After dinner....

[Taylor & Huff]

Huff gets lots of energy. I know I shouldn't let him play because one day he might get bloat or something. I just feel so bad for Huff. He usually sleeps most of the day because he goes to work with us and he is usually tied up since we don't trust him to be off leash and some people are afraid of him. That is the one time of day that he gets energy and plays. So I let him. Should I not do this? He is about 90 pounds and eats chicken, rice, tomato skin, carrot peels, and green beans. sometimes it changes up a little but that is mostly what he eats. He doesn't really chase balls after he eats or anything. He just pulls things out of the trash and off of the table but sometimes he does play tug of war or fetch but mostly he just gets mischevious and runs around with things he isn't supposed to have. haha:) Do you think that this will still cause bloat? It is a pretty big meal because this is the one meal he eats everyday. He doesn't scarf it down either. He eats at a good pace.

[Lori]

I don't know...but I did watch "Marley & Me" - Marley got bloat because he ate so fast. I don't think playing on a full stomach will hurt him...let's google that & fid out!

[Lori]

Causes

According to the links below, it is thought that the following may be the primary contributors to bloat.  To calculate a dog's lifetime risk of bloat according to Purdue University's School of Veterinary Medicine,click here.

	Stress Dog shows, mating, whelping, boarding, change in routine, new dog in household, etc. Although purely anecdotal, we've heard of too many cases where a dog bloated after another dog (particularly a 3rd dog) was brought into the household; perhaps due to stress regarding pack order.   Activities that result in gulping air
	Eating habits, especially... Elevated food bowls Rapid eating Eating dry foods that contain citric acid as a preservative (the risk is even worse if the owner moistens the food) Eating dry foods that contain fat among the first four ingredients Insufficient pancreatic enzymes, such as Trypsin (a pancreatic enzyme present in meat) Dogs with untreated Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) and/or Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) generally produce more gas and thus are at greater risk  New Dilution of gastric juices necessary for complete digestion by drinking too much water before or after eating Eating gas-producing foods (especially soybean products, brewer's yeast, and alfalfa)  Drinking too much water too quickly (can cause gulping of air)
	Exercise before and especially after eating
	Heredity Especially having a first-degree relative who has bloated Dogs who have untreated Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) are considered more prone to bloat  New Gas is associated with incomplete digestion
	Build & Physical Characteristics Having a deep and narrow chest compared to other dogs of the same breed Older dogs Big dogs Males Being underweight
	Disposition Fearful or anxious temperament Prone to stress History of aggression toward other dogs or people

This is what I found...it DOES say excercise AFTER eating.....

[Taylor & Huff]

Oh no.:( It says it is also common in males. I wonder how that makes a difference? I thought elevated food bowls are good though....

[L.M.]

They only say elevated food bowls because it might encourage the dog to eat faster....We still use them though... Our boy eats insanely slow lol.

[Taylor & Huff]

So does mine haha:)

[Taylor & Huff]

Yes, you are probably right.

[L.M.]

This is a really dangerous condition...I lost a 7 year old boxer to it years ago because he exercised BEFORE he ate....but it can happen because of exercise after as well.  The info found is right on.  Definitely avoid exercise right after eating...I know it's hard, but it's important especially if he is that large and eats only 1 meal daily.  The bigger a dog (deeper chest) the more prone they can be to it...and males are more prone to it as well...doodles are also quite prone as well.  We are careful with this with our 70 pound male doodle....When he was in the crazy puppy age we used to take him for a slow walk after dinner....it was either that or he would run around the yard like crazy...but some people even say that a walk after dinner isn't the best idea.  I would definitely try to keep him relaxed right before and after he eats.  =)

[F, Calla & Luca]

I really don't understand, from a medical point of view, the exercise before eating part. I will try looking for an explanation. Certainly after eating its a good idea for people as well as dogs to allow maximal blood flow to your stomach and intestinal organs and not your muscles. Also, I can understand how a heavy, distended stomach might be more likely to undergo torsion(twisting), the cause of bloat.

[Taylor & Huff]

Well, I don't think my doodle is chubby. His stomach doesn't seem heavy if that is that you mean....

[L.M.]

It's the chest that makes the difference...for whatever reason.  Most doodles have a fairly deep chest so they can be prone to it....golden retrievers, labs, and i think even standard poodles are up high on the list of "bloat prone" dog breeds because of their deep chest (the area more above the belly.)

[Adina P]

I think she means 'heavy' as in a FULL stomach.

[Taylor & Huff]

oh. I see