Elevated food bowls

[MARCUS ANTONIUS]

Hi all! I'm possibly getting a 3-4 yo Great Dane from a friend of a friend who isn't able to care for him any more. I've looked up and read tons of info on them, and I worked at a vet's office for a while so I'm plenty familiar with the size. And we've raised large breed dogs, dobermans and German shepherds for quite some time so I know what the food and vet bills can be like. The only thing is, I know they get bloat easily and one of the best ways to curb this is with an elevated food bowl, and feeding 2-3 times a day. I've looked around locally and online and I can't seem to find a bowl setup that's taller than 12". Does anyone know if this is adequate or if not where would be a good place to get one? Any help will be GREATly (sorry couldn't help it) appreciated!! Also any other tid bits of info you want to throw in would be nice too!! Thanks!!

[slartibartfast]

There is currently no conclusive evidence that elevated feeding makes any difference.

More effective (but involved and expensive) is a preventative stomach tack (gastropexy). This should not be attempted by a vet who is not extremely experienced with them, as they can go very very wrong if done incorrectly. If he is going to be anesthetised for another procedure such as neutering or a dental, the pexy can be performed then.

General daily prevention can be assisted by feeding small meals, not allowing him to exercise after meals, and requiring him to eat slowly. There is a dog bowl currently on the market designed for food-bolters which has plastic protrusions that the dog has to eat around, slowing them down. I have not used this bowl, but it looks like it could work.

Familiarize yourself with the symptoms of bloat, and know which vets will accept calls after hours. If possible, screen them for familiarity with GDV correction so that you can give him the best chance at survival. There is nothing worse than watching your dog die in front of you because you can't reach an after-hours vet.

An interesting rule of thumb with bloats is that 95% of bloats who walk in the vet's door will walk out again. Those who are down and require stretchering tend not to survive.

Other than that, monitor for the general joint stuff that all giant breeds are prone to, as well as congenital heart defects. Expect to pay quite a bit more for heartworm prevention and flea/tick meds than you would a smaller breed. :-P

Congratulations on doing your homework! Most people do not think so far ahead.

[MARCUS ANTONIUS]

Thanks Jess, for both the info and the compliment! Only one Q though... What's GDV correction?

[slartibartfast]

Sorry, GDV is a contraction of the formal term for bloat..."Gastric dilatation and volvulus". You can have gastric dilatation alone, where the stomach fills abruptly with material, usually a dog who gets into food and overeats. These are more easily relieved. The volvulus part comes in when the stomach rotates on its long axis, pinching and sealing off the top and bottom part so that it creates a ballon distended with food and gas. As the gas continues to develop, the stomach becomes larger and larger and the twist tightens up, cutting off blood supply to the stomach itself, as well as often tearing away from the spleen which is attached nearby.

[cassandra]

ooowwwww.....

Okay, show of hands....how many people think their tummy hurts now after reading that? =P

[MARCUS ANTONIUS]

Thanks again Jess, in the meantime I Googled it and found out basically the same thing you said. You were dead on!

And Cass, my hand is definitely up!