Feeding your dog before a walk: Dog trainer warns why you should never do it because it can cause bloat

It might seem harmless, but there’s one thing that can be dangerous for dog owners to do before taking their pup on a walk. 

Adam Spivey, the Founder of Southend Dog Training, shared the warning on Instagram and plenty of people had no idea. 

The dog trainer urged people not to feed their dog then head off on a walk because it can cause a “life-threatening” condition. 

Watch the video above.

READ MORE: The 10 dog breeds with the shortest lifespans

“One of the most dangerous things you can do as a dog owner is feed your dog and then take him for a walk,” he started in the video. 

The dog trainer explained this can cause bloat, which can actually become a life-threatening emergency. 

While bloat is rare, it can happen to any dog. If your dog becomes bloated, their stomach will fill with gas and can twist in a way that cuts off the blood supply to their gut, according to Blue Cross. 

Bloat is very painful and it can kill in a matter of hours without veterinary treatment.

“I’m not saying they have to sit there and do nothing, they can move around,” Spivey continued.

READ MORE: Vet explains why it’s not recommended to feed your dog raw chicken

“I’m talking about taking your dog out and properly exercising them. You need to give time for that food to go down.”

Instead he suggested it’s best to feed your dog after a walk. 

“They’re gonna be more hungry, where they burn off some energy, they’re gonna be more likely to eat, and it reduces the chance of them being fussy if you feed them after exercise,” he said. 

Dog grooming photos: Before and after

“It’s always best to feed your dog after a walk instead of before a walk.”

If you are going to feed your dog before going on a walk, Spivey suggested waiting at least 45 minutes to an hour before physical activity.

The post, which was shared with this 1.5 million followers was flooded with comments from people who had no idea this could happen.

READ MORE: Selfish act that left cat shelter manager in despair

READ MORE: 10 medium-sized dog breeds to know about

“So good to know, I used to do it all the time, so glad my pups never had problems. Will never do that again, thank you!” replied one follower.

Others thanked him for bringing awareness to the rare condition and sharing their own experience with it. 

“Thank you for addressing this!! I’ve heard of several dogs lately that died of bloat,” commented one person.

Another replied, “I lost the most amazing dog to bloat. It is no joke. It happens unexpectedly. It is always an emergency and most dogs don’t survive it. It is terrible.”

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.