I hope this isn't a stupid question but I would like some advice about walking too close to mealtimes. I walk Alfie as soon as everyone else has left the house in the morning and have been feeding him before we go (about 1/2 to 3/4 hour) but have been wondering whether to feed him when we get back? Then I read that you shouldn't them for at least 1/2 hour after you come back because of bloat. ♀️
Not a stupid question at all. You could use Alfie's kibble for training during your walk so you won't be wasting valuable food in a bowl I never walk my dogs for 3/4 hour at least after they have been fed or I walk them before they are fed and you right this is because of the dangers of bloat, potentially life threatening. x
I don't walk a dog for at least an hour after a meal. If we have an early morning walk breakfast is served after heart rate, respiration etc. is back to normal. The actual causes of bloat are not known but this what I found when looking for information for a client "The exact cause is currently unknown. Bloat results from the accumulation of gases, air or food in the stomach, causing it to first dilate and then possibly twist. Certain risk factors include: breed, genetic predisposition, rapid eating, eating one large meal daily, dry food-only diet, overeating, overdrinking, heavy exercise after eating, fearful temperament, stress, trauma and abnormal gastric motility or hormone secretion."
Coco is fed at 7:30am, then walked 3/4-1 hour later. I must admit, I have never really thought about it, that's just how it turns out.
We go for our morning walk before breakfast and an hour and a half after dinner during the week. On the weekends we go about an hour after after morning meal.
Thanks so much for the advice. I now walk Alfie first thing then wait 3/4hour before I give him his breakfast,then he has dinner at six and his walk at seven.
Best to wait for about an hour after exercise before feeding, especially if the exercise is strenuous ! My dogs have breakfast at around 7.30 , walk at 8.30 . Then they have a good run in the afternoon , and again I wait for an hour after we come home before they have their tea .
Not too long - 10-15 minutes usually, but I feed the weekday morning meal in a kong wobbler type dispenser, so it takes her awhile to eat.
LOts of good answers. I tried to wait at least an hour, before and after, usually more like two hours. This is A GOOD QUESTION.
Ours gets walked anytime between 6,30 and 7am and fed about 10/15mins after we get back once feet are dry and things have been put away (purely because we have to leave for work and cannot delay it any longer). In the evening he is walked between 5 and 6.30pm, depending on if its me or my OH as we get home at different times and dinner at 7pm.