RAW DIET & BLOAT?

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by michael49 on 22 February 2010 - 16:02

It would be an interesting comparison but I,m not sure if it would produce accurate results, I would think the american showlines are not subjected to the same level of physical activity as the working dogs.I agree completely about muscle tone decreasing the chance of torsion,it just makes sense. I haven't had a case of torsion, but I have had dogs that were mildly bloated and took a couple of days to empty the gut and return to normal eating habits.I consider bloat to be a seperate condition and one that brings or enhances the possibility of torsion,but its just a theory.

by Prager on 22 February 2010 - 23:02

I believe that raw food, chunks of meat ,... makes the stomach work / exercise more strenuously then when it is digesting a kibble which turns into mush. A stronger muscle of the stomach then has less probability to flip. I'd say dog on raw diet has a less chance of the stomach to flip.
Prager Hans
http://www.alpinek9.com

by Slamdunc on 23 February 2010 - 05:02

NansGSD,
I think one difference between raw and kibble is how they react to water. Dry food swells up when water is added to it, raw food doesn't. If you feed kibble dry a couple of pieces in a glass of water and watch it expand. I feed raw so the food swelling is not an issue.

I always try to feed twice a day as opposed to once a day. I never feed 2 hours before or after any strenuous or stressful activities. I limit water with the food as well. I recently spoke with some Military working dog vets who deploy with the dog teams overseas. They have the same regimen, they do feed dry and they also tack all of their dogs stomachs as a preventative measure. They reported only hearing of 1 or 2 cases of bloat in combat or training over the past few years from hundreds of dogs. They attribute their success to the tacking, waiting before feeding and the two feedings a day.

I also carry GAS-X with me at all times. I have on a couple of occasions seen signs of bloat, ie swollen abdomen, dry heaving and immediately administered GAS X and have been very fortunate.

FWIW,

Jim

by Sunsilver on 23 February 2010 - 08:02

I know of several cases where bloat was the result of a dog playing with or in water when the stomach was empty. In one case, the dog was playing with the jet from a hose, in the other case, he was swimming on a hot day, and gulped large quantities of water. He was also snapping playfully at the water, when his owner splashed it around.

It makes sense: water is quite heavy, and with it sloshing around in the stomach, it could easily cause it to twist.

by Slamdunc on 23 February 2010 - 22:02

Sunsilver,
That is a very good point. I always restrict water on hot days right after working my dogs. The dogs will tend to gulp down large amounts and this could cause a bloat. I will give a small amount then wait and give more in 5 or 10 minutes. I recently saw a technique where soldiers working in the heat (desert) with there dogs will provide fluids, sub cu to avoid heat stroke. They will do this before departing on a mission. The dog may have a lump under it's skin for a brief time between the shoulder blades, but they have lessened the risk of heat stroke and dehydration.

Jim

by BabyEagle4U on 24 February 2010 - 00:02

I've been feeding all my dogs RAW/BARF for 18 years. No problems. I have extremely active dogs though. Always running around. Never kenneled or crated.
About the only issue I ever noticed is sometimes when their on the move, they drink water or milk too fast and up a burp bubble. Grandeur does this on purpose I think just to fill up to the max on liquids. She doesn't like to stop running much.

Sara my Cattle Dog, does have an issue with eating certain things and regurgitation when we hike and scout far away from home. I though it was a problem when she was younger, here it turns out to be common practice in the Dingo to mark their trails for easy finding. I knew it was something strange like that, because she never did it at home.

The day I quit feeding RAW/BARF to my dogs and cats is the day I'm physically not able to feed myself. I miss my cat. Darn it.

Good Luck.

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