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Post by kathleen clarke on Aug 9, 2015 11:44:55 GMT 10
How can we produce our own electrolytes for the greyhounds as it is so expensive to purchase and only in 1 litre bottles
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Post by kathleen clarke on Aug 9, 2015 11:46:06 GMT 10
Need to get electrolytes a lot cheaper
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Post by Tom Meulman on Aug 10, 2015 20:55:37 GMT 10
Hi Kathleen,
I have certainly never found it necessary to add an electrolyte mixture to a racing greyhounds diet, and the times when I have experimented with adding a product marketed as such to the diet there were never any noticeable benefits or improvements in performance.
In regard to providing electrolytes to a diet the most important of these are sodium and potassium, and the simplest way of all to provide these to the diet is to sprinkle one of the Lite Salt products on the main meal each night. This is available from most supermarkets and are advertised as providing 50% less Sodium and 100% full taste which is because some of the sodium has been replaced with potassium and that is exactly the mixture of the two which is required by the greyhound. A very cheap and effective way of providing both Sodium and Potassium.
In regard to the use of potassium please keep in mind that quantities in excess of 1000 mg daily are not necessarily beneficial unless blood tests have indicated low potassium levels. In other words excessive amounts of so called "electrolytes" especially sodium and potassium are as bad as no sodium or potassium in the diet.
The only other thing to make sure of is to provide the appropriate amount of calcium in the diet as not only is that important in maintaining bone density, but also an essential electrolyte.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by Marwan on Nov 29, 2015 22:19:50 GMT 10
Hi tom
Here in the Middle East our dogs are not pure bred greyhounds There mixed with Salukis and our races start from 2000m up to 2500m And I wanted to know will i have to put my dogs in iv fluids after every race because sometimes there is only a week bettween races and when I give iv fluids my dogs become a heavy I hope you can relate And what can I inject in the fluids to maintain performance and what is lost during race .
Regards marwan
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Post by Tom Meulman on Nov 30, 2015 15:55:51 GMT 10
Hi Marwan,
I'm really sorry my friend but unfortunately I have no experience with any dog breed that runs those type of distances, and therefore find it difficult to advise you how to proceed in order to reduce or minimise dehydration and stress.
What I can say is that IV fluids as soon as possible after the race are still the best method of quickly replacing lost fluids, if you can also add 4 to 5 ml of Tridenosen to that it will also help. In addition potassium added to the diet is essential, as well as feeding sloppy food rather than simply dry food and providing water to drink. Keep in mind that the slow twitch fibre muscle tissue of long distance performers, as opposed to short distance sprinters, relies more on the breakdown of fatty acids plus oxygen for energy, so that added fat to the diet is important as well as ensuring that blood counts are the best they can be to provide sufficient oxygen to the muscle tissue.
Cheers, Tom
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Post by Marwan on Nov 30, 2015 20:26:04 GMT 10
Thanks a lot sir ??
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