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Post by phillip on Oct 25, 2011 10:37:47 GMT 10
Hello tom,
I have a few dogs that when they lead out in a race normally to the 3rd they seem to fade and finish 5th or 6th...they are well capable of winning races and they are stayers not sprinters...would it be that they are cramping or maybe some underline problem i got them checked out and they seem fine physically..I just thought that maybe there bodies is overloaded with acid and they are cramping or something i don't know..whats your advice and hows it best way to treat cramping is cider vinegar suppossed to be excellent..
look forward to your reply tom
phillip
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Post by Tom Meulman on Oct 25, 2011 19:19:00 GMT 10
Hi Phillip,
Greyhounds not finishing on in a race may have a lot of different causes, and while cramping may be part of the picture, seldom it is the primary cause but generally just another symptom of the underlying problems.
Not finishing on in a race may be caused by one or more of the following:
Insufficient fitness for the race distance
Overtraining causing low energy levels
Insufficient oxygen due to blood problems
Electrolyte imbalance
Poor kidney function restricting recovery
Dietary imbalance in protein/complex carbohydrates & fats
While the first two on the list are self explanatory, it is worth mentioning that overtraining can cause excessive muscle tone which in turn can cause cramping in some muscle groups such as the back muscles and hamstrings.
Insufficient oxygen due to blood problems
Lack of oxygen due to a low red blood cell count and/or low haemoglobin levels can cause cramping particularly along the spine and saddle muscles.
Electrolyte imbalance
An electrolyte imbalance such as low calcium levels and/or low potassium levels, can cause muscle weakness and excessive tiredness.
Poor kidney function restricting recovery
This in itself can have many causes, but the end result is that the waste products produced by previous physical activity are not fully removed from the body, reducing energy storage in the muscle tissue, and increasing tightness and even cramping in all the major muscle groups.
Dietary imbalance in protein/complex carbohydrates & fats
Excessive dietary protein, and low complex carbohydrates, increases the waste products required to be removed from the body by the kidneys, and limit the ability of the muscle tissue to store energy, and again this can cause cramping particularly over the longer distance.
So as you can see that while cramping during a trial or race does certainly pull a dog up quickly it is so important to find the primary reasons for the cramp in the first place.
If none of the above are a likely cause for the problems you are experiencing, apple cider vinegar is certainly good in the diet anytime, but then I would also add magnesium to the diet as magnesium will certainly assist in reducing cramping problems.
Cheers,
Tom
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