Raised Food Bowl & Bloat? - Doberman Forum : Doberman Breed Dog Forums

bvsouthc · 07-16-2010, 06:04 AM

I was reading a dobie book (learning as much as I can before I get my pup) and they said that you should not use raised food/water bowls as they can increase the chances of bloat. Claims they allow the intake of more air when eating and drinking. Does anyone have any experience/input on this?

I had planned on either buying or building a raised platform when the pup gets big enough but may just leave them on the floor now. I thought raising them was actually better for the dog...

Bob

Bob the Nailer · 07-16-2010, 06:28 AM

I have heard the same thing. To my knowledge it was first recommended to REDUCE the chances of bloat, but futher studies proved the original finding incorrect. Raised food/water dishes are now suspected to increase the risk.

I do know someone who's dog died from bloat, but he is almost certain it happened because the dog exercised right after it ate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bvsouthc

I was reading a dobie book (learning as much as I can before I get my pup) and they said that you should not use raised food/water bowls as they can increase the chances of bloat. Claims they allow the intake of more air when eating and drinking. Does anyone have any experience/input on this?

I had planned on either buying or building a raised platform when the pup gets big enough but may just leave them on the floor now. I thought raising them was actually better for the dog...

Bob

2dobies · 07-16-2010, 06:49 AM

Oh no.... I have a raised food/water container for my dobe. Maybe I should stop using it?

bvsouthc · 07-16-2010, 08:00 AM

I'm going to be looking into this alot deeper as my pup gets older. Not sure if you should stop using or not 2dobies. PM me if you want and I'll keep you posted if I find out anything new.

reddobes · 07-16-2010, 08:42 AM

Yes, raised feeders were one of the risk factors found by the Purdue studies.

Purdue e-Pubs

Acute Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus in Dogs

2dobies · 07-16-2010, 08:44 AM

I think I'll discontinue using it immediately...might as well be on the safe side, and she really doesn't care where her food is, just so there's food somewhere!

Glad I read this.

Burns · 07-16-2010, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reddobes

Yes, raised feeders were one of the risk factors found by the Purdue studies.

Purdue e-Pubs

Acute Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus in Dogs

Thanks for re-posting those links! For some reason, the last ones I had were broken. There have been a lot of people asking this same exact question so its nice to have the studies to link to.

bvsouthc · 07-16-2010, 09:59 AM

Glad I found this in that book!

vivienne00 · 07-16-2010, 10:12 AM

I thought the study was biased since it mainly used Great Danes that were using raised bowls because they had a tendency to bloat?

I don't know where I read that, but my take away is that I feed raw food, and the dogs mainly lay down to eat their raw meaty bones (RMB). The process is slower and they don't take in as much air. If a young dog stands up to eat their RMB, they tend to take in air. That much I have noticed from personal observation.

reddobes · 07-16-2010, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burns

Thanks for re-posting those links! For some reason, the last ones I had were broken. There have been a lot of people asking this same exact question so its nice to have the studies to link to.

Yes, Purdue took down the old links for some reason.

Dobelove · 07-16-2010, 01:48 PM

My friends Basset bloated, her vet asked her if her dog rolled upside down shortly after eating and then he told her that can increase the risk of bloating. Does anyone know if this is true?

Mine used to eat on raised food dishes all the time and never bloated. But we were extremely careful of how quick they ate and how much excercise they got after.

Eggman · 07-16-2010, 02:24 PM

Howdy,

Lasker eats from a raised food bowl, since I'd read that doing so helped reduce the chance of Gastric torsion. I'm thoroughly confused now.

Burns · 07-16-2010, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eggman

Lasker eats from a raised food bowl, since I'd read that doing so helped reduce the chance of Gastric torsion. I'm thoroughly confused now.

I've never read a single study that raised feeding decreases the risk of bloat - always the opposite, that raised feeding increases the risk.

My dog eats from a bowl at ground level. Also, I am mindful of disallowing strenuous exercise both before and after eating or drinking. The only time I would consider a raised dish is if the dog had a medical condition that warranted raised feeding.

Beeney · 07-17-2010, 02:00 AM

Man, I sure am glad I clicked on this thread. I had always thought as well that the raised dishes decreased the chances of bloat. I make sure to keep Ming quiet before and after she eats, but she does eat out of a platform feeder. I am packing it up immediately, as well as my Blue's. They will both probably look at me like I have two heads when I put their bowls on the ground tomorrow morning, but I have a feeling they will get over it pretty quickly

Thank you so much for the info!

Bob the Nailer · 07-17-2010, 06:01 AM

I know that it was believed for a while that a raised food bowl decreased the risk. It has since been reversed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burns

I've never read a single study that raised feeding decreases the risk of bloat - always the opposite, that raised feeding increases the risk.

My dog eats from a bowl at ground level. Also, I am mindful of disallowing strenuous exercise both before and after eating or drinking. The only time I would consider a raised dish is if the dog had a medical condition that warranted raised feeding.

LuvMyDobes · 07-17-2010, 07:44 AM

I have had four Dobermans and every one of them ate/eats from elevated bowls. I have never had one bloat in 20 years. It is my belief it has more to do with exercising and when they are fed. Mine are never fed until an hour has passed after exercise and/or never exercised until an hour has passed after they ate.

Bob the Nailer · 07-17-2010, 08:14 AM

I think this definately has more to do with it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvMyDobes

I have had four Dobermans and every one of them ate/eats from elevated bowls. I have never had one bloat in 20 years. It is my belief it has more to do with exercising and when they are fed. Mine are never fed until an hour has passed after exercise and/or never exercised until an hour has passed after they ate.

Burns · 07-17-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LuvMyDobes

It is my belief it has more to do with exercising and when they are fed. Mine are never fed until an hour has passed after exercise and/or never exercised until an hour has passed after they ate.

Same here, and I do think genetics plays a role as well. However, if the studies suggest that raised feeding increases the risk - even by a little bit - why would I want to raise the risk even by a small amount? It just doesn't make sense to me.

Each to their own, but I will stick with ground-level feeding for this reason

LuvMyDobes · 07-17-2010, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burns

Same here, and I do think genetics plays a role as well. However, if the studies suggest that raised feeding increases the risk - even by a little bit - why would I want to raise the risk even by a small amount? It just doesn't make sense to me.

Each to their own, but I will stick with ground-level feeding for this reason

I agree! To each their own. I am going to go with "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

RobbyDobie · 11-27-2012, 07:22 PM

Thanks everyone for their posts on this thread. I am feeling my puppy from bowls on the floor. But, I will definitely keep in mind to not exercise an hour before or after feeding. Although, as a young, energetic pup, he sometimes gets the zoomies shortly after eating . I will have to dissuade him

Rouleaux · 01-03-2013, 08:33 PM

Is it wrong to be more afraid of straining the cervical vertebrae by reaching to the ground?
Does anyone have experience with raise food bowls causing bloat??
What is the max distance from the floor one would recommend a food bowl?

Burns · 01-03-2013, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rouleaux

Is it wrong to be more afraid of straining the cervical vertebrae by reaching to the ground?

Ground level feeding is natural for dogs, and there should not be any problem with straining a dog's neck unless they have a predisposing condition such as Wobblers.

Rouleaux · 01-03-2013, 10:27 PM

How about "Slightly" elevated feeders?

**Patches Mom** · 01-03-2013, 10:59 PM

20 years of Bouvier's one with megesophagus Buddy Doberman 6 years old now have always fed from a raised feeder no problems so far. Just depends the Purdue study was a small one just depends on what you want to do. Don't think any one know the true cause of bloat but seems to make sense about the exercise since the stomach are not tacked down to anything and the can swing some if running ???

Rouleaux · 01-04-2013, 06:50 AM

Since bloat is the stomach twisting on itself and cutting off both paths (in and out) essentially, I find it hard to believe that raised food dishes are a primary culprit in bloat. Some dogs are just prone to it. Some predisposed. Can I say my boy is predisposed? He is a doberman, so yes. But I haven't heard of it possibly causing bloat.

In any case, the dishes I have aren't raised to his head level, he still needs to lean down to get a drink or eat... just higher for him. I feel bad watching him strain.

It really depends on what breeds they did the study on, and how long after eating your dog plays! The fuller the stomach IMO the more "prone" to GDV you will be.