Registered: May 2012
Location: va
Posts: 208

saw a post somwer about feeding dogs before hunting. when do you guys feed and is the twisted gut true or not? thanks

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Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Anchorage,Ak
Posts: 1727

yes a twisted gut can happen. I feed after hunting and I also feed 2x per day. just imagine eating a big plate of food then running 5 miles probably not going to stay down very long.

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Registered: May 2012
Location: va
Posts: 208

to be a little clearer does it increase the odds by much?

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Registered: Apr 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 928

Feed about a half hour after hunting and my reasons have zero to do with twisted gut and everything to do with keeping your dog in an anabolic state. Besides, what do you feel like doing after you eat a meal and have a full belly......run around the woods or take a snooze?

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Registered: Apr 2013
Location: Pea Ridge, Arkansas
Posts: 115

I always liked to feed my dogs about 3 or 4 hours before going huntin. It was mentioned how would you like to eat a bunch and then go run five miles. Well how would you like to go run five miles on nothing to eat? Its not a good idea to feed your dogs right before leaving to hunt though. Need to feed them early enough that they have time to digest their food good and everything will be settled down before going hunting.

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Registered: Apr 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 928

Dogs do not digest a meal in 4-5 or even 8-10 hours. Fed before provides very little benefit unless it is quick burning simple carbs and a very LIGHT feeding. Your dog will continue to burn his nutrient stores and fat for about a half hour after hunting. It is at that time when you need to provide feed so that the recovery has something to draw from so your dog remains in an anabolic state. Once he runs out, he'll burn muscle to recover. Needless to say, that is counterproductive. If your feed is poor, you will absolutely need to feed twice a day and I have no suggestions there, wouldn't know how to tell you to do it. Feed the best you can afford, a half hour after hunting and many of your worries will go away and your dog will perform much better on average because you are dialing into exactly how his biochemistry operates.

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Registered: Nov 2004
Location: DC area
Posts: 735

Twisted gut is very true. Had a very expensive dog die from it a few years ago. A guy was hunting him to get him ready for the world hunt and made the mistake of hunting him to soon after feeding. The vet says that dogs with long bodies are more likely to have this happen than a small compact dog. This is due to the intestines having more run to move around in a longer body dog. It is best to give the food time to digest.

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