Member

Posts: 160
From:Columbia, SC, USA
Registered: Dec 2003

posted 01-16-2004 06:59 PM         

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I bought one of these things for my dog a few months ago. She used to sort of spit up a bit of water after she would drink when her water bowl was on the ground, well, she doesn't do that anymore.

Anyways, I was again reading a website about bloat and they said while no one knows the exact cause(s) of bloat, raised dishes was a suspect (among other things).

I was just wondering if anyone had read anything about this or think this is true?

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Member

Posts: 1387
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 01-16-2004 10:52 PM         

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You know...I have been wondering about those too. For the time being I have decided to leave the dishes on the floor because I think that the normal or natural eating position for a dog would be off the ground like that.
I know that when I first got my horse after not having one for 12 years, I went nuts buying all kinds of doo dads and neato things for her, one of which was a metal hay rack that hangs neatly on the wall. The problem is horses are not designed to eat like giraffes, she started having allergy issues and coughing, the vet said the culprit was where her feeder was. Horses were designed to graze with their heads down for many hours a day, I was forcing her to do the opposite. With this in mind, I will leave my dogs bowls on the floor for now.

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Member

Posts: 240
From:Campton, NH USA
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-17-2004 06:32 PM         

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my GSD has bad hips (born with hip dysplasia...product of a BYB before I knew such a thing existed - but I love her anyway)....I noticed Sadie was starting to lay down while she ate I think to get closer to her bowls. I got her raised dishes and she actually eats better - she stays right there till she's done where she used to eat a few bites then walk away and then go back. A bowl full of food took her all evenings to eat.

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Member

Posts: 996
From:sheridan, wy
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 01-17-2004 10:46 PM         

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I have heard that raised dishes help prevent bloat. Maybe I was mis-informed?

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Member

Posts: 117
From:Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 2003

posted 01-19-2004 08:20 AM         

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I have been following Bloat research ever since my old Lab experienced the condition and survived after surgery. ( See http://home.flash.net/~jdebess/index.htm )One study conducted by Purdue University found that a raised food bowl increased the incidence of bloat by 200% ( http://www.bogartsdaddy.com/bouvier/Health/bloat-raised-dishes-article.htm )
If the raised dish offers relief to a dog with arthritis or other joint problems, as in MaryNH's case, then the benifits outweigh the possible increased risk of bloat. I now feed my young Lab on floor level.

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Member

Posts: 35
From:California
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 01-21-2004 07:48 PM         

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My vet said raised dishes help prevent bloat. He also said it is more common in greyhounds and other dogs with the same build. You shouldn't excersize your dog before 2-3 hours after eating.

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