“There’s Nothing Funny about Flatulence”

If I had a dollar for every time I said that in my household of six men…well, I’d be rich enough to hide away in a hotel for awhile. And while I may truly be the only one in my house who doesn’t “get” the joke, excess gas really can be an issue – particularly when it comes to the canine members of our family.

Gas, vomiting, and abdominal pain can be signs of gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) or canine bloat. GDV is the number two killer of dogs and a serious problem for pet owners who often underestimate the issue.

To help promote healthier eating habits, the EatBetter bowl incorporates a raised wishbone-shaped partition that provides easy access to food, but prevents dogs from gulping their meal too quickly. The bowl’s innovative design encourages dogs to eat slower, take smaller mouthfuls, chew more, and avoid overeating.

The DrinkBetter bowl uses a floating obstacle to control the flow of water, encouraging dogs to drink slower and take only as much as they need, without soaking their ears and muzzles or slopping water around the feeding area.

And because we think this issue is no laughing matter, we are offering a seriously great deal on our EatBetter and DrinkBetter Bowls.

Purchase a medium EatBetter Bowl and DrinkBetter Bowl from www.contech-inc.com before November 30th, 2010 and we will give you $10 off your purchase. Just enter coupon code: EBDBNOV as you check out!

August Photo Contest Winner

Kim Fish is the winner of the August WaterDog Photo Contest! “Buck” loves his WaterDog. Buck has won a set of EatBetter and DrinkBetter bowls for his photo! Thank you to everyone who entered the WaterDog photo contest.

Runners Up!
It was a tough decision with such cute photos. Here are our 4 runners up:

Newfie, Tara, will go outside just to drink from her WaterDog.	Photo sent in by Nancy.
Jake grabbing a cold one after a long walk.	Jake once again, sent in by Jason.

DrinkBetter Bowl Makes “Becker’s Best”!

While we have always known it was great, we are thrilled that Dr. Marty Becker (Universal Press syndicated columnist and veterinarian) thinks so too.  Dr. Becker recently included the DrinkBetter bowl on his list of “new products that make owning a pet easier”.  He also featured it—and its companion, the EatBetter bowl—on a recent Good Morning America Now segment as well as on his website:  www.PetConnection.com.

Monty and Me

What Pet Parents Should Know About Bloat

I have five rescued pets:  three dogs (Monty, Libby, and Dudley) and two cats (Wisco and Elliott).  I was mom to the furry kids long before the human variety came along.  In relative terms, I think I’m a pretty good pet parent…I’ve rallied for beginner and intermediate obedience classes, we were playgroup “regulars” at Elaine’s Pet Resorts and I know a fair deal (most of it experiential) about pet health and oddball skin, gum, and joint diseases.  Until recently, however, I knew nothing about bloat.

Bloat (or gastric dilatation), as it turns out, is a fairly common and dangerous condition in which the stomach becomes filled with air, putting pressure on the surrounding organs.  When it strikes it is sudden, scary, and often fatal.  It is the condition that twice-plagued Marley of Marley and Me fame.

Bloat is more serious if the distended stomach rotates (gastric dilatation and volvulus), trapping air and cutting off the blood supply to the other organs.  Bloat can be fatal in a matter of hours and has a mortality rate of 20 to 40 percent in treated animals.  The average cost to treat bloat is at least $1500.

Certain dog breeds:  Akita, Bloodhound, Collie, Great Dane, Irish Setter, Irish Wolfhound, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, Saint Bernard, Standard Poodle, German Shepherd, Weimaraner, are more susceptible.  In addition to breed, dietary and other factors can contribute to bloat:  increasing age, eating one meal a day, eating dry dog food exclusively, fearful or worried temperament, and gulping or eating food too quickly.

According to Doctors Foster and Smith and peteducation.com,  signs of bloat include:  abdominal distension, non-productive vomiting, restlessness, rapid, shallow breathing, and profuse salivation.  If you suspect bloat, take your dog to the vet immediately.

Reduce the likelihood of bloat by:  feeding two to three small meals a day rather than one large one, limiting activity before and after meals, avoiding stress, feeding a combination of wet and dry food, and slowing down eating and drinking with special bowls.

Two of my dogs are predominantly German Shepherd and one is a major chow hound.  I’ve slowed his eating with an EatBetter Bowl (although he still makes an end run for the bowls of the other two) and I’ve switched them all to two, small meals a day.  More importantly, I’ve learned what I can about this condition and plan to discuss it with my vet during our next visit.

– Tracey Robertson