electrolytes - Page 2

I agree with Hodie. If you are working your dog for practice for club sessions or trials in 90 degree weather, don't do it! There's no good reason to subject yourself or your dog to such extremes. I track early in the morning when it's cool and do tug play/walks/etc after sunset when it's cool (or vice versa). Based on how you describe working, it doesn't sound like your dog is a SAR or other professional working dog. If your question is how to condition such a SAR candidate dog, you didn't ask it.

Dogs do not need elecrolytes.   They do not sweat like humans.  

Hodie's right.  Why the heck are you working a dog in the extreme heat, or in circumstances when you think electrolytes will help them.  I have trialed in extreme heat, just the luck of the draw, but wouldn't normally do it.  If your dog is in good shape, and you take proper care of them after, there is no need for anything else.  Plenty of fresh clean water, walking them until they cool down,  and a cool place to lay after is what they need.

I ran a racing kennel for 20 years and the greyhounds sometimes ran in extreme temperatures.  When they came off the track we cooled them off  by walking them around for quite a while and made sure they had plenty of fresh water.  If need be we sprayed them under the belly with a hose.  No need for anything else.

Donna

So, save the electrolyte solutions for yourselves. Make sure your dogs have plenty of clean water, and spend the money you might have spent on electrolyte solutions on your dogs instead.

A qoute from  Kurt Matushek, DVM, MS
74232.35@compuserve.com

 Right on Platz.......and thanks for pointing out something I forgot to mention...DOGS do NOT SWEAT. And a correct electrolyte balance will be different for a human than a dog. Unless a dog is ill, it does NOT need electrolytes.

By the way, I have helped a variety of people with GSDs condition the dogs for real work, including a bomb detection dog that was having a lot of trouble with stamina. His principal problem was he was too heavy. Once we got his weight down and he got some real exercise, instead of simply walking around all day, he did much, much better.....on his regular diet and always plenty of fresh, clean water. I should also say that most of the literature done on working dogs suggests they too need a routine that allows sufficient rest periods to be able to work at the top of their ability. And interesting enough, most dogs loose the ability to work really hard for lengthy times smelling for scents.....

Yep they do not sweat..In part they AC themselves in panting.A hose down is good (rinsing) but not all at once as this can cause many problems with cooling the individual down.Start with the feet after a cool down just walk and move to the under belly.If there is a pool of water nearby..stand your dog in it if you dont have access to a hose.Be careful when the dog/horse is overheated that they do not drink alot ...walk and cool down first otherwise this will cause additional problems.

To OP you might want to check into this product: http://www.mydoggonehealthy.com/GoDog.htm

You did not say what type of work you are conducting so I'm not going to second guess your need to do it.  Living where I do I realize you can't put your life on hold to avoid the heat in some situations. If you can avoid it I would suggest you do as some have said. If you can't avoid it you might check with your vet and see his feelings on the above product.

Good luck to you both.