[akgriffin]

I read somewhere that elevated food and water bowls can cause bloat and other medical conditions, is this true? i tried to so a search but could not find anything in the forums about it. ty.

 

[chevysmom]

I'm interested in knowing this also. On one hand, I heard it was better for digestion and the other hand, not that great as it can cause troubles.

 

[jarn]

it's a good way to feed animals w/mega-e.....helps everything get down.

i haven't heard anything else about it though.

 

[Superpup]

VEry interested in this also... my boy has an elevated feeding and drinking station... and I thought it was better for them..

 

[MiasMom]

http://www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/bloat.htm

This is from the Perdue University study on Canine Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (Bloat)



The following factors have been identified as “non-dietary risk factors”* for bloat:

1. Using a raised food bowl - 110% risk increase associated with using a raised food bowl
2. Speed of eating (1-10 scale) – 15% risk increase for each unit increase in speed of eating (for dogs weighing from 49 to 100 pounds)
3. Age in years – 20% risk increase for each year increase in age
4. Chest depth/width ratio (1.0 to 2.4) – 170% risk increase for each unit increase in chest depth/width ratio
5. First degree relative with BLOAT – 63% risk increase associated with having a first degree relative with BLOAT (First degree relative is defined as a sire, dam, litter mate or offspring.)

*Published in November 2000: Glickman LT, Glickman NW, Schellenberg DB, et al. Non-dietary risk factors for gastric dilatation-volvulus in large and giant breed dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2000; 217:1492-1499.

 

[daniella5574]

Wow... I have elevated food/water units for all my dogs as well... Spent a pretty penny getting 4 of them, now I should switch again?

 

[wrenny]

how can the increases be over 100%? dumb way of making the numbers at the end of the study.

 

[WiscTiger]

Just like you can have a price increase on something that is say 150%, it would be a.5 times.

 

[arycrest]

I've read that dogs should eat out of a raised bowl. I've read that dogs shouldn't eat out of a raised bowl. Sorry I can't answer your question, but FWIW, the Hooligans eat from bowls on the floor.

 

[MaggieRoseLee]

Since my personal experience and beliefs say that bloat is genetic, I don't think the bowl level impacts anything at all.

I do have a dog with megaesophagus and, as a result, have all 3 of my dogs with raised water and food bowls. All 3 of my dogs have never bloated, and the oldest just passed on at 15 years from nothing related to bloat issues (old age...).

 

[3K9Mom]

I think we pick our battles. If we are confident that our dogs aren't otherwise predisposed, then maybe we use raised bowls. MRL knows how fast her dogs eat, and she knows that she feeds appropriate meal amounts and whether her dogs are stressed or generally anxious dogs (another indicator for bloat that I've seen frequently mentioned).

I'm really cautious. I set a timer before/after exercising and meals; I feed from the floor; I don't feed grains at all; and I try to keep mealtime as mellow as possible. I know of no history of bloat in my dog's family. But I don't risk it. There are other things I'm sure I risk that other experienced GSD owners would probably think I'm crazy for. I dunno. That's why I say that we pick our battles. It's risk management -- as long as we're making our decisions *consciously.* But feeding and drinking off the floor seems like an easy one to me.

 

[bearlasmom]

every vet i have ever spoken to has suggested NOT USING ELEVATED BOWLS. i contacted the vet college in guelph ontario and they agreed. i ahve spoken to numerous breeders who also state the same thing. i use to feed our dogs on elevated bowls until the death of our wolf. then i threw them all out and started using them on the floor. im even timing bearla from now on before and after her meals to ensure that she does not exercise to strenuously before or after she eats and i am watching the amount she drinks as well before or after meals (avoid exercise for 1 hr before or after and the same goes with water. our vet also suggested wetting down her food from now on to make it expand BEFORE it hits her belly and im checking ehr dog food to ensure that fat is not one of the first 4 ingredients and i am watching for all the other dangers that can cause bloat. i guess we have to weigh whether or not bowls are moe expensive with or without a platform via a dog with health problems based on the platform or healthy dog without the platform.

 

[3K9Mom]

Bearla's Mom, I thought I had read that you should NOT add water and wet kibble, specifically because of bloat issues? Something to do with fermentation?

Or am I imagining things again?

 

[Cooper&me]

Pick your battles is right. If there is even a hint that raised food bowls could be harmful then why use them?

It is unnatural. You never see wolves eat that way.

That said MY shepherd likes it when I raise his dish to intice him to eat. I think he would love a raised food dish. Not going to happen though.

My boxer had a scare with bloat as a juvinile. (she was using raised dishes). Not saying that was the cause but I do EVERYTHING I possibly can to make sure it never happens again.

The only time during the day Ava is in the house is the hour after meals. All dogs have learned that is nap time.

 

[Cooper&me]

The no water added is mostly for cheaper kibbles. Try toavoid any with citrs acid in them.

 

[3K9Mom]

Ah. Thanks Michelle. I feed raw. But I thought I read that somewhere.

 

[MiasMom]

I thought this site was informative also, and I'm sure her link was posted here before:

http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/bloat_and_torsion_is_nutrition_a_factor.htm

She doesn't agree with a good portion of the Perdue study. Being that she is an owner/breeder of the breed with highest incidence of bloat, she probably has a big investment emotionally as well as financially in this information.

I don't know, seems like conflicting information wherever you go. I guess you just have to do the best you can. (Reading the other posts in another section--I'm picking up some Gas-x too.)

 

[bearlasmom]

i had always thought that as well but our new vet says wet it well they are sick and only give them a half portion so that the eat it all, when that is done give them a bit more. maybe as people are stating, we have to decide which battle to fight i guess. i have always had bearlas bowls on the floor, read all the ingredients and what order they are in, etc. i have follwed each and every rule the vets have stated pre bearla developing problems with bloat the past few days. i folowed each and every rule because i wanted to AVOID seeing a dog develop this horrible disease ever again after loosing my precious king to torsion and seeing the horrible suffering he indured at the onset. i swore i would do anything and everything to avoid seeing my precious bearla get bloat or torson yet despite all my efforts she develped it. it breaks my heart 3k9mom, believe me and if i could figure out exactly what i did wrong to bring this about i would change it. she is my life and i feel horrible that she is suffering now. just to note, in order to try to avoid this i even purchased science diet perscription for the past 2 yrs at 100 dollars a stupid bag and it didnt avoid it, so i guess there is no real way to guarantee what will do it and what wont.

 

[3K9Mom]

Originally Posted By: bearlasmom it breaks my heart 3k9mom, believe me and if i could figure out exactly what i did wrong to bring this about i would change it. she is my life and i feel horrible that she is suffering now.

Bearla's Mom, I completely understand. That's why I asked. There's so much conflicting information. And Bloat terrifies me. We exercise. Then set the timer for 1 hour (at least). Then eat. Then set the timer for 2 hours (at least). THEN he can play/exercise again.

That's every day, throughout the day. Paranoid? Who me?

Yup.

 

[bearlasmom]

Bearla's Mom, I completely understand. That's why I asked. There's so much conflicting information. And Bloat terrifies me. We exercise. Then set the timer for 1 hour (at least). Then eat. Then set the timer for 2 hours (at least). THEN he can play/exercise again.

That's every day, throughout the day. Paranoid? Who me?

Yup.

[/quote]
my heart and full understanding go out to you. it is so puzzling trying to figure it all out. we think we are doing everything that we can, we research, google, read, talk to vets etc. we go through trial and error etc but never really figure out how to protect them 100%. i have looked at other dog sites for specialised breeds such as chihuhuas etc and it appears that only gsd parents are worries like us. oh well. maybe that is why our dogs live so long.