UPDATE - I'm confused: Elevated food bowls & Dog Bloat?

[Christine & Camus]

UPDATE:   Success!  I followed Karen's suggestion, last night and again this morning -- first I told him to lay down then I gave him his food on the floor between his front paws.  He finished his meal then got up.  He did not eat quite as fast and no burping.  So, no more feeding him on his elevated table.

 

Research is great, but when recommendations keep changing it is hard to keep up - thank goodness for Doddle Kisses and Karen!

 

I'm confused.  I have read that feeding large dogs in elevated bowls is best for their digestion, but when Camus got sick I re-read the information on bloat and found that using elevated food bowls is one of the causes.  Labradors, Goldens and Poodles are all on the list of dogs at greatest risk (deep chested dogs).  Does this mean none of us should use elevated bowls for our doodles?  Any thoughts or comments? Thanks

 

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I'd also love to know.  My daughter's lab ended up one summer with a twisted stomach/intestine - and she now feeds in elevated bowls.  But then I've heard not to do that.  Some one here will know.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It's controversial. Prior to the Purdue study, it was believed that eating from an elevated bowl helped lower the risks for high-risk dogs. Now it's believed that the opposite is true. But there are lots and lots of factors involved.

I think each of us has to evaluate the risks for our own dog, taking several factors into account, including your dog's build, size, depth and width of the chest, and perhaps most importantly, your dog's eating habits. Dogs who gobble their food are at the highest risk.

 I use a raised feeder; it's a habit I got into when fostering German Shepherds, because it was required at that time to help prevent bloat. Jack is a slow eater, he seems more comfortable eating and drinking when he doesn't have to bend all the way down to the floor, and I don't want his food on the floor level to help cut down on exposure to dust (which is one of his allergens). This is my own choice, and I don't recommend it to anyone else necessarily.

[Christine & Camus]

Karen, Camus is very deep chested and gobbling his food would be a polite way of describing how he eats.  He also burps as soon as he has finished.  Do you think I should put both his food & water on the floor instead of elevating it?  His digestive system is running me in circles...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I would keep his bowls on the floor. The ideal thing would be if he lies down to eat, but I don't know if you can encourage a dog to do that.

Since you've been researching bloat, you probably already know that he should also not be exercising before or after eating.  

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't know how you'd do it either. Calla always lies down to eat, Luca never does.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

In our family, lying down to eat is 'serious' eating. Ned only eats once a day (at night) usually lays down to eat. The gobbling dogs I have had NEVER  did it.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Same here. Never had dogs lay down to eat. Now, both my doodles do.

[Christine & Camus]

In the beginning I was feeding him with his dishes on the floor and he would usually lay down to eat, so he may.  But if not, he is fairly compliant so I think he'll lay down if I tell him to.  And yes, I'm careful about exercise and meals, usually wait an hour between, except for short walks.  Thank you, again....

[Haley, Yeti, and Phin]

Karen do you still believe lying down to eat is a good thing. I know the orgininal post is from 2011 so I was wondering if things have changed. Yeti loves to lay down while eating but friends have said it's not such a good thing (may cause bloat).

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Lying down to eat is a good thing. Your friends are misinformed. In the Purdue study, it was found that elevated bowls might contribute to bloat. 

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

Cooper has a raised feeder, because I was worried about bloat, but now there are studies suggesting not to use elevated feeders. Its confusing. Cooper eats 1 cup a meal and its gone in seconds. If she just has kibble I use a treat toy to slow her down, and she often lays down with that. She doesnt exercise for 1/2 hour at least before and after a meal (shes very bouncy)

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

Not sure either, but you could get  a slow feed bowl so he slows down when eating in the regular dish. We had to do that with both of ours.