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water
May 21, 2013 20:01:57 GMT 10
Post by colin on May 21, 2013 20:01:57 GMT 10
Hi Tom, I am based in Ireland where ours summers last for maybe 2 weeks at best and it may reach temperatures of 22 degrees.yes i know. i suppose on average its 8-16 degrees for most of year. Can you tell me how much a working greyhound should be drinking daily and secondly do we need to use electrolytes. I understand dogs need fluids especially after work but if we get water into them another way i.e in feed or mixed with some milk do we need to use the electrolytes. I understand these electrolytes make dogs drink more to rehydrate as they are poor drinkers. any advice thanks in advance,Col
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water
May 23, 2013 3:18:22 GMT 10
Post by Tom Meulman on May 23, 2013 3:18:22 GMT 10
Hi Colin,
Do we need to add a commercially prepared electrolyte mixture to a greyhounds diet? No certainly not.
Having said that, a racing greyhound does have need for calcium, potassium and sodium in the diet, as small amounts are lost from the body each day no matter how efficient the kidneys are working.
Unlike with humans who sweat during the hot weather and therefore rapidly lose sodium from the body, a greyhounds electrolyte requirements depend more on workload rather than the outside temperature.
It is the diet the dog is on that dictates whether or not one or more of the electrolytes needs to be added.
If the diet includes a commercially prepared dry food it is highly likely that this will contain at least sufficient sodium to take care of the greyhounds needs, and if there is any concern in regard to calcium and potassium these are easily added to any diet.
For a greyhound on a largely meat with bread or other low protein kibble diet the addition of one heaped teaspoon of Di Calcium Phosphate, a pinch of iodised salt, and a pinch of potassium will take care of any requirements.
Alternatively a low salt mix is available from most grocery stores, it contains both sodium and potassium and a sprinkle over the main meal is usually enough to again take care of the sodium and potassium requirements.
In regard to daily water requirements, this depends on far too many daily altering variables to accurately judge. It is therefore far better to have clean fresh water always available to the greyhound, and let they themselves take care of this requirement as they see fit.
Cheers, Tom
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