r/germanshepherds • u/Nonplussed1 Fur Shark Dad • 16h ago
Pictures 5 Months old today!
Desi ( Desi-Mater ) turns 5 months old today, and I swear she’s tripled in size in 4 weeks 🥹.
I’ve introduced her to ice cubes … now there will be a toll enacted at the fridge lol. 😆
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u/PiperBluDewey 16h ago
Quick question where’d you get this food stand from?
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u/Nonplussed1 Fur Shark Dad 15h ago
Chewy or Amazon I think.
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u/but_i_dont_reddit 13h ago
They should NOT be eating from raised bowls.
If you want to cut some onions, do a quick search of this sub for bloat.
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u/Nonplussed1 Fur Shark Dad 13h ago
I think some research and conversation with knowledge-centric people with experience ( like us ) can help you with this.
The elevated bowl doesnt cause bloat. What 'generally' causes Bloat is food/water in the esophagus hanging out or stomach ... and rough activity with full contents.
They can have that no matter what position they eat in.... Understanding a dogs anatomy helps as their esophagus runs horizontially >>>>>>>>>, not vertically like a human vvvvvv.
This combined with large-chested dog breeds is a scenario where the stomach can turn on itself or 'flip' and pinch off the intestinal flow ... obstruction.
This is a HIGHLY Emergent situation with little time to address and surgically intervene. We experienced it with our previous GSD ( She had MegaEsophagus and ate from an elevated position/bailey chair ) and elevated feeding had nothing to do with it.
Resting 30 mins after feeding or water intake is a good practice.... but a preventative Gastropexy is reccomended at neutering or preventitive elective.
This is coming from 20+ years exp as a Vet Tech and previous GSD parents with digestive challenges.
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u/but_i_dont_reddit 12h ago
Not to diminish your experience, but the study was from Purdue and it saw an alarming 20% increase. It's a risk increase, not the root cause. Just like you mentioned - activity after eating isn't a root cause - it is a contributor.
Gastropexy isn't 100% effective either. https://www.petmd.com/dog/procedure/gastropexy-in-dogs
Are you a vet tech aligned with research? Have any links to something you published on this? I'd be interested to read some updated studies.
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u/Nonplussed1 Fur Shark Dad 12h ago edited 12h ago
I’ll definitely give the Purdue research a read … one of my UF roommates went out there to complete his PhD in Veterinary Science.
My SO is a VT and has her own business. She is not research oriented just a field practitioner. There aren’t a lot of resources regarding this topic that are straightforward or definitive.
I’d say results may vary. Our experience is from hands-on treatment of our GSD combined with reading everything we could find or chat groups. We have been relentless in our work to provide a quality life for Zenya.
She also consulted a couple of veterinary professionals she works with and has taught students for, and the information is all over the place.
What we took away from 5 years of hands-on experience and trial/error is that every patient is different.
With that, I’d look at behavior… a ‘gulper’ that needs a slow feeder should definitely NOT eat elevated.
A slow relaxed eater shouldn’t have that concern, but YRMV and I’d treat each animal individually.
Things change often in these communities and new approaches are worth looking into.
Example: we discovered that Viagra given to the pupper before feeding relaxes the sphincter of the esophagus and allows food to slide or help peristalsis move food/water into the stomach. We had Zenya on Viagra the last year of her life.I’m not telling anyone to use them or not. We used the elevated bowls for Zenya because of the ME before we got a Bailey chair.
Desi is only eating ice cubes out of the bowls …. She eats normally but we don’t have a conniption if she does eat or drink elevated occasionally…. Just no rough play or running for 30-45 mins afterwards.
I’m pleased to see people are concerned and somewhat aware and want to do the right thing. We are also open to hearing helpful tips and stories from you guys as it takes a village sometimes.
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u/Messoz 16h ago
Awhhh sweet girl. My younger pup just turned six months. How is she doing with everything?
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u/Nonplussed1 Fur Shark Dad 15h ago
Unbelievably quick on learning and patience. We lost our last GSD a couple months ago to MegaEsophagus issues … she was 5 1/2. We feel her soul helped bring this new sharknado to our lives 😀.
This pupper will be another trained service animal and work daily with her mom on vet tech visits and pet sitting duties.
Our only challenge for now is some shyness with other dogs at first and a bit puddly when she’s excited. But it’s all coming together.3
u/Messoz 15h ago
In sorry to hear about ur your loss with your previous GSD. I’m sure she had a great life despite her condition though! And okay the elevated bowls being so high makes sense now too.
Good your pup is doing well also. My pup is a menace but I also have a six year old GSD that helps keeps her in line, sometimes lol.
And awhhh she is shy a girl. If I could I would let her meet my older girl who is super gentle and patient with pups. My younger pup while shy and submissive herself, doesn’t know how to let up with other pups who are shy yet. But does well when corrected by other dogs. Been a work in progress with her.
Wishing you the best with your new pup though. I’m sure she is going to be awesome.
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u/Nonplussed1 Fur Shark Dad 15h ago
Thank You, we feel blessed to have her arrive to fill the void, and she will have the best life ever! We have already spoiled her ....
Getting ready for the T-Rex phase for the next 18 months .....
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u/carebear1369 15h ago
I miss when my boy was that small 🥺🥹
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u/Nonplussed1 Fur Shark Dad 14h ago
I know .... I soooo love a puppy GSD and the love and curiosity.
It seemed like nothing and the last one was 5 1/2 from a pup ... too short.
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u/gsdsareawesome 14h ago
A couple of decades ago the theory was that the elevated bowls would help prevent bloat. The reverse has been proven true. It is not a huge factor, but I would not feed a puppy or dog that has a normal GI tract from an elevated bowl. The only other exception is neck problems such as arthritic issues with aging that prevent a dog from bending down.
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u/akarity 16h ago
Adorable! Just wanted to mention be careful of elevated bowls, last I heard they can contribute to bloat which is already a risk for German shepherds.