THE GREYHOUND MAIL - MAY 2003 CAREFUL WITH THE ELECTROLYTES - DON'T OVERDO IT!
A tendency of many trainers is to inadvertently double up the dose of electrolytes they give to their animals. This practice is expensive, unnecessary and may be harmful to the greyhounds system as they work to get rid of any excess. If trainers are uncertain whether the above applies to them they should check the additives they feed to their dogs. In general, common greyhounds diets may not contain sufficient electrolytes (body salts) to meet the needs of racing greyhounds. Training, traveling and panting deplete electrolytes each day, particularly during the hotter months. A daily electrolyte supplement such as Beta-cel added to feed can prevent electrolyte deficiencies that may lead to dehydration, cramping, poor performance and nervousness. So, the answer is simple. Select a balanced electrolyte formulation specifically designed for greyhounds. In this regard, Beta cel, is without peer and is the leader in this field. Formulated by experienced greyhound veterinarian, Dr. John Kohnke, Beta-cel is just what the Doctor ordered to meet the electrolyte needs of the canine athlete. On no account should electrolyte formulations designed for other animals (eg horses) be used in the greyhound. If you do this, you are asking for trouble. Horse formulations contain too much salt for greyhounds that do not sweat like horses. In discussion with Dr. Kohnke just recently, we spoke extensively about this practice and the consequences to be expected if trainers use inappropriate electrolytes. As a general rule there is enough salt in dogs food where it is added for taste or as a preservative, so extra is not required. Overdoing it with salt can have many unwanted effects including dehydration, which causes increased thirst, then excessive urination. When the latter happens, out goes water and along with it, potassium, and the next thing you know is the dog performs poorly. Another effect too much salt can cause is dry and scaly skin. So, the message is clear. Stick to a specialty electrolyte (Beta-cel) and follow directions. For nervy and excitable dogs, give 2 x Beta K tablets over the tongue about 4 hours before racing as potassium (K), the ingredient in Beta-K tablets is the electrolyte most likely to become depleted by hard exercise, traveling, panting and barking. Adequate levels of K are vital for normal nerve and muscle function. AN EXTRA POINT ABOUT POTASSIUM It is also wise to stick to a potassium product specifically formulated for greyhound use. Beta-K is the only such product I am aware of. It has a coated shell, not too hard, designed to gradually disintegrate releasing potassium for maximum absorption. A human product similar to Beta-K at first glance is just not the same. It has a harder shell designed for a slower passage through the longer human gut and so is most ineffective for greyhounds. Many years ago x-ray tests showed how effective Beta-K was compared to the human counterpart. While Beta K was shown to disintegrate slowly over a period ensuring K availability to the body the human product passed through the smaller gut of the dog and was excreted out the back end of the dog largely intact. NEW GREYHOUND PUBLICATIONS Two outstanding new greyhound booklets, hot off the press are now available, free of charge from Vetsearch. Practical Feeding of Greyhounds, 3rd edition, is one of the re-prints. It provides in detail an enormous amount of common sense, easy to understand information about feeding greyhounds from pups to brood bitches. It is rare to find such detail about a range of subject concentrated into one small volume. The other publication, Guide to Greyhound Nutrition And Fitness, ,is also essential reading for all associated with greyhounds. It covers everything from general health and vitality, dehydration, electrolyte, performance foods, exercise and recovery through to kennel care and biling agents. Vetsearch/Virbac specialises in products for the canine athlete and leads the world in research and development of pharmaceutical and nutritional supplements for greyhounds. Importantly, Vetsearch International is a wholly Australian owned company, which is another good reason to give your support. Both booklets are available by calling the free call customer service line on 1800 242 100. ABOUT BUILDING BETTER BLOOD The greyhound is classified as one of a group of athletic animals (includes man and horse) with certain physiological characteristics, which include speed and endurance not recognised in other animals. They therefore require much more nutritional support than the sedentary animal, including iron to maximise haemoglobin production, which, in the long term, results in better physical performance. Greyhound's diets are often deficient in iron because milk, grain, chicken, white meats and fish are short of it. Sometimes meat can be low in iron because of stock raised on pasture and soil depleted of iron. If one also considers anaemia due to injury, illness or parasite infection or surgery, it is easy to imagine how hard and fast exercise can reduce life span of red blood cells by up to 60% in no time. Red blood cells have a lifespan generally of about 110-120 days. However, when the problems mentioned earlier are encountered, this lifespan can be effectively halved. Stress, in its various forms, also depresses the ability of the bone marrow to replace this increased turnover of cells. Iron deficiency is the thief of performance and potential will never be realised unless deficiencies are corrected. Remember, a diet low in iron or poorly absorbed iron, restricts vital red blood cell and haemoglobin production. There is no doubt that a combination of regular worming, sprint training and boosting the diet regularly with blood building nutrients will help to ensure that the blood can respond to the demands placed upon it by the racing greyhound, so when one notices the clinical signs of a low blood count in which the affected dog tends to stop badly in races, lacks stamina, has a high heart rate, puffs excessively after exercise and recovers badly (due to reduced oxygen carrying capacity in the blood) - it is time to do something about it - and quickly. More about what to use shortly. Allan Brown is a technical Journalist, Director of Performance Print and the Publisher of "The Greyhound Update"