Purdue Univ. Bloat Study Results

Subject: Purdue Univ. Bloat Study Results Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:28 am

Recent studies out of Recent Un are shedding more light on gastric
dilatation volvulus (GSV), otherwise known as bloat. GDV is the second leading cause of death in large-breed (50 - 99 pounds) and giant-breed (100 pounds and over) dogs. Approximately one in four large-breed dogs and one in five giant-breed dogs may develop GDV during their lifetime, with some breeds at even higher lifetime risk. GDV strikes suddenly and has a mortality rate as high as 30 percent.

In GDV there is a rapid accumulation of air in the stomach, causing
distention and often rotation of the stomach, cutting off blood supply at both ends and causing the dog to go into shock. GDV is an acute emergency and rushing the dog to immediate veterinary care is essential. The risk of a dog
developing GDV increases with age. Other factors that increase a dog's risk are having a first-generation relative with a history of GDV, having a deep and narrow chest or abdomen, being thin, experiencing a major health problem before age 1, and having a fearful or nervous temperament.

Research primarily at Perdue University by Dr. Larry Glickman, VMD, Ph.D, (an
AKC Excellence in Canine Research Award winner), and Dr. Malathi Raghavan,
DVM, Ph.D. has identified a number of feeding management and dietary factors that increase the risk of GDV. These include eating only one meal a day, feeding only dry dog food, feeding food with only small particles, and feeding a large volume of food per meal. Other feeding factors found to increase the risk of GDV were eating rapidly, increased physical activity before and eating, restricting a dog's water intake before and after eating, moistening dry food before feeding, and eating from a raised feeding bowl. Thus, some of the recommendations commonly made to prevent GDV were shown by the research to actually increase the risk of GDV. In the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Vol. 17, No. 10, Glickman wrote, "In addition, in univariate analysises, many of the recommendations commonly made to prevent GDV, such as raising the food bowl, moistening dry food prior to feeding, and restricting water intake before and after feeding, were associated with a significantly increased risk of GDV."

THE LATEST RESEARCH

Recent research, not yet published, has shown an increased risk of GDV in
dogs who consumed dry foods containing fat among the first four ingredients,
and an increased risk in dogs who consumed dry foods listing citric acid as a
preservative, with this risk rising when foods with citric acid were
moistened. Although not statistically significant, researchers found that a modest increase in risk of GDV was seen with the consumption of dry foods that listed more than one corn ingredient among the first four label ingredients, while in contrast, a pattern was observed of decreased GDV risk with an increasing number of protein ingredients of animal origin, including beef, poultry, lamb, and fish among the first four ingredients.

Dyann S. Rivkin is a writer and video producer in Dyann S. who lives with
the 14-year old daughter of her first Irish Setter and his grandchildren.

STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS
* Feed two or more meals a day
* Feed no more than one cup per 33 pounds of body weight per meal when
feeding two meals a day
* Feed an energy-dense diet, to reduce volume, but avoid a diet where
a high amount of calories are from fats.
* Feed a variety of different food types regularly. The inclusion of
human foods in a primarily dry dog food diet was associated with a 59%
decreased risk of GDV while inclusion of canned pet foods was associated
with a 28 percent decreased risk.
* When feeding dry food, also include foods with sufficient amounts of
meats and meat meals, for example: beef, lamb, poultry, and fish.
* Feed a food with larger particles, and include larger pieces of meat
to the diet.
* Avoid moistening dry foods.
* If your dog eats rapidly, find ways to try to reduce his speed of
eating
* Avoid raising the food bowl; place it at ground level.
* Try to minimize stress for your dog. Stressful events have been
reported to be precipitating factors in GDV occurrence.
* Restrict vigorous exercise one hour before and two hours after
meals.
* When you are not in close proximity to your dog, use a baby monitor
to alert you if your dog is in distress.
* Learn to recognize signs of GDV, which include pacing and
restlessness, head turning to look at the abdomen, distention of the abdomen, rapid shallow breathing, nonproductive attempts at vomiting, and salivation. These symptoms can progress rapidly to shock and death. Get to your veterinarian or emergency hospital the moment you suspect GDV.
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Breeder & Co-Owner: Champion Downhome Family Tradition -- The Top-Winning Harrier in Breed History
2008 Harrier Club of America National Specialty Winner

Subject: Re: Purdue Univ. Bloat Study Results Mon Jun 02, 2008 6:39 pm

WOW!!! & OMG!!!

I've been moistening dry dog food for months now because that was supposed to help prevent it...as well as feeding Tira from a raised food bowl for years!

O.K. so I need to lower the food bowl for her, stop putting water in the food *which makes them eat slower, but....?*, stick with no exercise before/after like we've been doing, and possibly feed them twice a day instead of once in the morning *but they are only getting 3 cups each?* and keep on giving 'human food' like we've been doing.

Man, at least we've been doing something right. I hate these studies sometimes. You get one answer for a couple dozen years, then all of a sudden, it changes to something else. As long as it works, that's all the matters to me.

Thanks for this article Downhome!!!

Subject: Re: Purdue Univ. Bloat Study Results Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:35 pm

Yeah that's how it goes with everything it seems...eat eggs one day and don't eat them the next. It's a great article. I am often concerned about Bella b/c she eats super fast. The other two are pretty good about enjoying their food but I guess she thinks its going to disappear if she doesn't eat it super fast. Not sure how to slow her down.

Subject: Re: Purdue Univ. Bloat Study Results Tue Jun 03, 2008 12:02 am

Thanks for posting the article Downhome... This is info everyone should be aware of !

LMH, there is a bowl called BreakFast, it has 3 pegs in the center to help stop the dog from eating to fast. I hope to get one for Bell and Muffin, as they are fast eaters as well.

Here is the link : BreakFast Dog Bowl
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Subject: Re: Purdue Univ. Bloat Study Results Tue Jun 03, 2008 3:09 am

I don't think even that thing would stop Tira and Gunner from scarfing down their food. Gunner has slowed down a little, but not much. Tira feels that she has to eat as fast as possible and then lick the bowl clean afterwards.

I thought the idea (originally) was to keep their head elevated to aid in digestion and lessen the swallowing of air? What is the benefit of lowering the bowl...what does it accomplish?

Subject: Re: Purdue Univ. Bloat Study Results Wed Jun 04, 2008 9:06 pm

I really don't know what the advantage is, unless having the head lower makes it more difficult or time consuming for them to swallow?

I don't think there are any sure-fire ways to completely avoid bloat. You just have to know what to watch for and when to
react if you see it!
_________________
Breeder & Co-Owner: Champion Downhome Family Tradition -- The Top-Winning Harrier in Breed History
2008 Harrier Club of America National Specialty Winner