Is it safe to add water to my picky dog's kibble? Worried about bloat.

No, it's a good way to increase fluid intake. Try not to change foods too often It can lead to gastrointestinal upset and may make him even more finicky. Stick with one diet. If he gets "bored", keep feeding it. He will eat when he gets hungry. Be firm. Consider a more strict feeding schedule since some dogs thrive on routine.

It's not necessary to add water to dry kibble before feeding, your pet can digest it fine without the water. The water does add extra moisture to the diet, so there's no harm in doing. I think half a cup of water to 1/3 cup of kibble is too much water, however, and if you want to soak the kibble, I would add just enough to moisten it. I think slow feeder bowls are better for eaters, as it reduces the risk of bloat occurring.

Hi and thanks for Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You can add water to Guinness's food daily if you wish. Wet food can stick to the teeth more which can cause dental disease or may worsen current dental disease so you may want to stick to just the hard kibble unless your veterinarian has recommended extra water be added to his diet due to a medical condition (such as kidney disease for example).

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It is perfectly fine to soak the kibbles in warm water first. By doing that the kibbles smell stronger and are more attractive to cats. Also, they fill up the stomach quickly, so your cats will feel better after each meal. Also, adding water to kibbles increases general water intake, which is beneficial for health in many cats.

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! A light walk probably won't hurt but yes you are right about Bloat. It's very serious and any exercise after eating can be a problem. But it's usually vigorous activity like running, playing, fetching. Light walks should not be a problem and I don't see that as a big risk factor. Lots of owners do the same thing that you did. Also don't let her drink a big bowl of water around the time of vigorous activity. Small sips are ok but not huge gulps of water. So it's good to be careful and vigilant. The signs of Bloat include dry heaves (trying to vomit but nothing comes up), restlessness, not able to get comfortable, crying or moaning in discomfort, pacing, not wanting to lay down. I think you did the right thing walking her and I like the fact that you are aware of Bloat. Good job educating yourself on this important topic.

Generally only dogs with a condition called megaesophagus where the food they eat gets trapped in the dilated esophagus and they vomit frequently after eating, and dogs with neck pain would benefit from elevated bowls. Some studies have shown that eating from raised bowls actually increases the amount of air dogs ingest when eating and increases the risk of bloat. I think the person who told you to raise the bowls was concerned re: bloat in your medium to large breed dogs. My best recommendation is that if your dogs eat very fast/scarf down their food, that definitely does predispose them to developing bloat which can be life threatening, and puzzle feeders available on Amazon for about $10-$15 that are bowls with ridges in them to slow down eating would be more beneficial than raising the bowls. Good luck!

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. As long as Padmae is comfortable and the abdomen is not swollen or hard to touch, you should monitor her at home. Typical symptoms of bloat include discomfort, abdominal enlargement, pacing, retching and trying to vomit. If you notice any of these symptoms you should get Padmea checked by your local vets as soon as possible