Any one give their dog electrolytes?

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jlp8cornell
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Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by jlp8cornell » Tue May 18, 2010 8:31 am

After/during a hard training session in the summer does anyone use electrolytes? Just curious. If so, what works well?

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by mcbosco » Tue May 18, 2010 9:36 am

The experts I know don't recommend it. Some use post training carb supplements, but any piece of fruit works as well I am told.

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jlp8cornell
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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by jlp8cornell » Tue May 18, 2010 9:59 am

Just curious...Max is not a big drinker. I take a water bottle into the field with him and give him that but it doesn't seem like enough.

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by birddog1968 » Tue May 18, 2010 10:17 am

I try and carry a couple PB&J sandwiches....and i usually have some gatoraide.

After a hard hunt or on lunch break I will give them half a sandwich, even pour a little
gatoraide on it. PB&J got it all, carb, fat, simple sugar.
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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by dog dr » Tue May 18, 2010 11:58 am

i always went with the premise that since dogs dont dissipate heat thru sweating, they dont lose electrolytes like humans do during exercise. sure they use them for muscle function, etc, but they dont need to be replaced like in humans. as always, i could be wrong!! :D

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by BigShooter » Tue May 18, 2010 12:29 pm

I always went with the premise that with any water an animal loses by any means such as urine, diarrhea, drooling or evaporation that can cause the animal to get dehydrated is also a way they can lose electrolytes. The difference with dogs is when they pant most of the electrolytes used to move water through the tissues to the surface of their tongue "theoretically" stays on their tongue. Then when they drink water they bring the electrolytes back into their system. Personally I've never given electrolyte replacement to a dog during or immediately after exercise.


Edited to avoid jokes caused by careless wording! :lol:
Last edited by BigShooter on Tue May 18, 2010 1:04 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by jlp8cornell » Tue May 18, 2010 12:35 pm

Thanks for all the input! As usual--I am an over-worried mom.

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by BigShooter » Tue May 18, 2010 12:45 pm

Better an over worried mom than an under worried man who never asks questions or directions! :wink: :lol:
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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by ezzy333 » Tue May 18, 2010 1:06 pm

I have read where Gatorade or any of the sports drinks are bad for a dog but don't know if that is true. I have never considered using electrolites after normal activity such as training or hunts of a few hours. Have used them after an illness but have no idea if they did much.

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by jlp8cornell » Tue May 18, 2010 1:09 pm

I was thinking on a hot day, for a dog who does not drink much. There are products in Ugly dog, gun dog supply, etc....

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by birddog1968 » Tue May 18, 2010 1:51 pm

I wouldn't give them gatoraide to drink...just enough to wet the bred so they can swallow it easily. Never seen any adverse affects from an ounce or so of gatoraide....I did that just about every day last fall in the Dakotas.
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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by big steve46 » Tue May 18, 2010 2:35 pm

To be sure, you could mix a teaspoon of sea salt into a gallon of water. Won't hurt, and might help.
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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by Duane M » Tue May 18, 2010 2:38 pm

dog dr wrote:i always went with the premise that since dogs dont dissipate heat thru sweating, they dont lose electrolytes like humans do during exercise. sure they use them for muscle function, etc, but they dont need to be replaced like in humans. as always, i could be wrong!! :D
I'm sure someone will tell ya you are :lol:

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by BigShooter » Tue May 18, 2010 3:38 pm

Duane M wrote:
dog dr wrote:i always went with the premise that since dogs dont dissipate heat thru sweating, they dont lose electrolytes like humans do during exercise. sure they use them for muscle function, etc, but they dont need to be replaced like in humans. as always, i could be wrong!! :D
I'm sure someone will tell ya you are :lol:
I think someone will also corroborate what he said:
BigShooter wrote:The difference with dogs is when they pant most of the electrolytes used to move water through the tissues to the surface of their tongue "theoretically" stays on their tongue. Then when they drink water they bring the electrolytes back into their system.
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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by MikeB » Tue May 18, 2010 4:43 pm

Here are a couple of products to check out.

K9 GO DOG - http://www.k9power.com/k9_godog.php

Nupro Electrolyte Formula - http://www.nuprosupplements.com/

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by jlp8cornell » Tue May 18, 2010 6:26 pm

Better an over worried mom than an under worried man who never asks questions or directions! :wink: :lol:
Ha--nice to see a man admitting to that!!

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by BigShooter » Tue May 18, 2010 7:10 pm

big steve46 wrote:To be sure, you could mix a teaspoon of sea salt into a gallon of water. Won't hurt, and might help.
No it probably won't hurt but let's not mislead anybody. Everyone always thinks about salt because it helps to retain water. However in physiology we talk about all of the primary ions of electrolytes: calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, chloride, hydrogen phosphate and hydrogen carbonate. In particular muscle contraction requires calcium, potassium & sodium.

If you're going to make your own electrolyte solution use salt, salt substitute (potassium), sugar, water & bicarbonate (baking soda). I have no idea what the correct amounts would be for humans much less dogs but I'm sure you can find a recipe on the internet.

Just remember dogs don't leave deposits of electrolyte ions on their skin like humans do when we sweat instead, with dogs they are deposited on the tongue and accordingly most get washed back into their system when they drink water.
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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by allaboutourdogs » Mon Aug 16, 2010 4:32 pm

Properly trained and conditioned sled dogs, maintained on high-quality diets, and not affected by vomiting or diarrhea DO NOT need electrolyte supplements. So, save the electrolyte solutions for yourself. Make sure your dogs have plenty of clean water, and spend the money you might have spent on electrolyte solutions on your dogs instead.
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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by jlp8cornell » Mon Aug 16, 2010 7:08 pm

Make sure your dogs have plenty of clean water, and spend the money you might have spent on electrolyte solutions on your dogs instead.
My dogs probably get fresh water about 3-4 times a day.

Also, please do not imply that I should be spending more money on them. You have no clue as to the amount of money that goes towards my dog.

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by fourtrax » Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:55 pm

I cannot get my Bretons to drink anything like Gatorade. Have tried it in hot weather, cold you name it.
They just want water.

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Re: Any one give their dog electrolytes?

Post by ezzy333 » Tue Aug 17, 2010 7:29 pm

Dogs do not lose so consequently do not need them . Dogs do not sweat is the big difference.

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