At what age would you stop soaking kibble?

I still soak kibble for my nearly-13 year old! I don't want it swelling in her stomach and triggering bloat.

Same here. My old girls still get their kibble soaked.
Mainly because they prefer it that way. But also because should they
get bloat, the vet won't be able to empty the stomach as quickly, if the kibble is hard and dry in there.
None of my dogs have ever had bloat, but my breed is one where you have to watch out, long chest and body, so
I try to do what ever I can to avoid it happening.
I know some people prefer giving their dogs the kibble dry, with water on the side. Some because their dogs prefer their food that way. Some because their dogs need every help they can get in keeping their teeth clean.
I think it's more down to what the dog likes best, really 
Karen

I'd never, ever feed it dry, way too dangerous.

Mine would never eat is wet past about 10 weeks.  Less wasteful to feed it dry, if any is left can be given later, if soaked really needs to be thrown away within half an hour or so.  My breed are not a bloat risk, but it is a good idea not to excersise an hour before or after a large meal.

When our first boy came to us at 11 weeks he was eating it dry but the new baby still has his soaked. They have such a difference in appetite my eldest is sooooo fussy and left his food AGAIN this morning but my new baby is the hungriest puppy I have ever seen! (the breeder did warn me he was greedy!)

I,ve always fed ours soaked as well
like the others to help reduce the risk of bloat.

>if any is left can be given later

Food being left? How does that work (unless the dog is ill)?

Do you soak it with hot water till its all coated or till its mush?

I dont tend to soak the kibble.
Gemma had it unsoaked until the last few months of her life and she had great teeth
So feel that if I soak it that will compromise the teeth
Mine do always have fresh water down and never excersise before an hour after food, and Ebba running its more 1 1/2 hours
Lea

It's not just bloat that feeding unsoaked food can cause, but also tonsillitis and acid stoamachs, reverse sneezes etc.

I am thinking of trying this with our older boy, at the moment I am soaking with a little boiled water, not to mush but to soften a bit. Shall I do the same?

I used to soak the puppy food but the food he is on now won't soak it up even - the water just sits in the bowl!!  Not trying to pinch your post, but am I doing something wrong???  (I feed Autarky btw)

Are you using cold water or warm water? And how long are you leaving it for?

I have been doing it all the same as the puppy food - warm water and leaving it for AGES but nothing happens.  The puppy food soaked it up and I fed it when it had cooled down.  I have even taken to it with a fork to try and encourage it

Georgepig, Autarky and Gusto do not seem to soak properly whatever you do. Even boiling water left for a couple of hours doesn't work. I don't know why, they used to soak well, but no longer do. It seems to be the adult varieties the problem is with. I no longer use it because of this.

That would make sense then - so I no longer have to attack it then LOL!
Is it the way it is made that prevents it from absorbing the water?  I know some foods are baked and some extruded but I have no idea which one Autarky is.

I still soak too.. for both my dogs, one is 5 the other 19 months old...

Sorry to ask again but do you soak it till its mush or just soft?

Softened but not mushy.

Thanks

Always have -always will.Another advantage is soaking up meat juices into the kibble.

Jeangenie   Food being left?  How does that work (unless the dog is ill)?
Some of mine routinely leave food but I can never anticipate which ones and when hence the waste. I have a friend with Rotties and she finds it amazing how mine leave food and never steal, beg etc. That's both breeds Boxers and Cavaliers ( although I do have the odd eating machine!!!!)

Our older boy regularly leaves food, I believe this is to do with us making him fussy by free feeding him in the early days and changing his food!
Our newbie well he is a different kettle of fish I have never seen a dog eat their food down so fast!

Just to say you really are a helpful bunch!

I soaked our eldests food tonight and he was very impressed and ate it up!

>It seems to be the adult varieties the problem is with. I no longer use it because of this.

Autarky Autumn years seem to soak up water fine. Used to soak Gemmas to get her to eat it.
Lea

Then surely the manufacturers should be making clients aware their dry food can trigger bloat & needs to be soaked before feeding???

>>I'd never, ever feed it dry, way too dangerous<<

Well if its that dangerous being fed as is, the manu`s definately need to revise instructions on how dry foods are fed!!  :shocked:

Maybe someone should inform them of this.

What about reducing the amount of kibble you give them in any one sitting?  I only give my JRTs a Kong Stuff a Ball full of Burns in the morning followed by a fish 4 dogs sea jerky before I go to work.  My dog walking lady gives them a few very small treats at lunchtime.  In the evening, I fill an ordinary kong with either homemade or wet food such as Naturediet, Burns or Nature's Harvest.  They also eat a very small dish of steamed vegetables.  At bedtime, they have a small logic chew to help clean their teeth.  What do you think?

"Soaking your dogs food is a myth an "ole wives tale" left over from the 1960's -70's and often perpetuated by some of the ole timers who have not kept up with current information. Soaking kibble before serving has nothing to do with preventing bloat and in fact, in the early days of grain based foods, it actually promoted bloat."

Above taken from here: http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/water_water_everywhere.htm

One thing i dont agree on is when she says "in the early days of grain based foods".There are still unfortunately many grain based foods still around with many people still feeding them!

Here are all the articles from her site which discuss soaking,the pitfalls of adding Boiling hot water to kibble and general water consumption.

Kate - Thanks for the link, do yours have their kibble dried?

>Kate - Thanks for the link, do yours have their kibble dried?

Yes they do.

"Soaking your dogs food is a myth an "ole wives tale" left over from the 1960's -70's and often perpetuated by some of the ole timers who have not kept up with current information. Soaking kibble before serving has nothing to do with preventing bloat and in fact, in the early days of grain based foods, it actually promoted bloat."

Above taken from here: http://www.greatdanelady.com/articles/water_water_everywhere.htm

Funny how ALL my cavaliers (4) and both my papillons as well as several Goldens got ill from a myth then....... and funny how I have 10 dogs that eat soaked food and have never had any problems from it -I've been soaking food since 1988.

In Response to Ktee

>Yes they do.

Even though that link you gave recommends wetting the kibble?

In Response to Ktee

Another old wife here too.

I've bred and owned a considerable number of dogs, some at risk to bloat...no problems so far.
My dogs prefer it too.

A rather sweeping statement I feel Ktee; unless of course you are personally researching the subject scientifically, practically (not just theoretically) and have produced hard evidence ( hopefully generations) to back this up. We ' old wives', with many many years of practical experience, perhaps beg to differ.

Agree, Mine always have it soaked and obviously peoples opinions differ but just because it is written down (KTee's link) doesn't mean that it is gospel. I certainly would not feed a young puppy dried kibble, very dangerous imo

Our eldest is loving it soaked, not sure if this is novalty or whether he really prefers it like that!

Edited to say - our staffie won't touch wet food she loves it dried!

Pups from 6 weeks get offered a choice of both, and quickly show a preference for it dry.  I do not excersise prior or after feedign for at least an hour.  Also they are not big eaters only getting 150 - 200g a day.  I fdn they eat it more slowly dry.

>Toolz-A rather sweeping statement I feel Ktee;

The only "statement" i made on the above post was the one about the many grain based foods still available! I'm not sure what's so 'sweeping' about that???
I'm also pretty sure the purdue scientific study on Bloat debunked it also.If your interested look it up

The statement i quoted which has " " marks around it was copied from the link i provided

>Angels2-Thanks for the link, do yours have their kibble dried?

I should reiterate that i have never fed plain dry food.I've always added 'wet' extra's,such as naturediet,prizechoice and most often fresh homecooked/raw foods.

>Marianne-funny how I have 10 dogs that eat soaked food and have never had any problems from it

Mine have never had any problems from eating unsoaked food

>Marianne-Funny how ALL my cavaliers (4) and both my papillons as well as several Goldens got ill from a myth

Personally if i had 7 dogs get ill i would be looking into more than just adding water to their food...Perhaps the food itself??

But as they say,each to their own.If y'all want to add water go right ahead,i just thought i would present another view If,in your opinions, feeding watered down kibble keeps bloat at bay  then it can only be a good thing

>Floradora-I certainly would not feed a young puppy dried kibble, very dangerous imo

Why would feeding dry kibble to a pup be dangerous? Shouldnt the manufactures put Danger warning labels on their products if feeding their foods dry is dangerous?
I agree feeding nothing but plain dry food,and only dry food,soaked or unsoaked,to a dog/cat/mammal whatever! Is somewhat dangerous,but not for the reasons stated here,i'm thinking more on a health basis.