Member Mail

Canine Café Clarification
As a veterinarian, I must recommend against building the “Canine Café” in the April/May issue of HANDY. While conventional wisdom holds that elevated feeding decreases the likelihood of the stomach condition commonly referred to as bloat, this belief is unfounded. In fact, studies done at Purdue University have shown that elevated feeding actually increases the incidence of bloat. This condition requires immediate medical attention and is often fatal, even after successful surgery. I do not recommend elevated feeding for any of my canine patients.
                                                                Mark E. Funk, D.V.M.
                                                               Uniontown, OH

Editor’s response: In my project research, I found (and heard) only positive opinions about elevated feeding stations for large dogs (albeit, many were stated by sites that sell them). After seeing this member letter, I dug further and found a source indicating that some dogs (particularly deep-chested breeds such as Great Danes, Dobermans, Greyhounds, etc.) can be susceptible to bloat, which may be aggravated by eating from a raised dish. As a conscientious dog-lover, I would certainly advocate responsible pet care and agree that it’s always wise to consult with your own veterinarian before changing your dog’s feeding posture or program.
     Connie Bastyr, Senior Editor