Re: Bloat My lot get fed whenever, twice a day we aim at 7:30am and 6pm and regularly miss, they know the feeding routine rather than the clock, thus breakfast varies from 6 to 10 and tea can be anytime up to 8ish. Only tied by Maia's meds required a minimum of 30mins before food. However herbal smoothie time is sacrosanct and we're forcibly reminded if it's running late! They're fed of the floor because it's routine, we started for the wolfies - they're like giraffes when it comes to eating off the floor - and years ago it was recommend to reduce bloat risk, now there's no consensus on ground or raised feeding so stick with what you and your dog are used to. Kerryn
Re: Bloat Hello everyone, this is a valuable discussion, as I have lost one of St.Bernard's to bloat. Bloat appears to be not uncommon in St.Bernard's, although I know nothing about incidence in other dogs. I just remember it being a horrid and fast experience, and unfortunately by the time I got her to the vet, my beloved girl had lost 3/4 of her bowel and had to be put to sleep. I have always been fastidious about the time I left between exercise and feeding, and in fact always insisted on at least two hours. I was careful about not leaving excessive amounts of water down, and ensuring that there was no kitchen rubbish she could nosh on while I was out etc. I use the segmented bowls for my dogs or a very large tray so that the food is spread around, to avoid it being hoovered up at an extremely fast pace. My advice is always get the dog to the vet as a matter of urgency if you suspect bloat, as it is a killer.
Re: Bloat Oh Katie,that's dreadfully sad.I am so glad that Kate started this thread because it is something that I am really careful with now......Dexter doesn't get fed until his breathing has returned to normal.....oh he still looks at me like I'm starving him to his death but I busy myself about doing other things rather than let him break me!
Re: Bloat Ah, herbal smoothies, i forget not everyone knows about those miracle workers. We have a herbalist vet who worked wonders on Juno's skin allergy and hay fever, Maia has nerve damage in her spine and is on two "smoothies" a day. The herbal tincture is mixed with yogurt (milk, honey anything tasty to disguise the yuck of the herbs), and, well, when you've got labs you can't feed one without feeding all of them! The smoothies are after human lunch and dinner separate from canine feeding times, so 20mins after cutlery is downed if the motions toward smoothie preparation have not started we are "reminded" quite forcably; Juno left large claw bruises on my thigh, Maia just gazes (read stares) intently, edging ever closer.
