What I have taken away from all the reading I've done about bloat were two common factors running through many or most bloat cases: Body type (deep, narrow chests, like GSDs); kibble.

That doesn't say that a dog is likely to experience bloat if s/he's fed kibble; it does say that a dog who has bloat is likely to be kibble-fed.

I've also read that dogs with nervous or anxious dispositions seemed to be overrepresented in the group who experienced bloat.

Sorry I don't have citations at the moment.

P.S. There are several ideas about what actually causes bloat, but I don't think there's any consensus yet. There are these common factors, though.

Thank you, that's good to know.

I've been wondering since True simply explodes with energy after meals since I switched his diet and I've been afraid watching him run around like a maniac after eating. I watched a dog die of bloat and it was really horrible

dogs certainly can and do bloat on the raw diet, especially if they overeat (can happen if you have more than one dog eating together and one snitches from the others). there is also now a suspected DNA marker for bloat and what you feed then would make little difference.

the two most important factors for bloat are 1. body type and 2. first degree relative that has had bloat. and these are simply correlations, not causes. nobody really knows the cause.

the OP asked has anyone fed raw for ten years or more? my dog's breeder has been feeding raw for several generations. she has dogs that have lived to over 13 years of age that were weaned on raw. she was my mentor in learning how to raw feed.

i'll pass on to you the most basic guidelines she passed on to me:

1. feed a variety of meats and fish
2. keep it simple. feed what is locally available and cheap
3. feed only human grade meats
4. buy in bulk to save when there are sales (invest in a chest freezer, it will pay for itself quickly).
5. develop relationships with suppliers and have standing orders with them (see keep things simple).
6. don't sweat it. dogs have been eating raw bones for centuries.
7. try to keep your bone/meat ratio fairly close to what they would get if they were eating whole prey.
8. beef hearts, eggs, cottage cheese and yogurt are fantastic foods for dogs, in moderation.
9. don't over supplement. less is more. fish oil and kelp powder should do it.
10. never, ever defrost rmbs in a microwave. you could partially cook the bone and then it would be dangerous. cooked bones splinter.
11. beware of weight-bearing bones, they can crack your dog's teeth. stick with non-weight bearing bones like wings, necks, ribs, etc. in chickens you want to get young fryers whose leg bones are still soft.

as i've posted here many time before, i keep it easy by having a relationship with one supermarket meat department that expects to hear from me once a month. i order a couple of cases of whole chickens, three cases of beef hearts, two cases of turkey necks, a case of pork necks, some ribs and pork shoulders if they're on special (i never spend more than .99 a .lb and i try to keep it to .69).

the meat dept. cuts everything up or packages everything in 2 lb. portions, individually wrapped. i pick it up, it goes directly into the freezer, and then i defrost a few days worth in the fridge at a time. i often feed it frozen solid.

there should be no need to prepare meals.

i also buy some cans of salmon or mackerel and occaisionally feed with yogurt or cottage cheese, whole egg and shell, and kelp and fish oil. maybe i'll add ground leafy veggies to this once a week or once every two weeks, to keep him regular (pork neck bones can be constipating).

i also feed beef liver and hamburger on sale once in a while. and sometimes i'll just walk into the local supermarket and see what they have on special that i don't usually feed.

it's really very easy when you just hand the dog the contents of a package and let him deal with it.

you should see results in less than two weeks.

Can you give me anything on the DNA marker?

We had a class on bloat a couple of weeks ago, and heard that researchers were hoping to pinpoint a DNA marker but so far had been unsuccessful.

I would love to have something more to present.

Also, thanks for this: "in chickens you want to get young fryers whose leg bones are still soft"...... I have always avoided or ground up the leg quarters; didn't know this little hint.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

Can you give me anything on the DNA marker?

We had a class on bloat a couple of weeks ago, and heard that researchers were hoping to pinpoint a DNA marker but so far had been unsuccessful.

I would love to have something more to present.

hi, connie,
i posted the article here a week or two ago. a researcher in jupiter, florida is asking GSD owners to donate blood for the study. try the search function?? if it doesn't turn up, i should be able to track it down again. i got the info from a bloat listserv i belong to.

I'll find it. THANKS!

connie, PM me if you don't find it. i also forwarded the info to ben's breeder because one of the dogs in his litter bloated, and a half sibling also did, and she's in jupiter. so i can find it in my email files (not searchable, unfortunately), if it doesn't turn up here.

i should also add, if you do have a dog at high risk for bloat (see factors, above), please consult with a board certified veterinary surgeon to see if your dog is a good candidate for a prophylactic gastropexy, which will dramatically reduce the odds of him bloating. it can now be done arthroscopically, so there is only a tiny incision, and the dog is back to normal in just a week.

 Quote: alice oliver

10. never, ever defrost rmbs in a microwave. you could partially cook the bone and then it would be dangerous. cooked bones splinter.

Really good reminder on this one, Alice. Thanks...I think I might have forgotten this otherwise since I tend to forget to thaw things. Maybe I'll keep some of the pre-made patties around for when i need something rapidly thawed.