Elevated bowls

[newark]

Hrmmm

I am one of the folk that was under the impression that raised feeders actually helped prevent bloat. Seems I can't make any choices before I turn around and find out what I 'thought' was the best for Jersey is possibly not the best.

For now, I will stick with the raised feeder. She tends to eat slower from it than when we fed on the ground. I also remember my childhood dog (standard french poodle) used to lie down to eat and the vet (way back then) said it was great for him to do so, as it reduced the strain on his neck. Both of these factors have led me to believe that Jersey is better off with a raised feeder.

I just want to do what's best for my baby! Gosh it's hard to do the right thing - I'm going to take the study info into the vet and see what they have to say about it for us.

 

[DixieDiana]

I use the raised dishes for Dixie. Dixie had trouble holding food in her mouth after her jaw surgery, so I got her the raised dishes and it made eating so much easier for her.

Brittany and Skylar eat from regular floor bowls.

 

[divazoe]

HUH?!

Boxers are not barrel-chested - in fact all of the standards specifically state that the ribs should not be barrel-shaped. :eek:

Deep, narrow chests are associated with an increased risk of bloat, compared to other dogs of the same breed.

I respectfully submit that this statement is absolutely absurd. How can you say that boxers are NOT barrel-chested (who said anything about the ribs)? Use your eyes! This tarnishes the credibility of anything else said by the author. I repeat, use your own judgement and educate yourself by reading MANY different sources. NOT just one!

 

[Eric J]

Diva Zoe,
I wish to point out that Julie M., the author of the comment you attempt to discredit is probably one of the top 3 most learned mentors, posters and readers on Boxers these boards have. Now I am not some follower of her, heck, she and I butt heads constantly, but to attempt to discredit her, when you do not use any true facts, with references to data is absurd. You tell her to read, would you please show us quotes from books proving her wrong and where we can read this data?

 

[SweetGirlie1400]

I do not have my boxer yet but I am STILL COMPLETLY TOORRNN as to how the dog should be fed (elavated or not) i have read MANY different opinions on it and I'm just ssoo confused!! I think the REAL questions we should be asking is.. how do teh animals in the wild eat.. i mean wolves are closely related to dogs.. so if they eat elavated then so should our dogs.. if they eat from the ground.. then so should our dogs... tecnicly if you think about it wolves are eating "elavated" because they are biting chonks from an animal that has been killed... I dont know if this has anything to do with it.. but it would sure be nice to get the "rigth answer" if there IS one.. my aunty feeds her German Shep from stainless steel bowls that are in bowl holders that arnt on the ground but are basicly a couple of cm off the grround so you can count that as being on the ground I think..... he dosnt gobble his food and he's going to be 8 years old and dosnt seem to have any problems. :rolleyes: this is all ssoo cunfusing!

 

[Nikki2002]

elevated feeders

I am the mom to a 14 yr old female boxer YAHOO!! I feed her elevated. I always thought that Boxers were barrel chested dogs, she has the same chest my Doberman does, and I feed him elevated too. I have heard stories of bloat from people who fed elevated and bowls on the floor. I am not really convinced that it plays that much of a part. I read the study and I will keep feeding elevated.

 

[EMWAZ]

Well our other boxer lived for 12 and 1/4 year and we never elevated his food, we've usually been free feeders, but there is never a large amount or more than a cup of food in each bowl. Our dogs bowls are not raised, from what I've seen and read, only my opinion, bloat seems more likely after exertion or eating too fast and too much..

I read the study by purdue also and IMO it basically said the chances of bloat where the same whether you used raised bowl or not..

I now have a 5 and 3 year old boxer and a 5 year old boxer mix..


One question does anyone know if there is a connection with heredity???

 

[BooBoo & Riley]

DivaZoe, I agree with Eric J. No one, I mean no one on this board is as knowledagable about boxers than Julie M. Her advice and knowledge has always been very helpful to me and BooBoo...

Maybe you and her are just not discussing the shape of a boxer chest in the same way as you both think you are.

Either way, there is no need to critize someone else, much less a moderator, like that on this board...that is not what I want to log on to read on a daily basis.

 

[Alisha Mobley]

Re: HUH?!

Originally posted by divazoe

How can you say that boxers are NOT barrel-chested (who said anything about the ribs)?

From the AKC standard...

Body--The chest is of fair width, and the forechest well defined and visible from the side. The brisket is deep, reaching down to the elbows; the depth of the body at the lowest point of the brisket equals half the height of the dog at the withers. The ribs, extending far to the rear, are well arched but not barrel shaped.

Boxers are described as being *deep* chested, not barrel chested.

 

[JulieM]

I respectfully submit that this statement is absolutely absurd. How can you say that boxers are NOT barrel-chested (who said anything about the ribs)? Use your eyes! This tarnishes the credibility of anything else said by the author. I repeat, use your own judgement and educate yourself by reading MANY different sources. NOT just one!

First of all, it's an oxymoron to use "respectfully" and "absurd" in the same sentence.

As for the ribs - what exactly do you think creates the shape of the chest?

You want MANY different sources? OK.

AKC Standard: The ribs, extending far to the rear, are well arched but not barrel shaped.

FCI Standard: Ribs well sprung but not barrel-shaped, extending well to the rear.

UK Standard: Ribs well arched, not barrel shaped, extending well to rear.

Australian Standard The ribs should be well arched but not barrel-shaped. They should extend far to the rear.

Canadian Standard: The ribs - extending far to the rear, are well arched but not barrel-shaped.

That's five. I'm not sure if there are other distinct standards - the majority of countries use the FCI one - but if there are I'll lay odds they also specify a Boxer is not barrel-chested.

The Boxer has a well-sprung (arched) chest/ribs. This picture shows the difference (scroll down):
http://www.geocities.com/juliembw/ct_113.html

I think the REAL questions we should be asking is.. how do teh animals in the wild eat.. i mean wolves are closely related to dogs.. so if they eat elavated then so should our dogs.. if they eat from the ground.. then so should our dogs... tecnicly if you think about it wolves are eating "elavated" because they are biting chonks from an animal that has been killed...

Fair point, although most carcasses are not as high as most elevated feeders - and I think (although I am not positive) that wolves lay down to eat. However, IMO this would only apply if you were feeding your dog what wolves eat - which is not kibble.

I read the study by purdue also and IMO it basically said the chances of bloat where the same whether you used raised bowl or not..

What led you to that conclusion?

One question does anyone know if there is a connection with heredity???

Having a first-degree relative that bloated poses a 63% increase in risk of bloat.

Eric J and BooBoo & Riley, thank you for your kind words!

Nikki - Dobies aren't barrel chested, either - they're well-sprung just like Boxers are. In fact, I'm not sure there is any breed that is *supposed* to be barrel chested....