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| Showdown Kennels |
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| It's still pretty much a mystery on why dogs bloat. It does appear to be mostly large dogs that are affected, but it can occur in any breed. Some of the more common breeds to bloat are: |
| What Causes Bloat? Risk Factors |
| Other suspected risk factors: Having a close relative that has bloated (parent, sibling or offspring) Statistical analysis showed that dogs fed with raised bowls actually had a higher rate of bloat. Older dogs (7-12 years) Dogs that eat fast Lean body condition High anxiety personality (fearful, nervous, aggressive) Stress - boarding, travel, disease Males tend to bloat more than females Exercise after eating has long been implicated, but was NOT shown to be a factor in studies done by Dr. Glickman. Feeding only dry food Feeding one large meal a day, rather than splitting the food into 2 meals or more |
| The most publicized bloat studies were done by Dr. Glickman in the 90's. This involved statistical analysis of almost 2,000 dogs. |
| German Shepherd Dog Standard Poodle Weimaraner Saint Bernard Golden Retriever |
| Body conformation seems to play a role. It seems to be more common in dogs with deep and narrow chests. |
| Wolfhound Bloodhound Irish Setter Akita Boxer |
| Great Dane |
| Other implicated risk factors: Adding water to dry foods that contain the preservative citric acid Feeding dry foods with one of the first four ingredients being oil or fat Restricting water before or after a meal |
| Factors that may decrease the risk of bloat: Adding table food or canned food to the diet Diet that has one of the first 4 ingredients containing a calcium-rich meat meal product (meat, fish or bone meal) |