Elevated Feeders

[Aisha Al Midfa]

Hey Forum! how are you guys ? hope you and your dogs are well =D

i have a question..about elevated feeders, how many of you use them and how many don't? has it helped in any way? i was on a raw feeding group and the discussion came up, as i have never used one, i feed raw and usually the meals i feed are too big to fit into a bowl, and anyway the dogs drag the food out and just lay down and eat, depending on what they have, my other question is, do wolves bloat in the wild? i know there are wolves in zoos, is there research made just for bloat in wolves? we are not supposed to feed our dogs after exercising, or before, but when i watch wolves on tv, they bring down lets say the deer, yes, they were running, some wolves stalk their prey for days, and then after running they just dig in, yes it takes some time for the animal to die, but they still do eat right then and there, have our dogs changed so much from their cousins? is bloat caused by the food we feed our dogs? thanks !

[FL Cracker]

I used an elevated feeder for 12 years on my prior boy Dakota, however have not used the elevated feeder for CoCo.
To be honest with you I believe since switching to raw...it would be a "waste" using one, since CoCo just picks out whatever is in her bowl....then chomps it off of the feeding mat's from there.
Now if we were feeding kibble...would probably still use elevated feeders. Rotties do not have the bloat problems as bad as say Great Danes....one of the initial reasons (besides bloat) I went with the elevated feeder was to keep our Corgi out of Dakota's food . "D" was a grazer....and would not eat all his food at one time...if on the floor...Bart would clean house.

[laughing]

We had this talk already. :-)

BUT, I would like to say, myself personally, my dogs (even my Danes) do not eat from elevated feeders. It's kind of hog wash in my eyes.. And hearing a lot of stories about Danes eating from elevated feeders are MORE likely to bloat.. well, it's deterred me completely! I have also talked to a multitude of veterinarians who I extremely trust and all mention that dogs should eat naturally.. what wolf do you see eating from an elevated state? LOL..

As for the exercising.. It isn't so much about the exercise. It is that when they have been worked (it isn't a brisk walk around the neighborhood) they are panting as dogs do not sweat. They are then "gulping" air with their food. It's just a cause for bad ending. You do not feed before exercise because with a full gut/stomach it can potentially twist. Again.. not much with the exercise itself. Cannot say the same for the wolves. Part of wolves bringing down prey is they work as a pack to make it much more easy compared to chasing down their prey. Most of the time it isn't too terribly vigorous as they have already "thought up the plan".

Food does play a role, indeed! Did you see what Karen posted? "Feeding a dry food containing citric acid that is moistened prior to feeding had a 320 percent higher risk for developing bloat. Dogs fed dry food containing fat among the first four ingredients had a 170 percent higher risk for developing bloat." Dry food takes much longer to digest and also "blocks" off the intestines as it isn't as processed as raw and it is more condense (raw is mainly water as you know). I know some folks who own a hoard of Danes (they're breeders haha) and feed only raw. They've yet to experience a single bloat. Then I know these casual Dane owners feeding kibble bloating all over the place. It makes you think, doesn't it?

The dog's digestive tract is meant to be empty with food passing through quickly and efficiently. You have a horse, correct? You feed hay and other fiberous sources that always keep the digestive tract filled and working. If you don't, horses have a chance to colic more. Think of it the same except opposite for dogs. If they are constantly filled up with grains, they aren't functioning properly! This is why multiple meals for kibble fed dogs is recommended. Although when on raw, it is efficiently processed and keeps the digestive tract in much better condition. This is why raw feeders can get away with one meal per day and a fast... Because this is how dogs are meant to be!!

Bloat also depends on breed, size, chest, genetics, temperament, environment factors, etc.. My dogs always have eaten in the same place, same time, in a calm environment. Dogs like being creatures of habit and this helps calm them. I have noticed when I do same place, same time, they ease up and don't gulp down their food nearly as much as well. They come to understand this isn't their "last meal". For raw, I like to feed on comfy towels in the crate. (Don't have a backyard or outdoor space and that is NOT going on the carpet.) This is a safe haven situation where the dog will have their own space to not feel anxious and take their time to eat. It is as well in the laying down, bending over position.

In conclusion, there are many different types of bloats. Air in the gut, the gut twisting, gut blockage, etc... A freaking elevated bowl isn't going to solve it all!! LOL.

[rottiesrule]

I've had 2 Rotts with bloat, both were eating from floor level. I'm very particular in the way I feed, smaller meals, no food an hour before exercise or 2 hours after. I have heard, be it true or not, that elevated feeders contribute to bloating. I guess it 's a choice we make in the best interests of our dogs. Lucky for me, both Rotts were immediately rushed to surgery and both made it through with flying colors.