I genuinely thank all of you for taking the time to post... It really helps... Today was the first day back to work, and I stayed 3 hours late knowing that going home was going to be tough... And it is...

I can't figure out if it's better to find a new friend fast? or to mourn Bender for a while... Seems like having a new buddy to take care of would help making home life more normal, but I don't want to have guilt, as if I'm replacing Bender, cause he truly can not be replaced. I really just don't know.

Justin, I've read on the elevated food issue too, but it's been written both ways, Good and Bad. Bender has always had elevated food. The thing with bloat, as I understand it, no one is sure what can trigger it, it's all speculation, and theory. My Vet said lifting a hind leg and scratching their face just after eating may cause it. Laying down wrong can cause it, Running after scarfing down food can cause it. Bender always inhaled his food, and I never thought it was an issue. He was on a strict diet, 1 cup at a time so even if he did eat fast it wouldn't be too much at a time. The one consistent piece of advice I found was feed multiple meals through out the day and never one big meal.

Thanks again everyone, and I still recommend becoming familiar with the possible causes of Bloat.

I empathize with anyone who has ever lost a pet, I never knew it could hurt this bad. I have lost dogs in the past (family pets) but never one that I cared for a nurtured, one that needed and relied on me.