Wet food too?
I just spoke to our breeder who said that ALL sheepdogs should have some wet dog food for their entire lives to prevent bloat. I'm curious to hear everyone's thoughts on this. If there's already a link to this topic, please let me know. I did a brief search, but couldn't find what I was looking for. Thanks! |
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| NUHWHAT???
Dora (my breeder) feeds all dry to her dogs, has for years, and hasn't had 1 case of bloat on one of her dogs with this brand (eaglepak). I'd say you're ok to feed just dry- Pipster's been on dry only (with treats too- peanut butter, cheese, and dry taining treats) since 8 weeks. I'll let other members chime in too... Let's see what the general consensus is. |
| I don't have any research to share but we have fed wet for several years. I don't think bloat is completely understood so we follow the basics of adding water to the dry food and allowing it to absorb before feeding; feeding twice a day instead of just once; no play for about 1 hour after eating; no excessive water drinking.
Here's a link to the American Animal Hospital Association's patient info section on bloat- http://www.healthypet.com/library_view.aspx?id=30 Sorry I don't have more to share... it's a very serious condition and I wish there was a fool-proof way of preventing it. |
| Thirty years of feeding dry without any issues. |
| Lucy eats only canned food, Clyde eats only dry and Bear gets a little of both because I'm trying to get him more interested in eating. Clyde and Bear both wind up with a few mouthfuls of Lucy's food at least once a week though!
I've always been told that elevated feeders will help prevent bloat but (and correct me if I'm wrong, Jil) but Jil's trainer said that the new school of thought is that the elevated feeders aren't good for preventing bloat. Any thoughts on that? |
| I've heard that too now, I'd be interested on thoughts on that too. |
| It wasn't the trainer, it was a friend of mine whose dog got bloat a few weeks ago. He's fine now, but her holistic vet said the current thought is that the elevated bowls are NOT the way to go to help prevent bloat.
She did some internet research and found the same info out there. I haven't checked it out very thoroughly myself yet, but did find this article: http://www.bogartsdaddy.com/bouvier/Hea ... rticle.htm upon doing a search right now. And this one: http://www.vet.purdue.edu/epi/update2.htm What scared me with Michelle's dog, Mojave, was that she said that nothing was out of the ordinary with the way he was eating, he just started acting funny and she said he bloated up before her eyes.  |
| Ah, yes the holistic vet. Well, at least I got the Jil told me part right! |
| And you remembered that someone told you!
I don't know about you, but I need to be reminded about stuff once in a while, just so I don't think everything is always going to be hunky dory.  |
| All the dogs I've had have always eaten dry. Except my first toy poodle that ate dry mixed with canned.
I have never had any problems with bloat. Both my big dogs have elevated bowls. |
| That's interesting and scary!! Must do more research. Because I think it's easier for Louie to eat out of the elevated bowls. He looked kind of awkward when they were on the floor.
Louie eats dry food. My older dog eats wet food, too. |
floofdog wrote: And you remembered that someone told you!
I don't know about you, but I need to be reminded about stuff once in a while, just so I don't think everything is always going to be hunky dory. My memory is awful! It's not even funny.. I can't imagine how I'm going to be when I'm older... |
| I just took a look at those sites, Jil. I wish they would've specified the amount of elevation too. Do they actually say why? Is it because they can shovel it down faster? It sounded like they were implying that certain dogs (not just breeds) were just going to get it no matter what, too. That stinks. |
| My guys dined on wet puppy food until they went to regular. I got the elevated dishes when Beau was sick because I thought it would be easier for him to stand and eat. Well, we ended up hand feeding him and the rest of them refused to eat if their food wasn't on the ground....I have 4 brand new sets in my basement along with boots and coats they won't wear. |
| Daisy- How frustrating when you buy cool stuff and they refuse to use it!
Time for ebay! Lark (puppy mommy to be) |
bestdogsx4 wrote: I have 4 brand new sets in my basement Sounds like eBay time! along with boots and coats they won't wear. |
bestdogsx4 wrote: I have 4 brand new sets in my basement
along with boots and coats they won't wear.I could use one more now... |
ButtersStotch wrote: bestdogsx4 wrote: I have 4 brand new sets in my basement along with boots and coats they won't wear.I could use one more now... Me too! Want to offload to us forum members? Must easier than ebay. Thanks for your comments on the food. I spoke to the OES breeder around here and she never heard about wet food to prevent bloat. Sounds like if they are going to get bloat, they are going to get it regardless. Not much to do to prevent it. She also didn't think OES were any more prone than other dogs. There are other breeds that are more susceptible. We'll stick with dry food (easier for me) with occassional goodies. Neither Annie or Foz have ANY problems eating. Both would eat their bowls if they tasted better  Foz eats so fast and keeps getting hiccups. Annie has an elevated feeder which I do think helps a little for indigestion. |
| Pip gets hiccups too- but not after he eats... I think it is usually if he gets himself super excited about something... Much like his owner- I get nervous/excited hiccups too. |
We have an elevated bowl set for Drez and I really love it.  We got it after we watched her eat one night. Because she had to bring her head all the way down to the floor, she would take bigger bites of food so she would have to bend less often. Then she would just gulp everything instead of chewing it better, because she wanted more! Ever since we got the elevated bowl, she's done much better. |
Iriskmj wrote: Pip gets hiccups too- but not after he eats... I think it is usually if he gets himself super excited about something... Much like his owner- I get nervous/excited hiccups too.
Lol. That brings back puppy memories. Clyde hiccuped so much, I took him to the vet because I thought he was having a seizure! |
| We just use dry food in our house and haven't had any problems. We tried an elevated bowl but Lucky wouldn't have it. He prefers to lay down and eat with the bowl between his legs. |
And what's up with this? Luke will fill his mouth with food and then drop it in the living room and eat it He's very neat about it and never leaves a mess, although if he did Rosco the vacuum would take care of it  Hence the name Luke the kook |
| We are dry here, but I feed twice a day so the food has room to swell in their tummies. Several of mine lie down to eat. They don't eat as fast that way. My old Pyr girl gets her food dish elevated about 4 inches because of a pinched nerve in her neck. She won't tolerate the bowl any higher.
The inside water bowls are elevated That was because of Sam, when he drank more water and drool ended up on the floor around the bowl. Also I can mop up anything spread by the sheepdog beards.
If your dog is a gulper there might be more problem with bloat........tho do vets really know what causes bloat?? For gulpers, perhaps they are being pressured by another animal. Eating alone might help. |
bestdogsx4 wrote: And what's up with this? Luke will fill his mouth with food and then drop it in the living room and eat it
He's very neat about it and never leaves a mess, although if he did Rosco the vacuum would take care of it Hence the name Luke the kook Why do you think Clyde's feeder is in the living room? I just cut out the middle man and moved the whole feeder so he didn't have to bring in the food! |
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