Our morning routine has changed. I need advice.

[Anthony99]

Ok here was our schedule the last 4 yrs, since our son was in Middle School. I get up at 5:15 a.m. down stairs between 5:30 a.m and 6:00 am. Let Avlon out she does her business. She eats between 5:45 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. I leave for work. Wife wakes up at 6:15 a.m. gets down stairs at 7:00 a.m. Avlon gets her water and pees and poops again. Wife leaves for work at 7:30 a.m. and drops son off at bus stop.

New schedule our son is in High School now. My routine is the same as above. Wife wakes up 6:00 a.m. is now down stairs at 6:30 a.m. She lets Avlon out again but has to have son at bus stop at 6:45 a.m. That is only 45 minutes after Avlon's breakfast. I always followed the rule of no water for an hour after she ate. My son gets home at 2:30 p.m. Should I hold off on her water till he gets home?

This morning I got up 15 minutes earlier so it would be an hour after she ate. Guess what?? Avlon would not get up. Suggestions and what is your routine.

 

[lola]

Lol.. Buddy waits impatiently until the baby gets up, then I get up, tend to the baby, let him out, feed the baby.. Buddy watches for dropped cereal, and he gets fed whenever I get a chance in the morning. Really not much routine at all, I make sure he doesn't get used to a specific routine because I don't want him expecting certain things at specific times. As for water, he gets it whenever he wants. I only restricted it when he was a puppy before bed, so he wouldn't need to go out as often. If you change the routine, I think he will eventually adapt to the new one.

 

[Bojie]

I have always left Bojie with a bowl full of water when I leave in the morning. For whatever reason, he will rarely drink it anyway unless I am home. My schedule varies, but is pretty similar from day to day plus or minus a few hours...This morning up at 4:30 walk Boj around 5/5:15 get back in and feed him breakfast, and I'm out the door by 5:30 for work, home again at 3 and take him out for walkies again and he's fine. Water is out 24/7, and has been since he's been housebroken. I only recently discontinued my dog walker that I had for him mid day, and he's adapted so nicely. What are your primary concerns? From what you wrote, it seemed like you may be concerned about bloat? If so, I think waiting just the 45min after eating is fine. Or is it that you're worried she may have to have a potty break mid day with too much water intake?
PS: Avalon looks stunning in your new avatar picture!

 

[BluwaterNewfs]

My dogs always have access to water 24/7 unless there is medical reason to withhold (ie -dog is going to have anesthesia and vet has told me to withhold all food and water)
Why do you withhold water after feeding for an hour?

 

[Anthony99]

Worried about bloat. Her water is available to her all day while we are at work. I read to wait at least 1 hour for water after eating.
Does everyone wait 1 hour after eating for the Newf to get his / her water???

 

[jane]

I've heard of waiting 1 hour, after eating, to excercise...But not water. I've always let my newfs drink after eating. Even when they ate kibble.

 

[Bojie]

Worried about bloat. Her water is available to her all day while we are at work. I read to wait at least 1 hour for water after eating.
Does everyone wait 1 hour after eating for the Newf to get his / her water???

Thats what I thought your concern was. I have heard that water with meals increases chances of bloat, but I still always have it available. The only thing I withhold is eating one hour BEFORE and/or one hour AFTER exercising/playing etc.

 

[migrandl]

Water's down here 24/7 also. I have heard of the exercise thing, but not water. There are many varied opinions on preventing bloat - dishes up, dishes down, etc. When you feed straight kibble, they need the water to help break it down, so I really can't see the reasoning behind not watering for an hour after eating.

 

[wrknnwf]

Water is available here all day long. Have never heard anything about waiting.

 

[newfam]

The boys get water 24/7 around here as well. I do notice that they want a quick drink right after they eat. They don't drink a lot just a quick lap or two. I think if they were downing the bowl I would limit right after meals.

 

[Clcsidi]

We never with hold water either.

 

[Liisa]

I don't withhold water either. I believe (please correct if I'm wrong) that the latest information indicated that drinking water at / after mealtimes had no effect on increased rates of bloat.....

 

[Sue M.]

It is true that water right before or after eating increases the chances of bloat. In the following link they explain why water shouldn't be given for an hour before or after a meal:

It dilutes the gastric juices necessary for proper digestion, which leads to gas production.

Scroll down to the "Prevention" topic.

http://www.globalspan.net/bloat.htm

I also learned this from Diane Lynch, the NPD rescue chair and was told the same thing by the Saint rescue chair. I don't necessarily wait the full hour but I do withhold water for at least a half hour before and after my guys eat. I also put a coffee mug or an upside down custard cup in the food of the dogs who eat too fast. It slows down their eating. Eating the food too fast can also result in bloat.

 

[Anthony99]

Maybe I am going crazy?? My family always makes fun of me over the no water for an hour after eating. I definitely read this somewhere, I think ????

 

[Anthony99]

Thank you Sue !! I am not crazy.

 

[Jeannie]

If you want to stick to your regular routine then I'd get up 15 minuted earlier. Or you could get up and immediately feed and potty your dog, then get ready for work. That way the hour would be there for water.

My dogs do not get exercise 1 hour before and after eating and I don't give them water for 1/2 hour after eating.

 

[victoria1140]

water 24/7 here , bowls upstairs and downstairs

 

[NessaM]

Hah! If I don't provide water 24/7 they "find" it on their own, if you get my drift. Nanook likes to drink running water, so he's learned to flip the toilet lid to make a noise - and when I come running into the bathroom to yell at him, he's standing inside the shower waiting for me to turn on the hand sprayer for him. Clever bear.

I've never withheld water during meals. If you're worried about her kibble swelling in her stomach, try putting some in a bowl and adding water and watching to see how the kibble reacts - some kibbles swell up like nuts and release a lot of air or other gases in the process, others just dissolve. If you're feeding a type that swells up, you can try pre-wetting her food so that it swells up BEFORE it is in her stomach, then you don't have to worry about the food off-gassing in her stomach as it expands and causing her to bloat, or the expansion itself causing bloat. (Check first to be sure that the food you are feeding doesn't contain Citric acid, because wetting dry foods that contain citric acid can also lead to bloat).

Sue, I'd never heard the dilution of gastric acids reason before - I'll have to check that out!

 

[R Taft]

My dogs are fed and water is at liberty, whenever they want it. I would be concerned about leaving a dog who eats dry without water. That could lead to serious problems. If a dog has always got water add lib, they won't try to drink a whole heap in one session. I just am careful with very cold water, when the dog is hot. I am the same with my horses in that respect. I have had newfs since the eighties and never with held water.

 

[Anthony99]

She eats TOTW with a little water in it. I will keep her off water for 30 minutes after eating. Thanks everyone !!