[BlackGSD]

At what age do you start to worry about bloat?

We know not to feed a dog that has just had major exercise, nor do you want to exercise a dog shortly after a meal.

BUT, puppies usually play right before AND after meals. (I am talking about puppies still with the litter.)

At what age do you start keeping them from exercising before and after meals?

 

[ellen366]

some of the article that i've read say that bloat is uncommon in puppies; i start being really careful when they 9-10 mos old; my rationale is this, they are now pretty much adult size; don't know if i'm right or not, but i figure better safe than sorry

 

[Superpup]

Thanks for posting this question. I have a puppy right now that I have applied the same rules as to my 2-year old adult GSD.
Would make it easier if I would not have to wait with the puppy... since I only have so many hours per day..

 

[BlackGSD]

Originally Posted By: SuperpupThanks for posting this question. I have a puppy right now that I have applied the same rules as to my 2-year old adult GSD.
Would make it easier if I would not have to wait with the puppy... since I only have so many hours per day..

You're welcome.

I have always made them "wait" like an older dog too.

That's why I asked. ESPECIALLY with puppies, Heck if you are feeding 3 times a day and making them wait an hour or 2 between food and exercise, how in the WORLD are you ever going to get time for any playing, "training"

and socialization?

 

[Superpup]

BlackGSD,
I know

NOT ENOUGH TIME...

 

[BlackGSD]

I wonder if I should post this in the "General" section? A LOT of "views" and only 2 people responded. I KNOW there are more than 2 people on this board that have had puppies!

 

[Barb E]

Well Dante was 4.5 months old when I brought him home, so I'm waiting for some one else to answer

 

[WiscTiger]

OK, I am silly one that had 3 pups that were a total of 1 year apart, I don't think I am an expert. But here goes. When they are less than 5-6 months old I really don't worry. But I still give them at least 1/2 hour down time before eating and at least that much before hard excercise. I also watch them to make sure they don't guzzle their water.

I have only heard of one pup younger than 6 months old having a torison and the Vet said it was probably cased by an injury verses food/water and excercise. The pup was in an outdoor kennel with a male and female adult dog.

 

[middleofnowhere]

Oh you worry about bloat just every now and again since you have first heard of it - at least that's my routine.

Excersize and eating in close time have nothing to do with bloat. that's like the old wife's tale about not going swimming after you eat... nothing to it.

What they think may have to do with bloat:
physiology(?) of the dog - deep chest = prone to bloat
raised feeders = more cases of bloat but that may because great danes, a breed suceptible to bloat, are classically fed on raised feeders
kibble with citric acid = more cases of bloat
straight dry kibble may have something to do with bloat
fast eating may have something to do with bloat

If we could prove any of this for sure, there would be a big notice going out and all of us would change whatever we were doing that put our dogs at risk. No notice yet.