there is no link between the occurance of bloat and exercise after eating or drinking. So no, there is no need to try to keep her quiet after eating or drinking.

Lmuglia · #32 08-03-2005, 06:01 AM

Debbie you're great - and FAST! - I just printed out that whole Purdue article - I shouldn't have posted that question so fast without reading the article completely. But I really am relieved - and now also realize I'm being an idiot and don't have to "protect" her so much. Ah well, better safe than sorry, I guess, but now i won't have to get that look from her that says, "Oh please..."

Thanks

P.S. I'm wondering, since the elevated dog dishes are such a huge factor in bloat, apparently, perhaps the Dog Board might want to rethink the advertisement for such on the board? I just noticed it: "Elevated Pet Feeders" - or isn't that controlled by the Board? Just a thought...

thanks again.

Siribird · #33 11-01-2005, 11:40 AM

Wow, this is really interesting. I too have a raised dish for my girl. I just think about how "uncomfortable" it looks for them to eat with their heads all bent down, but... sometimes I feel I think about how * I * would like to eat....But, I am not a dog, so I shouldn't presume that what I would like, is what's best for my pup.

An odd thing happened to my boxer girl last week. She was in my bed, and started kind of twitching... I assumed she was dreaming, b/c that's what it seemed like. So, I nudged her with my leg to wake her up b/c the whole bed twitches with her, etc. It soon stopped.
Then, this past Sunday, around 3am, she was twitching again, then she hopped up and spun. I immediately knew something was weird, so I hopped up too, and brought her into the bathroom where I could see her in the light. She was having muscle twitches all over. Not violent ones, but enough to freak me out. Her pupils were completely dilated and she kept burying her head in my chest. I just held her and talked calmly to her, saying "You're a good girl...you're alright." This "mild muscle twitching" went off and on for about an hour. But, all the while she wagged her tail, went potty outside (both kinds) and begged for food, so I gave her 1/2 a cup of the lamb and rice (that my partners dog eats) with warm water. She ate it up. I briefly got online looking for similar symptoms and causes... and around 5am, we went back to bed, where I felt her "mildly twitch" for another ten minutes. After that, she acted totally fine. The next morning she was fine, fine, fine. Acted normal. After talking to the vet, it looks like she a.) got into something toxic (I did see mushrooms in the lawn) or b.) she's possibly anemic, so I should keep high protein treats, etc. around for when she wakes up at night. There's also c.) brain tumor, neurological disorder, etc....which I'm hoping is not he case.
The point to this way-to-long-post is that it dawned on me, that I could be "killing her with kindness" Sounds dramatic, but here's the thing...I had switched her to a trout and potato diet (b/c she shows signs of food allergies, and it's great quality food), she also has a raised dish, plus, I give her flaxseed oil... all of these things I do b/c I care so damn much. I want "the best" for her.... but...geesh...maybe the trout and potatoes have low traces of mercury... or maybe she wasn't getting enough of the right kind of protein with it.... and maybe the raised dishes are causing her to eat too fast, and not digest properly, etc. All "what if's" but.... I'm thinking I need to get back to the basics. So, lamb and rice, fed on the floor, it is from now on. Thanks for taking the time to read this, I truly appreciate it. -L

**gmacleod** · #34 11-01-2005, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lmuglia

...perhaps the Dog Board might want to rethink the advertisement for such on the board? I just noticed it: "Elevated Pet Feeders" - or isn't that controlled by the Board?

No, it isn't controlled by the board. And we can't ban everything

A lot of petstores advertising on google probably sell rawhides and pigs ears, and all sorts of other things we advise are dangerous for your pet, or inhumane.

Most people though, understand how advertising works. And just because an ad appears on the google banner here, won't run out and buy it imagining it's endorsed in any way by Boxerworld. I bet there's no rush on the boxer shorts either (though there's plenty of advertising for those too).

micmay · #35 11-12-2005, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boxer

Well, the research of Purdue University (two separate studies) showed that there is no link between the occurance of bloat and exercise after eating or drinking. So no, there is no need to try to keep her quiet after eating or drinking.

I will attest to that. When I was a teenager we lost our beloved Irish Setter Mac to gastric bloat and torsion. he was not a food gulper, he quietly ate and went to my older brother's room to sleep for the night. Around 5am my brother was woken up by Mac. He was 13 (the dog not my brother) when we lost him. I do believe heredity plays a factor as Macs mother died from torsion/bloat when he was a puppy.

furrykidmom · #36 01-08-2006, 03:21 PM

Does anyone know exactly why raising the dishes increases the risk of bloat?

**gmacleod** · #37 01-08-2006, 04:21 PM

Nope. Nobody even knows exactly why or how bloat happens in the first place, so it's a little difficult for anyone to be able to say how the various factors that contribute do so.

All that is known about raised feeders is that it increases the risk of bloat occuring - by a little more than 100%.

**gmacleod** · #38 01-08-2006, 06:45 PM

Well, it's possible there's something in that too. Speed of eating is another factor that increases the risk of bloat.

Incidentally, if you have a speed eater, two good ways of slowing them down are to eithr put a couple of large (too big to be swallowed) rocks in the food bowl that they have to eat around, or to ditch the food bowl altogether and feed kibble spread out on a towel (can't gulp it when each bit has to be picked up individually

).

jennw · #39 01-08-2006, 10:04 PM

another question-

earlier in the post it was mentioned that large volumes of food contribute to bloat. i think someone mentioned that if you feel 2-3 cups of high quality you should be safer.

we 2 cups of cannidae with canned innova mixed in 2X a day. Am I feeding him way too much? He's 8 months and a little over 50lbs. he's also very lean and muscular from all the excercise.

thanks for any info-

**gmacleod** · #40 01-09-2006, 04:03 AM

I don't think 2 cups of food in a meal is really too much in respect of food volume, so I wouldn't be concerned about it from a bloat aspect. Or if you want to play really safe, you could split his food into three feedings instead of two (same overall amount, but smaller meal size more frequently fed).

4 cups a day seems like a huge amount for a high quality food like Canidae though! I think most people feed closer to 2 cups daily. And the feeding guideline is 2-3 cups... Now the guideline is only a guide - good for Mr Average. But you're exceeding it by a pretty wide margin, and feeding canned food on top of that. Yes, you may be overfeeding here