dehydration

Hi Paul,

Mate I’m sorry but on the information you have posted it does seem like it’s well past the point where any electrolyte mixtures are going to make any difference at all to the ability of the dogs to perform.

Keep in mind that it basically is the function of the kidneys to regulate the fluid balance, and that this not only depends on the health of the kidneys, but also on a host of other factors.

Firstly the health of the kidneys can be affected by either a bacterial or viral infection, then there are factors such as the diet, the balance of this diet in regard to protein and carbohydrates, and the amount of sodium and potassium in the diet.

Then there is the amount of stress placed on the kidneys, and the permanent damage done to the kidneys by an overload of waste products to be removed from the body. Particularly those waste products created by muscle injuries, and/or a too hard a run causing a general breakdown of muscle cells in all of the larger muscle groups.

Kidneys are further placed under stress when there is a poor oxygen supply to the muscle tissue due to a low red blood cell count, as this increases the general breakdown of muscle cells.

In reality when you are faced with a situation where the greyhounds are performing poorly, and the running that they do results in severe dehydration, the only course of action is to do a complete blood profile to see just what has gone wrong in the body and internal organs.

The other area to take a hard look at is the diet, and the training procedure that may have had an influence on the current health problems.

In regard to your question about Duphalyte; this product is primarily designed for intravenous use, and therefore many of the ingredients are destroyed instead of absorbed by the digestive acids in the gut, and giving the product orally is of limited benefit.

Duphalyte

Cheers,
Tom