|
Post by zodiakgsps on Dec 13, 2007 22:32:07 GMT -4
before hunting??? I don't for several reasons. One is it increases the dogs risk of bloat or gastric torsion. The other is some studies say blood will be routed away from muscles to aid the digestion process actually causing the dog to tire quicker. If I'm going to hunt all day, or even half day hunts with several dogs I use a product called Impact in their AM water. It is a high fat/protein powder most dogs really like the taste of, gets them to take more water, increasing hydration (very important, especially on warm days) and gives them nutrition. I also top-dress their food with it to maintain weight w/o extra feed during hunting/trialing season when they're working hard 5-6 days a week. When hunting many consecutive days with the same dogs, I give them Glyco-charge within 30 minutes of hunting/running, this helps restore glycogen levels in the muscles reducing soreness/muscle fatigue the next day.
|
|
|
Post by olewarden on Dec 14, 2007 17:12:37 GMT -4
I don't feed before hunting for the same reason as you mentioned, bloat, deep chested dogs are very suceptible to b loat. Also digesting food creats heat in a dog and that is the last thing you want as well as using energy to digest takes energy away that should be used for hunting. Since I have my dog down to one evening feeding it is not a problem.
|
|
|
Post by mrlongbeard on Dec 14, 2007 18:24:44 GMT -4
same for me ann . almost lost my last german sheperd to that . it's enough to make you sick when them get that. but thank god and 750.00 later he was good to go and lived another five years.
|
|