Article in Empress Breeder mag about bloating

Jags · 11-04-2003, 06:55 PM

This months Empress Breeder mag (which I just recieved today) has a great article on Acute Indigestion or bloat that I wish every chin owner could read. Basically it says that it is caused by a sudden change in feed type or amount of feed intake and that some animals are more prone than others. The feeding of tidbits such as peanuts, nut meats or raisins, feeds containing yeast and green feeds or forms of feed that will expand once in the stomach should be avoided. The problem ussually occurs 3 or 4 days before the bloating is noticed and each feeding adds weight and bulk to the stomach until it becomes overloaded and stops the normal digestive process. The reason or cause has not yet been figured out and in the majority of cases will prove fatal to the animal.
Randy

Cinnamon · 11-04-2003, 10:21 PM

Thanks for posting this information, Randy! I've heard that nuts can be a problem for several reasons and have always avoided them because I'm allergic to them myself.

It's sad to think that the majority of cases will prove fatal

I wish they could let us know what's going on before it's too late.

Candycane · 11-04-2003, 11:38 PM

Wow, thanks Randy. We really appreciate your knowledge.

I was thinking about adding sunflower seeds to my grain supplement but decided against it because of the high fat content. I have seen several breeders sites that recommend nuts.

So raisins should be avoided? Is that true of any dried fruit?

Carlee36 · 11-05-2003, 09:14 AM

That was very interesting, thanks for posting Randy. I personally don't feed raisins as I feel that they have a very high sugar content, and they tend to stick to the teeth causing teeth problems.
Oat groats should also be avoided, these cause bloat too. Had this happen to one of my chins, he ate a few too many. Thankfully I caught the problem fast, got him into the vet, they gave me meds for him and within a couple of days he was fine. I removed oat groats (oats in their natural form) from my supplement. He would pig out on those first, and that's how the problem started.

Carleen

Denise · 11-05-2003, 09:15 AM

Candice, the supplement I use has sunflower seeds in it but I only give them one or two in the mix and pick the rest out. I have never had a problem with my chins eating them. As for dried fruit, I give mine a small piece of fruit everyday and have never had a problem with constipation, diarrhea, or bloat.

I am wondering if the new supplement I got from ChinWorld is okay?

Cinnamon · 11-08-2003, 09:13 PM

Carleen, can you expand on "oat groats" - those aren't the same thing you can buy from Quaker at the grocery store, are they?

neuroleptical · 11-08-2003, 10:02 PM

Oat groats are natural oats. The grocery store oats are rolled or crimped oats usually. It will say on the bag.
I feed Cub green vegetables & fruit in small quantities on veterinary advice, now I am wondering if I shouldn't. She is in fine health so maybe I will call my exotics vet on Monday.
Thanks for mentioning this article.

Carlee36 · 11-09-2003, 09:14 AM

Yes, oat groats are oats in their natural form, you can buy them that way from feed stores. After what I experienced my advice is to stay away from them. However rolled oats in small quantities are ok occaisionally.

Carleen

Jags · 11-09-2003, 11:50 AM

Every animal is differant and things may not effect one animal but may prove deadly to another. I just wanted people to understand what could possibly happen as most people take losing an animal very hard and I see a lot of people trying to feed anything and everything under the sun. Some times we just try to hard to give our animals what we think will be best for them.(Me included) Seems the more I try to improve there diet to obtain the best out of them the more problems I end up with. The wifes first chin is still in the barn and will be 20 years old in January, she gets nothing special and is doing well for her age.