Hi after reading another thread on here this subject came up..seems to be a difference of opinions as to wether or not raising food/water bowls helps reduce the risk of bloat.I own a large breed (DDB) and from advice of the breeder have his bowls raised,but after searching on here do not know which is the best way to feed..any advice opinions etc much appreciated..Be nice to hear how other owners of dogs prone to bloat feed theirs..

Hi Stu31. I feed my 7 month old Mastiff with raised bowls and have done since we got him. I agree, there is a lot of conflicting advise out there about bloat and raised feeders. I think you just have to read as much info as you can and make up your own mind about it. If anything, i think it is much more comfortable for him to use a raised bowl rather than eat off the floor. :-) How old is your Douge?

My dogue is 9 months old and has always had his bowls raised..did try feeding him off the floor once but he looked so awkward and uncomfortable..have read and searched alot but it seems fairly split down the middle!!I just want to do the best for him.

I decided not to raise the bowls for my tibetan mastiff puppy - too much conflicting advice. I asked the breeder and he admitted he didn't and a friend who bred mastiffs for years never raised the bowls for hers and they didn't bloat. TM's can bloat, but my lad doesnt gulp his food and I make sure he eats in his cage and stays there for at least half an hour afterwards. The other week he got out when I removed his bowl, did the wall of death round the living room and threw his breakfast up. I spent the next 4 hours having palpitations in case he bloated on me!

Fingers crossed. I think a couple of mitigating fators to help avoid bloat (regardless of ifyou raise the bowl or not) are to keep them calm before and after a meal and feed even the adults twice a day and don't let them drink too much in one go before/after strenuous exerise.

Thanks for your reply phoebe..One thing i always do is let him lie down in peace and quiet for a good half hour or more after he has fed..so hard to know what is best on subjects like this..

Having a dog that 'bloated' I know the fears you are going through. I have a large breed myself and still feed off the floor. She's too tall to comfortably feed at floor level. The contributing factor in this case was stress, excitement and feeding too soon!  Just be sensible with the no exercise before and after feeding, and not too much water following a feed.

Hi Stu31,
I do still raise bowls (even after I was told not to on the thread you were talking about!) my pups legs bend awkwardly if I don't! I think one of the main factors with bloat is a build up of gas, and if it isn't expelled. Well I don't seem to have this problem with blade as he does some fantastic burps after eating, guaranteed! So hopefully he will be fine, but i am still cautious with exercise etc.
Em

This is taken from an article by Shannon Wilkinson "What promotes Bloat"

Raised Bowls Raise the Risk!

It has long been an accepted practice to elevate the food bowls of giant-breed and taller large-breed dogs. The theory is that, in addition to comfort, a raised food bowl will prevent the dog from gulping extra air while eating, which in turn should reduce the likelihood of bloat. However, this recommendation has never been evaluated formally. It was included in the large variety of factors followed in a Purdue study,* and one of the most controversial findings. The research suggests that feeding from an elevated bowl seems to actually increase the risk of GDV.

The researchers created a "multivariate model" that took into account a number of factors, such as whether there was a history of GDV in a first-degree relative, and whether the dog was fed from an elevated bowl. Of the incidences of GDV that occurred during the study, about 20 percent in large-breed dogs and 52 percent in giant-breed dogs were attributed to having a raised food bowl.

The raw data, which don't take into account any of the additional factors, show that more than 68 percent of the 58 large-breed dogs that bloated during the study were fed from raised bowls. More than 66 percent of the 51 giant-breed dogs that bloated during the study were fed from raised bowls.

* These findings were reported in "Non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatationvolvulus in large- and giant-breed dogs," an article published November 15, 2000, in Volume 217, No. 10 of Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The study followed more than 1,600 dogs from specific breeds for a number of years, gathering information on medical history, genetic background, personality, and diet.

Whole Dog Journal Volume 8 Number 1 January 2005

I personally do not and would never raise the bowls for my Dobe.  When my bitch bloated she has knocked the lid off a full food bin and helped herself (Equivallent to feeding from a raised bowl) and I feel that and other factors contributed to her bloating (the food was not soaked which II always do, she could have dashed about after eating it etc etc).  The vet did say that although they know how to treat bloat they do not know the definative cause.  He also said some people do everything right and it happens and some people so everything wrong and it never happens.  All I can say is I would never wish it on anyone as it is truely frightening.  If in doubt speak to your vet for advice and take it from there.

some good info on here : http://www.greatdanelady.com/

My GSD is fed from a raised bowl, not for prevention of bloat, but because she was finding it a bit difficult eating from floor lever & the Cavaliers kept trying to nick her food

Now she has a bowl raised up & has no problems anymore & can get her food eaten before the Cavaliers raid her dish ;)

Lou, my Cavalier with SHM, has rasied water & food bowls as it can help relieve SHM pain(he's not having any at present so t's a preventative for him)

>>The vet did say that although they know how to treat bloat they do not know the definative cause. 

And that as the say is the bottom line. You have to do what you feel is right and comfortable for your dog. Which ever it may be. :)

Whether you decide to use raised feeders or not. It is extremely important for you to be able to recognise the symptoms of bloat. Because dogs can go down hill very quickly, so it is very important to get them to the vet ASAP if they do get bloat.

cos is 7 months old and as all ways had his bowls raised and was told that  rotties need to have thier bowls raised and does get any problems

Totally agree mackleback. Its amazing just how quickly it kicks in. Maddie had 40 minutes from onset of bloat to being operated on - it was horrible! :( I just thank god for the vets being open and someone around to take her in straight away. We were very lucky that day.

Ever since seeing a case of bloat first hand I have always raised my bowls.  Not only that but because it looks like its easier for them to eat from and stops them chasing the bowl around the kitchen floor and tipping up their water bowls :D.

I have everything raised but also take the precautions to prevent bloat like no exercise 1 hour before or after food (sometimes more) and make sure they rest after eating - as my bitch rott gulps her food down I think if I had the bowl on the floor she would swallow more air, which could potentially cause her to bloat!

I would always feed a larger breed or one with problems form a raised height - puts added pressure on their joints too otherwise ;)

I now feed my dobes from the floor and my male is tall. Dogs of all types have been eating like this for hundreds of years before someone decided to raise bowls, although the majority of foods fed these days do enable dogs to just gulp them down.

I understand however, that people don't want to take the risk.......so each to their own.

IMO stress, vigorous exercise (before/after eating) and gulping food down are bigger risks.

Angela x

exactly - dogs in the wild dont eat from raised bowls?  I feel this increases their chance of gulping air...........  each to their own as they say :-)  I suppose until there is a proven cause of bloat we can all decide what is best for our dogs.  I once got told that my feeding a complete food had caused my bitch to bloat!!! Can you belive it.  But that is another debate :-)

The films I've seen of wild canines eating has them lying down, gnawing from the carcass, not standing up ... ;)

Thanks Lisa and everyone else for the replies..will have to delve into it a little deeper by the looks of things.Really sorry to hear from those whose dogs have bloated and also people that have witnessed it..it sounds terrifying..when did you first suspect your dog had bloated?..and what was the main symptom that led you to react?..sorry if these seem silly questions but i have read information on bloat and there seems to be lots of indicators of it just wondered if some symptoms occur more readily than others.

I feed my GD from raised bowls and always will with future pups too, oh yes i plan on more :D

Stu, first off Maddie actually refused to finish her food, I suspect she had already started to bloat or it only took a few mouthfuls to start it off. Then she started retching but not producing anything. Then she was aimlessly circuling and flopping to the floor, panting and retching. After a few minutes of this I noticed her looking rather 'fat'.  This was when I knew. You just do :( Whether this is how it starts for all dogs, I really do not know. But that was it for her.

my bitch "looked fat" like a balloon withing minutes and I knew immediatly - worst thing was when I got to the vets they made me wait in the waiting room even though i had phoned them and told them she had bloat!!!  I have since changed my vet!

Liisa, that must have been awful for you :(

Common Symptoms of Bloat:

Unsuccessful vomiting

Retching
Restlessness
Pacing
Hard distended stomach

HTH

it was very scarey - she also paced and was of her food (she is normally a greedy pooch)

she made a quick recovery and was at home the next day but I am obsessed now.....

Thats terrible that they made you wait!!! I bet you was so mad!!

Thanks Dee.Lisa..I hope I never have to experience it..its always at the back of mind though so we just try and minimize the risk as best we can hence my original query..he is also kept as quiet as we can keep him before meals and for an hour or so after..Thanks again everyone some great replies and very helpfull too.

Hi Stu31  I know some people put a ball in the dogs feed bowl to encourage them to slow down when eating. Obviously don't use a ball that is too small that may cause your dog to choke OR use a ball if your dog is ball obsessed!Kind Regards Clare

We had a scare with our pup at the weekend. She was panting furiously, restless and her stomach was distended and she flinched and growled when we touched it. OH re-read the bloat symptoms while I went to fetch the Gaviscon and phone the vet. One of the symptoms is an absence of digestive sounds (gurgling noises which occur during normal digestion) but our pup was gurgling away like a wee drain and she wasn't trying to vomit.

Anyway, I rang the emergency vet (why do these things always happen in the middle of the night and at the weekend??) who diagnosed colic. I gave her a half teaspoon of Gaviscon and a small pice of toast (as recommended by the vet) and she was right as rain, thankfully!! She didn't half give us a fright, though. Vet also said that Bloat is extremely rare in young dogs.

Now, I thought by choosing to have dogs instead of kids I would avoid the sleepless nights with colicy babies....apparently not :rolleyes: but we were just grateful that it wasn't bloat after all.

*Vet also said that Bloat is extremely rare in young dogs*

Maybe, but it does happen, my pup was only 3mths old when vet had to operate on her for bloat. You need to be aware whatever age dogs are........

Agree 100% Christine. I didn't know it was rare in young dogs until I spoke to the vet so I was preparing to treat whatever my pup had as if it was bloat until told otherwise.

Another member and giant breed owner told me to administer Gaviscon at the first suspicion, which is the only reason I happened have a bottle in the house (in the doggy first aid box).

I hope never to see it for real (fingers crossed) but keep a printout of the symptoms on the kitchen noticeboard just in case.

Thanks Clare but he would eat the ball or try too..lol..We have had one scare with our dog and we phoned the vet he also asked age of the dog and when we said he was a puppy he too said well it probably isnt bloat too!..But as pointed out it can occur in young dogs,maybe rare but it does happen so guess it pays to be vigil whatever age of dog..

On the subject of keeping Gaviscone and similar products in the house, I was always under the illusion that Milk of Magnesia was also useful.

However, upon discussion with people on this board and my breeder I have been told to keep a product to hand that contains Simethicone. Windeze or Infacol I understand contain this product.

I don't feed from raised bowls (personal choice) and I'm not debating this, each to their own. Was going to mention about putting balls in the food bowl (never tried it, never had to) but I see that it's already been mentioned :)

Several of mine eat theier food lying down, notably the ones that eat more slowly..

I have Taz's bowls raised, with his age and stuff just seems alot easier for him to eat and drink that way. Think it all depends on your dogs and how they are comfortable :)

Have all these dogs that have bloated been on dry food? Has anyone heard of Raw fed dogs getting bloat? Just curious :)

I just cant make the connection with the sucking in of air thing??   How does raising bowls make them take in less air?

>I once got told that my feeding a complete food had caused my bitch to bloat<

Liisa i saw a study on the internet "somewhere",cant remember where now :( That dry food up's the chances of bloat dramatically,my vet also agrees with this,i dont think it's quite as far flung as you might think :).

Hailey:  Have all these dogs that have bloated been on dry food?

In Maddies' case, no. She wasn't and still isn't on dry food.  :)

Dee

So far only 1 dog has not been on dry,i'm assuming by the lack of reponses everyone elses has?? :)

My pup was on dry food, my adult dogs are fed raw, only 1 of the adults needed an op, by the time we got to the vet with the 2nd 1 she had started to vomit, vet gave her meds & we waited couple of hrs & it swelling went down :)

In my case I`m convinced stress played a big part with the adults, both times it was an extremely stressful time for us at home.

I too am convinced it was stress, as at the time we had just completed a 4 hour trip in the car (stopping for about an hours' rest) and the whole journey she never settled once :(  I also know of a puppy that bloated after a train journey up to Scotland :( (that was many years ago).

Dee

We have 4 Tibetan Mastiff's 2 Dogue de bordeaux weighting between 10-12 st, and 2 very large newfoundland male 12 st plus, we feed raised and have done since 1979, with no episodes of Bloat but I give every new owners a leaflet from the Northern Newfoundland club of GB, but it explian bloat and what to look for, and what is best if you think there is a chance, all the informationon what can be done while of the way to the vets. This is part of our puppy pack.

Also splitting meals down to 2 a day, helps in my opinion.

lol I feed my GD pup of 6 months off an upside down bucket for now :)