Bloat risk factors

kit02

kit02

Super Boxer
My Owen is a speed eater. I’ve tried things in his bowl but for him it didn’t work. So what I do is feed him 3 meals a day and at each meal I split it in half. So I give him half, wait 5-10 minutes, then give him the rest. I don’t know if that actually helps but it seems to be less food for him to gulp down at once.

The Whole Dog Journal recently reviewed bloating also and diet can play a role also. Lower changes of dogs bloating on raw or homecooked rather than all kibble.
 
G

Grimmja

Boxer Booster
I'm confused/concerned about the raised feeders. On other forums here I've read, it seems to be pretty split, and we opted for a raised feeder. Our 1 year old has been eating from a raised level for several months now and I now have no idea whether or not to stop because of this study...are there others just as credible that say raised feeders is not that big of a cause? Any insight into this? I also thought I've head it's better on their joints to eat from a higher level...I'm confused...
 
gmacleod

gmacleod

Elusive Moderator
Staff member
Well, different members will always have different opinions. It is up to you to decide which opinions you prefer ;)

I note that the results of the Purdue veterinary study - that found that raised feeders increase the risk of bloat - has been quoted on this site many many times since the study results were released in 2000. What Debbie has posted are the findings of a second scientific study that confirms the findings of the Purdue vets, and adds further new knowledge to the field.

So as far as scientific evidence goes, it is against the use of raised feeders.
 
BeckyNC

BeckyNC

Boxer Insane
Tae eats very fast so I started putting a kong and a Nylabone in her dish and even splitting both of her meals into two parts. I've recently switched to feeding her off the floor--no joke. I spread a towel on the floor and spread her kibble out all over the towel. This way she can't gulp it down and the towel slows her down even more. I had read one suggestion from someone on BW to use a cookie sheet, but think the towel works better since she can't glide along with her tongue as she could with a cookie sheet!
 
AutumnDove

AutumnDove

Boxer Buddy
...

My Shilo eats relatively fast ( altho not as fast as shephard I had-Shilo atleast chews some of the food) I have tried to slow her down, but whenever she eats slowly, she throws up her food and then gobbles it up fast- not sure if she is doing that so I don't have a chance to wipe it up, or if because it did not settle correctly when eaten slowly. But whatever the reason, eating slowly does not agree with her.Any ideas on how to change that?
 
B

boxer

Boxer Insane
If anyone is interested in reading the full text of the study quoted at the beginning of this thread (Diet-Related Risk Factors for Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus in Dogs of High-Risk Breeds), it is available online at the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association http://www.jaaha.org/cgi/content/full/40/3/192

(Note that link is to the second of the two studies for which I posted the abstracts. The first one, I believe, is still awaiting publication)
 
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BoxerDaneFam

BoxerDaneFam

Boxer Booster
This is great information since I have 2 breeds prone to bloat, my dane and boxer.

I feed 2 meals, breakfast at 6 a.m. dinner at 6 p.m. They don't gobble the food down, well our new girl does, but maybe because she wasn't sure when her next meal was going to come.
 
J

joe keating

Boxer Pal
GDV took my Buddy Thanks for all the information very informative

Fellow boxer lovers I have just lost my 8 year old boxer "Buddy" I am in NY on a visit and had placed him for a couple of days in a good kennel near my home in CA. As far as I know he had no history or prior symptoms of GDV and was said to be fine that night of his death. They found him in the early morning. The vet did an autopsy and found cause to be torque stomach which i assume is the same as GDV something i had not heard of before. Buddy and i were virtually insepartable . He ran 2-6 miles a day was in great shape and had no major other health issues. He was extremely friendly and at home anywhere with other people. He Ate high quality canned food ( max 2 small cans and some dry food twice a day from a dish. He never seemed to eat too fast (but what is too fast?) He did once in a while exhibit "Boxer belly where he would not eat at one meal but then would start eating normal the next day. I feel so bad that I was not there to possibly do something or recognize that something was wrong It sounds like a very critical situation and one which must be acted on very quicking I am not sure i could have "saved him even if he was home. This is only the second time he has even stayed at a kennel (before it was two days) He seemed happy at the last stay and I dont think this had anything to do with it. Any thoughts to add to the conversation re GDV? I do miss Buddy so already. This is Certaiinly something I will now be attuned to with future boxers (and I know there will be one at some point)Thanks for support and any thoughts. JOe
 
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