Thanks for Links Phil and glad Breagh is doing well

bumped for a PM request.

Phil,
this is the new Perdue study. makes interesting reading.


Purdue Bloat Study
Recent studies are shedding more light on gastric dilatation
volvulus (GDV), 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 Purdue 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 dogs 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 analysis's, 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." 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.

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 percent 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.