Dear Darcy, I have an 13+ y.o. male GSD (+husky?) Lab mix. He’s my absolute heart dog and still very healthy overall. Ideal weight is around 62 lbs and he is what I would consider barrel chested. We are seeing some hearing loss, joint stiffness and weaker back legs these days. My questions revolve around what I’m seeing with friends’ dogs as a tendency for older, male, large dogs in getting bloat and what type of diet or routine could help prevent bloat? Do you believe there is a relationship in this happening? I’ll be honest, it terrifies me… 2 dogs I know were saved by emergency vet surgery, the other was lost just 2 weeks ago. I feed 2x per day, about 10 hrs between a.m. and p.m. times. We have been kibble since day one, with leftover (unseasoned) veggies added randomly as we have them. (loves those broccoli and cauliflower stems!) Since about 2002 we’ve exclusively fed Solid Gold. We walk about 3/4 mile shortly after the a.m. meal before I start my day. Evenings (when not winter in MN) we get about 5-10 good ball tosses in (not his choice, I limit him these days) Would love your thoughts on this topic of bloat. Thanks! Stacy & Guinness, Mpls, MN
Dear Stacy and Guiness, While I don’t give medical advice and I always send people to their holistic vets for expert advice, I can share some things that seem to be working for others. It seems like over the years, dogs eating a raw diet have less trouble with bloat. Why is that? My dogs usually lay down to eat bones or a whole prey animal. That posture, which seems to be instinct, puts the dog’s mouth and stomach at the same level. Is that the way they should eat? My best guess is yes and maybe it’s the way Mother Nature intended for dogs to eat. Raw food has natural enzymes, too, so less chance of a gas build up. Other than all that, which makes sense to me, I don’t know the answer to bloat.
Dogs who eat dry kibble, and especially those who inhale their food, seem to be more prone to bloat, at least that’s what many experts say. That does make sense to me because dry food goes into the stomach basically as a dry product and either the dog’s stomach juices or water drinking after eating increases the volume of the food which can cause gas and air that can’t be expelled fast enough which in turn can cause a bloating problem.
Some say that dogs prone to bloat have an already or genetically unstable stomach and muscles creating the problem of twisting and turning which can be fatal to a dog. Some say the turned stomach also blocks off blood supply, creating abnormal circulation through the body making the problem irreversible due to shock and death.
Many suggest that a raised feeder is the best way to feed a dog prone to bloat but, in my experience and from what I hear from others, that doesn’t decrease the speed at which the dog eats it so I don’t know how much help that is.
I have always cautiously suggested that hand feeding a raw diet may be the best way to avoid bloat. You gauge how much and how fast the dog eats and gets his food. If bloat really is a problem with how fast and how much, this makes the most sense to me. Some say that bloat is caused by diet alone but I don’t think anyone has come up with proof perfect about what exactly or always causes bloat and thus how to avoid it.
The people who have started feeding raw by hand have told me that so far, so good. I’ve never had anyone tell me that they’ve had an incident of bloat by feeding this way so far. But…caution here, too…not everyone would take the time to write and tell me if there was a problem so there’s no way to tell if this changes things for all dogs 100% of the time. I’ve been suggesting this for over fourteen years.
If your older dog was my dog and he was in relatively good health, I’d go to a raw diet and feed by hand. I do that with my dogs as a practice because it creates a bond that can’t be broken and it gives me opportunities to train during dinner time.
If your dog was my dog, I’d get him to a vet chiropractor to help with the spinal alignment and aching muscles and pain. It’s amazing what they can do for dogs, even the older ones. Having your bones lined up properly so your muscles can work properly is pretty fantastic for health and well being. Your vet may even want to toss in some acupuncture for pain relief. (Tilli gets both chiropractor treatments and acupuncture, she’s a 13 1/3 Belgian Shepherd.) Relief and a happier dog, all without drugs. You might find after a few visits that your dog wants to walk longer and more often. Here’s an article I wrote some time ago, it has links to find a vet who can help you. Tilli’s Adjustment Video
About the ball toss. Here’s what I do with my senior dogs who love to play ball. I worry about the take off to run after the ball, that takes so much energy and puts stress on the body so I do it differently. I put the dog on a stay beside me, throw the ball. We both watch with baited breath. When the ball stops I send the dog after the ball. This still gives the dog the fetch play but they don’t have that initial take off which can put undue strain on their body. We play like this until the dog wants to stop or until I see that she’s had enough. Tilli loves her ball and it’s a safe way for her to play. Some experts say that a dog prone to bloat shouldn’t drink or exercise for at least thirty minutes to an hour after eating. It’s probably a good rule of thumb to follow.
I wish I had something magic to offer. Until someone finally finds out exactly what causes bloat and can narrow that to something other than diet, speed of eating, and preventing those things, I guess we just have to watch the dogs as best as we can.
I can give you this to help put your worry to rest and help you and he enjoy his final years. Be peaceful with your dog, don’t pass your worry on to him. It’s not your fault if you’re doing all you can and your dog dies of bloat or anything else. Don’t let yourself or anyone else make you feel guilty about that should the time come. The best we can do for our dogs is to help them live happily, save them from what we can, give them all the love that we can. The rest of it and the end of their lives isn’t really up to us. I know all about having that heart dog. Love him the best you can every day and know that when it’s his time to go, it’s his time. Peace. – Darcy
