[pmabbey]

Okay, so my pup was eating everything. Being that he is 12 weeks old I figured it would happen. So I listened to the advice I got from Labman and others about getting him Nylabones and Kongs so that he can't eat them. But is he supposed to be able to chow down half a bone in like an hour? Is that healthy? Or okay? Any other nipping or biting comments would be great too because the biting and chewing is starting to get bad, but so far its staying to me and the toys. Thanks!

[labman]

Maybe I need to be more specific. I do not give my dogs any of the flavored, consumable chews just because they do get gnawed down too small too quickly. I stick to the solid, hard plastic. A 12 week old should not be gnawing them down very quickly unless you are giving him the very smallest ones. They also make softer, more flexible ones. Some dogs destroy them quickly too. I like them for when I take a puppy out in public because they are quieter. Xanthe was 12 weeks old today. So far, we haven't had to take any dog toys away from her.

Every fall when we get our new puppy, we dig out the smaller Nylabones and some soft rubber toys not suitable for older dogs. Our 14 year old Aster plays little attention to anything except balls, so we can have things out for the puppy. As the puppy grows, one toy after another slowly goes in the storage ottoman including nubbins OK for a small dog. They really seem to prefer broken in chews. When visitors come, we have to collect all the small stuff, and then get it out again later.

The bigger the bone, the longer it will last. Nylabone also makes a tougher grade called Galileo. RubyPitbull is the only one that has ever reported that a dog destroyed the Souper size. You may have to go online to find them and other good stuff such as dinosaurs, rings, Y bones, etc. We even have a set of keys teething toy. We have bought a lot of stuff from Dog & Pet Supplies - Vet Vax, Inc Pet Supply Store for dogs, cats, horses. I promise I have no financial interest in them.

[pmabbey]

I didn't know there was a difference in the Nylabones, even my trainer didn't specify edible or not. I'm praying I got edible and he didn't eat something he shouldn't have. I'll have to go get out the packaging. Also, the fact the he's wolfing them down as though its food be why he gets terrible hiccups? Because I raised his bowls for eatting and his hiccups stopped after that. I'm trying my best. I guess I will eventually figure out something he won't destroy, well he seems to like the kong but he gets bored with it after a few minutes. Thanks for your help. :D

[labman]

Then there is the twofer. Jam the end of a Nylabone in a Kong. The sum is greater than the parts.

[bushg]

I didn't know there was a difference in the Nylabones, even my trainer didn't specify edible or not. I'm praying I got edible and he didn't eat something he shouldn't have. I'll have to go get out the packaging. Also, the fact the he's wolfing them down as though its food be why he gets terrible hiccups? Because I raised his bowls for eatting and his hiccups stopped after that. I'm trying my best. I guess I will eventually figure out something he wont destroy, well he seems to like the kong but he gets bored with it after a few minutes. Thanks for your help. :D

I noticed that you said you rose his bowels for him to eat... I have been reading about bloat and the one thing that I have been reading in the different articles is to not raise the food and water bowls. I know yours is a pup and they are talking about bloat in adult dogs. Just thought you could use that tidbit of info for when he is older.

[pmabbey]

My vet told me to do that because of how fast he eats and the bloat. You didn't say why to not raise it. Any specific reason?

[labman]

Purdue published a study about a year ago with data showing that dogs that had raised food dishes were more prone to bloat. Do a search on Purdue and bloat, and youshould turn it up. There was quite a bit of discussion of it on a couple of other sites that I was active on. Some questioned if the Purdue study was biased. Most of the people that raise the dog's dish have Boxers, Great Danes, and other deep chested dogs prone to bloat. Usually people with Labs, Goldens, and other breeds that have less problems with bloat, don't raise the dish. Many Boxer owners are discounting the Purdue study and continuing to raise the dish. Raising the dish has been the conventional wisdom for years. If you are really concerned about bloat, the best way to slow down how the dog eats is to spread the food out on something like a cookie sheet or put large rocks in the dish. Some of my friends just throw the food on the floor of the crate. Either way, the dog can't get one big mouthful after another.

I will raise the dogs food dish when the dog guide school say they want us to. They are not doing it for their Goldens.

[bushg]

pmabbey Here is the study that I found a few weeks ago, I'm not sure when it was published, but it began in 1994.Canine Bloat - Tufts Breeding & Genetics 2003