Rescued Great Dane's Unique Way of Eating Tugs at the Heartstrings
When you adopt a rescue, you can sometimes see shades of their old lives. And if they come from an abuse or neglect situation, it can hit you like a ton of bricks. Zeus, a Great Dane online, has finally found his forever home. But that doesn't mean his past life doesn't sometimes show through. His owner recently shared the most heartbreaking video of the pup, and it has people online so upset.
Zeus now lives the good life. But it wasn't always this way.
On his TikTok page, Zeus' owners share his current happy life. There are trips in the car, days spent lying on the couch, and many, many treats. But it's when Zeus' owners see him eating his dinner that they recall how far he's really come.
Related: Great Dane 'Babysits' Tiny Baby Goat and Maximum Cuteness Ensues
"Before Zeus was rescued, he was kept in a crate where he was fed so he almost always lays down to eat," the onscreen caption reads. It should be noted, Great Danes are HUGE dogs. So the thought that poor Zeus had to be squished into a crate to merely eat his food breaks our hearts.
People were beside themselves in the comments section. "Oh poor baby… this breaks my heart!" exclaimed one person. "Awww poor baby, he's adorable and such great people rescued him," another person added. "Poor baby. I love that his tail is still wagging in spite of human mistreatment," a third commenter added. "Run free sweet boy. Very sad to hear anyone would do that to any animal," chimed in one commenter.
What Dog Bowl to Use for Your Great Dane
Many people suggested that Zeus' owner get him a raised bowl to help him transition to standing. But there is a lot of conflicting advice over whether this is really a good idea. In fact, a 2004 Purdue University study found that dogs that eat from an elevated bowl, along with factors like chest size and high fat diets or citric acid, have been found to have an increased risk for bloat.
At best bloat is painful, in the worst cases it could be potentially deadly. That goes double for Great Danes, who were found to have this problem in particular. The condition happens when a dog's stomach flips over or twists so the stomach entryway closes off. Bloating results in gas, intestinal blockages, or stress. It can also cause gagging, decreased blood flow, or prevent your dog from going to the bathroom, leading to shock or even death.
Again, that is in the more extreme cases. But if you really want to know if an elevated feeder is right for your dog, talk to your vet. They'll be able to lead you in the right direction and find the feeder that will keep your dog safe.
Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
