Bloat in Dogs

Question
Hi Marie -- I have a friend whose dog died of bloat.  I own a 5 year old, male, neutered Bouvier.  He is very barrel chested.  I have a few questions to make sure I am doing the best I can to prevent him from getting bloat.  Here are my questions:
1. I exercise him on a fast paced walk for one hour in the AM after eating.  Should I exercise him before eating?  I also take him for a 40 minute run in the afternoon.  Should that be done on an empty stomach?
2. Do I need to elevate his food bowl?
3. Do I need to include wet food in his diet?  He currently only eats dry food.
4. Do I need to add an enzyme product to his food?
5.  Should I keep a product like Mylanta Gas on hand just in case something happens?

Thank you for volunteering your time to help others.  I appreciate it.

Best regards, Dena

Answer
Hi Dena - yes, you need to make some changes for your dog.  I think you have just be lucky, so far.

First - don't exercise him after eating.  Never - He needs 1 hour or more to digest his food.  Do the one hour AM walk on a empty belly - cut it down to 40 minutes in the Am - feed when you get home.

Elevation of the food bowl can help - Also his dry dog food needs to be soaked in water for 10 minutes, to let it expand.  YOU don't want it to expand in his belly .... let it expand in the dish first.

I would place him on 2 NuVET Plus Wafers per day - GREAT for his Digestion and wonderful to his joints and legs/hips.
Here is the link for NuVET - NOT sold in Stores - Many Bouvier Breeders refer puppy parents to NuVET Plus -
http://www.apluspetcare.com/untitled4.html

As far as Mylanta, it can be good to have on hand.  With my instructions you should not need it.  ( I HOPE)

YOUR 40 minuted run should be done on an empty belly.

Again, I can't stress enough to follow my instructions on soaking of his food and adding the NuVET Plus Program.


BEST of Luck

Marie Of The Doggie Chalet
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