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.

[Taylor & Huff]

Haha:) okay, so my doodle is not chubby...:)

[L.M.]

I never understood this either...but the vet who attempted to treat my boxer said this was the most common cause of bloat.  I have done much research and it all points to exercise before eating as well...very strange.  But I never risk it with my pups now.

[Taylor & Huff]

Okay but do you think that grabbing papers and things so we can chase him counts as exercise? If we ignore him when he wants to play that is what he does and when he finally gets tired of that, he goes to sleep.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe he could have a time out after dinner and then an hour later some play?

[Taylor & Huff]

Ya, maybe. Probably he would be sleeping during his timeout (unless he had a bone or something) and then come out and want to sleep again though.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I think just "fooling around" isn't as much a problem as real running and hard exercise. Still it would be best to keep him quiet for some time after eating.

[Taylor & Huff]

so wait, do you mean that we have to keep him from taking things after he eats or do you think that is okay?

[L.M.]

It's more the running and chasing that is dangerous.

[Taylor & Huff]

Well, we usually don't have to chase him much because we get him cornered pretty quickly. Do you think it is still bad?

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'd think taking things is not such a big deal, although not a good hait to encourage in general. Would he settle down with a chew, like an antler, for a while?

[Taylor & Huff]

Ya, it is not a good habit but makes everybody laugh!:) haha:) He would probably settle down with something like that and then he would probably go to sleep after he is done. I just feel bad that he never gets to play anymore but I guess if it is for his own good.....

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

About 3 months ago one of my best friends dogs died from bloat, she was an 8-year-old golden retriever and ate SUPER fast.  After that I was a total freak watching Hunter for signs of bloat.  I made her lay on the couch with me after she ate, I bought these new raised food bowls, just total OCD.  Needless to say my husband thought I was being obsessive.  Then the new raised food bowls stuck out a little from the corner they were sitting and everyone would constantly hit their foot on them and the water would spill all over the floor.  Over and over this happened.  Then one day my husband took the whole food dish thing and threw it in the back yard and told me that I am feeding Hunter a great low grain food and I should be cautious but not obsessive.  He had a golden retriever that ate Alpo from bowls on the floor and ran around the yard like a maniac everyday after she ate and she lived to be 14.  So the moral of the story be cautious but not obsessive or you will drive yourself nuts :-)