It's Like Gatorade for Gun Dogs

A few weeks ago I briefly touched upon a product called REHYDRATE in my Summer Sun & Hot Dogs post. The outpouring of questions and interest from you, my readers, was simply amazing. I thank each of you for taking the time to email me your questions. Today's post will elaborate in greater detail about this wonderful product in hopes of answering all of your inquiries. The advent of a liquid electrolyte supplement made specifically for our gun dogs is truly monumental. It's like Michael Jordan juice for our canine hunting partners!

According to their website "REHYDRATE was developed in conjunction with a doctor of veterinary medicine who specializes in animal nutrition at a leading university in the United States. REHYDRATE is designed to give canines a more effective hydration system than drinking plain water. The effervescent tablet that dissolves in water is formulated to replenish any lost electrolytes (i.e. sodium, chloride, potassium, etc.) due to aerobic activity.
Also included are Vitamin C and other antioxidant minerals geared to promote general wellness. Each tablet is also flavored to enhance the palatability to promote optimum hydration and water intake. During prolonged exercise, humans that do not hydrate will experience increased heart rate, increased core body temperature and a reduced sweat rate. This is caused by dehydration and the body attempts to retain all available fluid without any additional way to cool down.
Dogs on the other hand do NOT sweat as profusely as humans do; they rely on their tongue and the pads on their feet to regulate and dispel heat. In this regard, regulation of fluid levels becomes more important to control heart rate and core body temperature. By helping to maintain normal heart and temperature conditions, the animal is less likely to suffer from the fatigue associated with exercise."

The nutritional effects of REHYDRATE is well documented by vigorous testing and professional testimonials. But I ask, what separates REHYDRATE from a good old bowl of fresh water for our gun dogs?

"Water has no flavor so it is difficult for most active dogs to consume enough to stay well hydrated. Our research has shown that dogs will consume more of a flavored drink than that of just plain water. In addition, water contains no electrolytes and therefore cannot help to replace electrolytes such as sodium, chloride and potassium. Veterinarians use fluid replacement frequently to treat dogs that suffer electrolyte loss through diarrhea and vomiting. They create an "isotonic" solution that will mimic the ion levels found in the blood stream (285 mOsmol/kg of water) and essentially rebalance the system by imbuing the plasma with any lost ions. Rehydrate can be used therapeutically at a two-tablet dose to provide the best hydration for animals that have pronounced fluid losses."

I believe the most undervalued aspect of our gun dog's health and performance is proper hydration before, during, and after the hunt. To jettison back to my past, I was once a NCAA Division 1 college hockey player. I understand the importance of staying in top shape and providing my body the ability to recover quickly from tough workouts and hard fought games. The advent of an electrolyte water supplement for our four legged hunting partners nutritional intake is not to be overlooked as just marketing hype. This is the real deal. I urge all gun dog owners to visit the REHYDRATE website to learn more. Clicking on the logo link(left) will take you directly to a cool video type presentation and home site. It is worth the few minutes of your time to check out!

I hope this has helped answer your questions and concerns. I feel very strongly about the positive impact of this product and hopefully you see the value in providing your gun dog with adequate hydration. As we train and condition during the summer months it is critical to resupply your dog with adequate electrolytes. Please don't forget the winter months zap your dogs ability to retain hydration and supplements such as Rehydrate become even more essential.

Best of luck out there. -Mark

Summer Sun & Hot Dogs

A heat wave is blasting across the heartland. Record temperatures and oppressive humidity are right outside the front door. Even though it's only July, we have already entered the "dog days" of summer here in the midwest. Here are few tips to help maintain your canine athlete in top shape during the summer months or early season hunts.

Precautions to ward off heat stress...

• Always carry plenty of water and rehydrate as much as possible. It is also helpful to train your gun dog to drink out of a squirt bottle. These can be conveniently carried in the field and allow for your dog to immediately get short drinks of water more often. Never assume your dog will find water in the field to drink. Also keep in mind standing water in fields or marshes can also be contaminated by fertilizer or livestock run off. These can be just as deadly as heat related issues!


• Off season workouts and early season hunts should be in the morning or late in the afternoon.


• Shorten activity time and increase break time.


• Assume the ground temperature(where your dog is running) is at times 10 degrees hotter than at your head level. Remember, ground temps will also increase dramatically as cover conditions become thicker.


• Keep a close watch on your dog and look for physical signs of heat stress; i.e. excessive panting, staggering, disorientation, glazed eyes, and falling down are all signs of heat stress that could quick lead to heat stroke.


• Before the hunt or workout hydrate your dog by moistening his dry food with water or more water than normal. Also, wet can food is a good source of moisture and can be a nice topper on dry kibble.


• Before and after the hunt or workout use an electrolyte supplement such as "Rehydrate". According to their website...
  

"REHYDRATE was developed in conjunction with a doctor of veterinary medicine who specializes in animal nutrition at a leading university in the United States. REHYDRATE is designed to give canines a more effective hydration system than drinking plain water. The effervescent tablet that dissolves in water is formulated to replenish any lost electrolytes (i.e. sodium, chloride, potassium, etc.) due to aerobic activity. Also included are Vitamin C and other antioxidant minerals geared to promote general wellness. Each tablet is also flavored to enhance the palatability to promote optimum hydration and water intake." Click on image to visit their website.

If your dog shows signs of advanced heat stress...

• Call your vet(don't assume anything)


• Get them into shade or even better, an air conditioned room immediately.


• Shower them in water and calm them down and try to get them to drink as much as possible(but do not force them to drink). After they have drank, gently splashing water in their mouth is fine and will help them cool down quicker.
  
• Carry a cooler full of bagged ice can increase the cool down process. Allow your dog to lay down on the bags of ice. This can be done by placing the bags on the floor of his kennel(just make sure there is still adequate ventilation)
  

The ill effects of advanced heat stress stroke is the leading killer and crippler of sporting dogs. If your dog has suffered through these symptoms I recommend consulting your vet and scheduling a blood test. Heat stroke can cause damage to brain cells as well as effecting kidney functions. Only a proper blood test can determine the lasting effects.

As I write this, I look over at Dewey. He is sound asleep on the couch. The air conditioning is pumping a perfect 68 degrees and the ceiling fan is creating a nice downward breeze. Outside our front door it's 95 in the shade with a heat index of 105. Our workout will have to wait until later...much later!

Best of luck out there. -Mark