Slow down!

[Diesel's Dad]

So Diesel is doing great and this weekend will be his first walk in the big wide world, assuming he gets better on the leash! So looking forward to burning off a bit of his boundless energy!

Only 2 speeds, sleep or flat out zoomies!

Question; have any of the wise advisors who suggest no excercise for an hour after food ever kept a boxer pup?! Jesus, he’s unstoppable! Let him outside for toilet shortly after food and he’s racin around like a lunatic!

Understand this can lead to gastric torsion so not just a fun question!

Thanks,

DD

 

[Whippylove]

My whippet pup can be the same so i just put him on a lead after meals to stop the zoomies!

 

[Diesel's Dad]

Ain’t got him to accept the leash yet unless he’s got a constant supply of treats dangled under his nose!

 

[JudyN]

I believe the evidence that exercise after meals causes bloat is thin. This article might be of interest: https://dkoch.ch/fileadmin/user_upl...lchiurgie/Stomach_torsion_in_the_dog_Koch.pdf I think I would encourage rest or quiet play, but also make sure he's getting several small meals rather than fewer large ones, slow down feeding, e.g. scattering kibble over an area or using a 'slow feed' bowl, and maybe limit the amount of water available if he has a tendency to gulp it down.

 

[pongo111]

I don't really have any advice, but just want to say he is super CUTE!

 

[Diesel's Dad]

Thanks pongo. Yes, he’s an angel when he’s tired! Currently being a devil dog and chewing everything in sight, especially me!

 

[millymojo1]

View attachment 111977692 So Diesel is doing great and this weekend will be his first walk in the big wide world, assuming he gets better on the leash! So looking forward to burning off a bit of his boundless energy!

Only 2 speeds, sleep or flat out zoomies!

Question; have any of the wise advisors who suggest no excercise for an hour after food ever kept a boxer pup?! Jesus, he’s unstoppable! Let him outside for toilet shortly after food and he’s racin around like a lunatic!

Understand this can lead to gastric torsion so not just a fun question!

Thanks,

DD

Hmmm I remember those days well. Taz was the same - so exhausting. Worse than my kids when they were toddlers.
Taz is four and a half now and has just started to slow down to normal speed - thank goodness

 

[Flobo]

Haha, super cute! Wouldn't have another pup if ya paid me, but love seeing and hearing of other peoples.

 

[millymojo1]

No nor me! A rescue for me next time. My previous dog was a two year old rescue and never put a paw wrong - total opposite to this one lol

 

[leashedForLife]

.

The risk factors for bloat are pretty well documented:
- deep-chested breed or mix
- near-relatives who bloated (the younger, the worse the risk)
- risk rises with age
- aerobic exercise within 30-mins before, or an hour post-meal
- bolting one’s food, or gulping loads of water
- rapidly eating dry food, followed by large amounts of water
- RAISED BOWLS.

Of them all, raised bowls are the single biggest threat; eating from an elevated bowl increases every current risk-factor by 100%, per a Univ of Penna vet-Med college study with multiple breeds.
IOW, if my dog is deep-chested, over 4 to 5 years age, AND has a habit of gobbling her food, that’s 3 strikes; if I also feed her from a raised bowl, she now has SIX risk-factors, not “4”.

Spooning a fourth of their meal into the bowl from another bowl, allowing Pup to eat, ask for a sit, refill, eats, ask for sit, etc... can help reduce the amount of air inhaled, & slow down eating.

Softening dry food before feeding it also helps -
add half the volume of dry food in water, for the next meal, & leave it bagged in the ‘frig to absorb it. If it swells to double its original size, consider changing brands; meat (listed by species) should be the 1st ingredient, not the 3rd or the 4th, & it should be minimally processed- not “poultry byproduct”, but diced or pulled chicken, for example.

Pups are exhausting, but luckily it’s a brief phase - over at puberty, at 6-MO. :thumbs-up:
Chewing can be heavy in larger breeds thru 9 to 10-MO as the teeth settle into the jaws (Rotts, other bully breeds including Boxers, GSDs, etc), then it declines to normal lifelong chew-to-relax intensity.

Teenagerhood is IME more trying than pre-pubertal puphood, particularly for novice owners of male pups - the hormonally fueled behaviors of a 9-MO male dog have to be experienced to be believed, in many cases, & first-time puppy owners are unprepared to deal with a sex-crazed teen male.


Hang in there,
- terry

.

 

[Diesel's Dad]

Thanks for the advice and encouragement Terry!

 

[merlina]

Pups are exhausting- but perversely I love it too. They are this intense life-force in a smallish package. I feel sad when they get sensible and past that I-don't-care-I'm-gonna-just-do-it phase. (I think secretly I must adore anarchy ). Enjoy it while you can.