Raw diet eliminating reoccurring bloat?

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its_lulu

its_lulu

Boxer Pal
Anyone have experience with a raw diet eliminating reoccurring bloat?

Lulu is spending the night at the ER Vet for the second time in 10 days due to bloat. (The third time in seven months) Thankfully all three times we have gotten her to the vet before any twisting has occurred. The ER Vet recommended a change to Raw as a way to prevent possible bloating again. She's been getting a mix of Solid Gold Holistiqe and Innova RM since the summer. For the last 10 days shes also been on Reglan and Tagamet with each meal. I've done everything possible to minimize her chances of bloating: 4 meals a day from an elevated height by hand, to slow her down, and also limiting her exercise.

Lulu has food allergies to Chicken, Flaxseed, Kelp, and a few other foods as well. With her food allergy to chicken and such a sensitive system - does anyone have any recommendations on how to start a raw diet?

Also any website or book recommendations?

Thanks for any help.

(She's scheduled for a heart ultrasound next month to make sure her heart isn't causing the problem)
 
gmacleod

gmacleod

Elusive Moderator
Staff member
I don't know of any specific studies regarding dietary type (ie. raw versus kibble) and bloat. However, I have seen papers presented at veterinary conferences claiming (a) that a natural raw diet does reduce the risk of bloat (or perhaps more accurately, kibble diets increase the risk), and (b) that the incidence of bloat is substantially lower in those parts of the world where kibble uptake is the lowest. I understand those papers to have been based on studies, not just the presenting vet's opinion - but I've never seen the data from said studies (hence the above comment about not knowing of any).
 
Walkssoftly

Walkssoftly

Completely Boxer Crazy
Phazyme?

its_lulu said:
Anyone have experience with a raw diet eliminating reoccurring bloat?

Lulu is spending the night at the ER Vet for the second time in 10 days due to bloat. (The third time in seven months) Thankfully all three times we have gotten her to the vet before any twisting has occurred. The ER Vet recommended a change to Raw as a way to prevent possible bloating again. She's been getting a mix of Solid Gold Holistiqe and Innova RM since the summer. For the last 10 days shes also been on Reglan and Tagamet with each meal. I've done everything possible to minimize her chances of bloating: 4 meals a day from an elevated height by hand, to slow her down, and also limiting her exercise.

Lulu has food allergies to Chicken, Flaxseed, Kelp, and a few other foods as well. With her food allergy to chicken and such a sensitive system - does anyone have any recommendations on how to start a raw diet?

Also any website or book recommendations?

Thanks for any help.

(She's scheduled for a heart ultrasound next month to make sure her heart isn't causing the problem)
Click to expand...

Just curious as to wether you've ever used Phazyme with Lulu? My precious Tuffy was very prone to bloat.. (unfortunately I listened to the vet and bought him ELEVATED bowls early on.. and never realized that the studies show that this actually INCREASES the chances of bloat! ":o( ) But I gave Tuffy (he weighed 85lbs) two pepcid a.c. in the morning.. and two pepcid ac at mealtime (approx. 5pm) AND two phazyme gel caps.. I also kept the phazyme gelcaps close at hand at bedtime.. and if he started showing the signs, I'd break the capsules open and squeeze the phazyme into his mouth.
We would get lucky and this would usually do the trick, but it was not just a now and then treatment w/ him, it was an every day thing toward the end of his years.. (he passed away in June of this year at 9yrs of age, w/ a massive tumor and blood clots that developed after surgery)
Anyway, maybe?? the phazyme and lowering the bowls will help? I have two new pups, and am feeding raw... hopeing that this will eliminate many of the past issues Tuffy suffered from. His tummy was sensative too.. and I'm sure he had allergies to the grains.. That would be the reason to get rid of kibble.. and switch to raw.. Then you don't have those grains to deal with.. and you know what your boxer is getting foodwise..
Best of Luck.. Bloat is sooo terrifying! Just awful when you can't help them.. and they look so desperate to you...
Lulu is in my thoughts n' prayers...

K~Walkssoftly~
Momma of two white angels.. w/ horns..... lol
 
its_lulu

its_lulu

Boxer Pal
update

I know its been awhile but I just wanted to post an update and say thanks for the responses. Lulu has had a rough few weeks. She ended up having a gastropexy and exploratory surgery done to see if we could get an answer for her GI/Bloating problems. The biopsy's of her stomach showed damage from chronic allergic reactions. I knew her kibble diet was giving her gas but I had no idea it was essentially ripping up her insides. She had no other outwardly signs of a reaction. I feel horrible for not checking into alternative diets sooner.

I met with a holistic vet yesterday and she has recommended Lulu transition slowly to a raw diet. We are going to stabilize her on home cooked meals and slowly cook the meat less and less.

Thanks for the phazyme tip. I'm going to ask my vet the next time we go in. Lulu is on some pretty strong medicine to help calm her system right now but its good to know for the future.

Thanks again to everyone who posts here daily, I've been able to gain a lot of information just from searching past posts.

Amy
 
S

sgbtab

Banned
amy glad to hear that lulu will be fine. appicon if you have any questions regarding raw just post it and someone will help.:)
 
Walkssoftly

Walkssoftly

Completely Boxer Crazy
Hang in there lulu

*awwwwwwwwww* Bless lulu's heart... AND yours!!! It's soooo hard to see them go through such a thing.. The panic of bloat is so traumatic for both you and her.. Always scared me to death with my precious Tuffy...
I wish you and lulu ALL the luck with this update... I pray that she heals quickly and adjusts to the raw diet well...
Hugz to you BOTH!

Hang in there.....

K~Walkssoftly~
Momma of two white holy terrors....DON'T let their innocent looks fool ya! lol
 
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