Recharge & Recover

For bird hunters and our canine comrades it is only weeks from opening day here in Wisconsin. We wait impatiently in eager anticipation. The last of our conditioning workouts and preseason field scouting trips are now wrapping up. Gear and guns have been checked and double checked. Our dog(s) are fit and ready to rumble. Forgotten in all our preparation is putting a plan in place to properly recover and recharge your gun dog after the hunt. Just like all athletes, hard charging dogs require additional nutrients to properly recover there bodies after long periods of physical exertion.

 RETRIEVE Health® is a new company specializing in sporting dog nutritional supplements. They offer a full line of quality products focused specifically on canine physical recovery before and after the hunt and are now offered at your local Gander Mountain store(click Gander link on right to order now)

According to their website, "What makes RETRIEVE Health® special from the rest of the animal health industry is that we take a unique, holistic approach to canine health. We believe with proper lifelong nutrition, exercise, and preventive care your dog has a chance to live up to the age of 20. We address the needs of each life stage. It starts as a puppy by supplying the needed vitamins and minerals often missing in processed dog food, continues with simple natural nutrition, exercise and recovery tips and ends with old dogs and our ability to naturally control pain and give this special animal a high quality of life. From this point on we are asking you to look at your dog as the world-class athlete he or she naturally are and treat them accordingly. Would a world-class athlete be asked to run 2 miles and after the event be given a bowl of water and then placed in a small cage where he or she could not stand up? Would we wait until the end of the day to give this person nutrients? Of course not, then why do we do this to the canine athlete?"

I am a firm proponent of properly hydrating your dog both before,during, and after the hunt. RETRIEVE Health® offers a rehydrate type powder form water additive. According to their website,  "RETRIEVE Hydration is fortified with electrolytes, speeding up the absorption of fluids and vital nutrients while effectively rehydrating tissues. Fluids are generally the most overlooked nutrient in a dog’s diet. Lack of adequate fluids and electrolyte consumption can cause kidney failure in dogs which can lead to long term damage or even death. RETRIEVE Hydration contains macro nutrients vital for full body repair. Essential amino acids and oxygen enhancers help maintain the highest metabolic efficiency.  

Another RETRIEVE Health® product that I highly recommend is their TRI-NUTRITION treat bars. According to their website, "TRI-NUTRITION ENERGY bars are a perfect balance of premium whey protein isolates, complex carbohydrates, and monounsaturated fats providing both immediate and timed released energy for working dogs. A precise blend of pharmaceutical grade vitamins and minerals including glucosamine and oxygen enhancers insures not only peak performance during activities but quick recovery after activities. Simply nothing like it, simply world class."

TRI-NUTRITION bars are all made with quality ingredients! Plus, No CORN, WHEAT, SOY, or GLUTEN! These are truly power bars for your hard working gun dog to munch on. I recommend feeding them before and after the hunt.

Take a look at their ingredient listing and I am sure you will agree these are high quality, holistic treats formulated specifically for working dogs...Organic Agave Syrup, Whey Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolates, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Hydrolysate), Organic Peanut Butter, Peanuts, Whey Protein Crisps (Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Starch, Calcium Carbonate), Glucosamine HCI, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Guar Gum, Golden Root Extract. Vitamineral Blend: Dicalcium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamine E Succinate, Ferrous Fumarate, Niacin, Beta-carotene, Zinc Oxide, Copper Gluconate, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Carbonate, Pyridoxin HCI, Thiamine HCI, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Cyanocobalamin, Biotin, I-Glutathione, Potassium Iodide, Sodium Selenate, Sodium Molybdate, Chromium Chloride....Wow! That is one power packed energy bar for your trusty gun dog!

Although RETRIEVE Health® is a relatively new company,  I am now a huge fan. I think they actually get it! By exposing more sporting dog owners to the benefits of a true, holistic, premium nutritional approach to our dogs health it will not only benefit them more in the field but their overall quality of life. I urge each of you to try their products on your dogs this hunting season. I suspect you will notice a performance difference