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Carbohydrate Management for the Canine Athlete |
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Canine Athletes and Carbohydrate Management During Exercise Arleigh Reynolds, DVM, PhD, DACVN Jill Cline, PhD The energy expenditure associated with the different activities ranges from extreme (Iditerod sled dogs) to minimal (recreational jogging with people). Though all dogs should be fed a complete and balance diet, some canine athletes require special nutrient management. For example, dogs that participate in activities such as sled dog racing, pack hound hunting, field trialing and working livestock will typically have increased energy requirements. These dogs, along with greyhounds, Flyball, Frisbee, search and rescue, military and police dogs may also have special requirements for carbohydrates post-exercise. The Need for Carbohydrate Replenishment During the first two to five minutes of exercise, when running up a hill, or when short bursts of intense activity are required, glycogen is the primary fuel in dogs. Glycogen is made up of strings of 25 or fewer glucose molecules and is the storage form of glucose in the muscle and liver. However, glycogen stores are very limited in the body. Therefore, this is a critical fuel source that, when depleted, may affect a dogs ability to perform or exercise to the best of it’s capability. Studies in humans have shown that long distance runners have decreased speed and a perception of greater fatigue if their muscle glycogen is not repleted during multiple days of running.1 Likewise, dogs with low glycogen levels are anecdotally described as "not being fresh" or "losing focus" or "losing drive". Canine athletes exercise most efficiently when they use free fatty acids as the primary fuel source. However, some glycogen is needed, especially during bouts of increased exercise intensity.2 Recently, it was found that dogs which are exercised at 75-80 % VO2 max could only replace 65% of the pre-exercise levels of muscle glycogen within 24 hours when fed a normal food ration.3,4 This level of exercise intensity would be approximately equivalent to the amount of effort hunting fox hounds or sprint sled racing dogs would typically expend. Dogs that perform intense exercise, especially on successive days or successive times in one day, may require a supplemental carbohydrate source post-exercise to help them recover and replenish glycogen stores. Normally, in a sedentary dog, insulin dictates the amount of glucose taken up by the muscle. However, during, and for a short period after exercise, the glucose transporter GLUT4 is externalized to the surface of the muscle cell to facilitate glucose uptake.5 This insulin-independent mechanism allows for rapid uptake of glucose to the cells where it can be used to restore glycogen reserves (Figure 1). This very important change in metabolism allows for the rapid repletion of glycogen to the muscle cells providing that there is enough circulating glucose available to be transported by GLUT4. The externalization of GLUT4 is triggered by exercise regardless of intensity. GLUT4 externalization generally lasts up to 30 minutes post exercise. Insulin dependant replenishment of glycogen is slower and may not fully replenish glycogen stores. Thus, optimum restoration of muscle glycogen must begin during the first 30 minutes after exercise. Dogs that were administered a normal meal post strenuous exercise were unable to completely replenish muscle glycogen stores within 24 hrs. The dogs were only able to regenerate approximately 65% of the pre-exercise muscle glycogen stores.6 The disadvantage to this replenishment strategy is that dogs could potentially have compromised exercise performance because of low muscle glycogen if they were participating in events on successive days. Methods of Carbohydrate Replenishment Several schemes have been used to enhance glycogen replenishment in canine athletes. Simple carbohydrates like candy and sucrose seem convenient because they are easy to carry and deliver to the dog in the field. However, simple sugars are hydrophilic and can cause gastrointestinal upset. Therefore, either large amounts of water must be administered with the sugar or the body shifts large amounts of water from other tissues to the gut to hydrate the sugars. The end result can be osmotic diarrhea. In addition, the mobilization of water from the tissues to the gut can exacerbate dehydration. Hydration is always a concern in intensely exercised dogs, particularly in extreme heat or cold. Finally, simple sugars are so rapidly absorbed into the blood stream and taken up by cells that there can be a concomitant insulin spike and resulting rebound hypoglycemia. Fructose, particularly honey has been a favorite carbohydrate replacement for canine athletes in the past. However, fructose must first be converted to glucose in the liver via gluconeogenic pathways. Therefore, not only does the dog expend energy processing the fructose, it is also difficult to process a significant quantity of fructose into glucose within the 30-minute window during which the GLUT4 transporters are externalized. Like sucrose, fructose is hydrophilic, may cause GI upset and possibly rebound hypoglycemia. At the opposite end of the carbohydrate spectrum are complex carbohydrates like starches and whole grains. The main disadvantage of these carbohydrates is that they require significant amounts of time in order to be digested and absorbed, making it difficult for large amounts of glucose to be made available during exercise and up to 30 minutes after. Recent research has shown that the most effective way to replenish carbohydrates in a canine athlete is through provision of modified starches called maltodextrins.7 Maltodextrins are 8-20 glucose units long, therefore, they fall between simple sugar and complex starches in structure. Maltodextrins are rapidly absorbed and taken up by the muscle without the insulin spikes or other associated GI problems attributed to other carbohydrate sources. Several studies have examined the benefits of post-exercise maltodextrin supplementation in dogs that perform prolonged exercise. Dogs that were given 1.5-2.0 g carbohydrate/ kg body weight post-exercise in the form of maltodextrins were able to recover, on average, about 50% of pre-exercise glycogen stores within 4 hours of exercise and about 85 % of pre-exercise glycogen within 24 hours, while dogs fed but not supplemented recovered less than 40% of their pre-exercise glycogen after 24-hours (Figure 2).8 Further investigation examined the effect of a maltodextrin bar on plasma glucose levels-- an indicator of glucose availability. Dogs were either given a bar at the beginning and end of a 2-hour exercise period or were exercised without supplementation. Dogs treated with the maltodextrin bar had significantly higher blood glucose concentrations during exercise and up to 90 minutes after exercise when compared to the un-supplemented dogs, as well as compared to pre-exercise glucose levels. In addition, dogs supplemented with the maltodextrin bar only after exercise also had moderately elevated blood glucose levels within 15 minutes of administration (Figure 3). Elevated blood glucose indicates that substrate is available for muscle and liver glycogen repletion.9 These results indicate that maltodextrin supplementation enhances blood glucose concentration to support muscle function during exercise and muscle glycogen recovery.9 The bulk of the research on carbohydrate replacement has occurred with dogs participating in exercise over 30 minutes in length; however, there is application in dogs that participate in primarily anaerobic activity as well. Anaerobic exercise relies mainly on muscle glycogen for fuel.10,11 For example, Greyhounds have significant depletion of muscle glycogen after a race.12 Also, dogs that may not be physically conditioned to perform in athletic events or exercise may benefit from maltodextrin supplementation for glycogen repletion. Untrained or poorly conditioned dogs, for example, a Labrador retriever at the beginning of hunting season, relies more heavily on carbohydrates as an energy source than a conditioned dog. Conditioned dogs rely on free fatty acids as their primary fuel source when performing exercise more than a few minutes in duration.10,11 However, any canine sport that requires sudden bursts of speed, or bouts of increased intensity could benefit from glycogen replacement post-exercise in conjunction with a regular balanced feeding regimen. Conclusions References 1. Conlee, R.K. Muscle glycogen and exercise endurance: A twenty-year perspective. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 197;15:1-28 2. Reynolds, A.J., Fuhrer, L., Dunlap, H.L., et al. Effect of diet and training on muscle glycogen storage and utilization in sled dogs. J Appl Physiol 1995;79: 1601-1607. 3. Bergstrom, J., Hermansen, L., Hultman, E. Diet, muscle glycogen and physical performance. Acta Physiol Scand 1967;71:140-150. 4. Nakamura, M., Brown, J., and Miller, W.C. Glycogen depletion patterns in trained rats adapted to a high-fat or high-carbohydrate diet. Int J Sports Med 1998;19: 419-424. 5. Goodyear, L.J., and Kahn, B.B. Exercise, glucose transport and insulin sensitivity. Annu Rev Med 1998;49:235-261 6. Wakshlag, J. J, Snedden, K.A., Otis, A.M., et al. Effects of post-exercise supplements on glycogen repletion in skeletal muscle. Veterinary Therapeutics 2002;3: 226-234. 7. Reynolds, A.J., Carey, D.P., Reinhart, G.A., et al. Effect of postexercise carbohydrate supplementation on muscle glycogen repletion in trained sled dogs. Am J Res 1997;58: 1252-1256. 8. Kenney, M.J., Flatt, A., Summers, R.W., et al. Changes in jejunal myoelectrical activity during exercise in fed untrained dogs. Gastrointest Liver Physiol 1988;17:G741-G747 9. Reynolds, A.J. Plasma glucose responses from supplementation with a maltodextrin containing bar. Proc 2004 Nestle Purina Nutrition Forum, St. Louis, MO, Oct 14 -16, 2004. 10. Kronfeld, D.S., Hammel, E.P., Ramberg, C.F., and Dunlap, H.L. Hematological and metabolic response to training in racing sled dogs fed diets containing medium, low, or zero carbohydrate. Am J Clin Nutr 1977;30: 419-430. 11. Reynolds, A.J., Reinhart, G.A., Carey, D.P., et al. Effect of protein intake during training on biochemical and performance variables in sled dogs. Am J Vet Res 1999;60:789-795. 12. Hill, R.C., Bloomberg, M.S., Legrand-Defretin, V., et al. Maintenance energy requirements and the effect of diet on performance of racing Greyhounds. Am J Vet Res 2000;61:156-1573.
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Fortiflora-Canine Intestinal Health Product |
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Purina Veterinary Diets Breaks New Ground with Probiotic Supplement Introducing FortiFlora brand Nutritional Supplements Purina Veterinary Diets has launched FortiFloraÔbrand canine nutritional supplements for the management of intestinal health in dogs. FortiFlora, available from veterinarians, contains the probiotic Enterococcus faeciumSF68, which has been proven to promote normal intestinal health and microflora balance in dogs. The proprietary microencapsulated microorganisms are present in guaranteed levels with a protective coating to enable them to withstand handling, processing and storage. "Our international team of veterinarians, microbiologists, nutritionists and immunologists have spent more than eight years studying Enterococcus faeciumSF68, which has a long history of safe use in both humans and animals," said Gail Czarnecki-Maulden, Ph.D., senior research nutritionist for Nestlé Purina PetCare. While the main function of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is digestion and absorption of nutrients, the GI tract's important role as a body's natural defense system is often overlooked. In fact, about 70% of the body's immune system is located in the GI tract. Since important changes in microflora also occur at weaning, events during this period may have a strong effect on the overall health of the dog. Positive effects on the immune system have been seen in puppies fed probiotics. Many factors can upset the balance of the intestinal ecosystem, including diet, stress and antibiotic therapy. FortiFlora contains antioxidants and a vitamin/mineral premix in a highly palatable protein base. This is especially important when a dog is not feeling well or under stress due to travel boarding or competition. "Diarrhea can be a big issue when dogs are traveling, under stress, in new environments and exposed to new dogs and people," said Steve Remspecher, director of Breeder and Enthusiast Marketing for Purina. "Getting an animal to eat when she is experiencing GI discomfort can be difficult, but FortiFlora is easy to feed because it can be sprinkled on the dog's food. Ease of feeding combined with FortiFlora's good taste and added vitamins and minerals helps the dog get the nutrition it needs," said Remspecher FortiFlora is recommended as a nutritional supplement to help with the dietary management of dogs with diarrhea associated with microflora imbalance, stress, antibiotic therapy and diet change. It is also recommended in promoting a strong immune system and helping to improve stool quality in puppies. Gut Microflora and Intestinal Health The intestine is home to thousands of species of bacteria collectively referred to as the intestinal microflora. The balance of the canine intestinal ecosystem can be changed by a number of things, including health issues, aging, stress associated with traveling and boarding, weaning, changes in diet and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. "Beneficial bacteria are paramount to the health and well-being of the animal," explained Dr. Czarnecki-Maulden. "Maintaining a pet's healthy gut is important to keeping the body healthy and well nourished." How Probiotics Help Probiotics are microorganisms that, when ingested, have a beneficial effect on intestinal function that helps maintain or promotes good health. Probiotics must have certain qualities and be consumed in sufficient quantities to gain their beneficial effects. Among other things, to be of value a probiotic must survive in the GI tract, help achieve normal balanced microflora and be safe to the animal. FortiFlora brand canine nutritional supplements contain a guaranteed minimum level of 1 x 10 CFU of live SF68 per gram. SF68 is a special strain of Enterococcusfaecium. Enterococci are typical lactic acid bacteria that occur naturally in a wide variety of environments, including on plants, in surface water, in human food and in the GI tracts of humans and animals. SF68 has been studied extensively in humans and animals and has a long history of safe use in companion animals and humans. Under normal conditions, most commercially available probiotics suffer tremendous loss of activity during storage, so after five to six months of storage virtually no live organisms are present. However, FortiFlora has a proprietary microencapsulated microorganism that withstands handling, processing and storage to remain biologically active. The protective coating covering the microorganisms completely dissolves in the intestinal tract and the probiotic becomes available to the animal. Talk to your veterinarian about whether FortiFlora could be beneficial for your dogs and puppies and recommend that new puppy owners check with their veterinarians about continued use. FortiFlora is available only through veterinarians. Purina Veterinary Diets brand FortiFlora feline nutritional supplement is also available. About Nestlé Purina One of the leading global players in the pet food industry, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company produces Purina Veterinary Diets®, nutritional aids formulated for the dietary management of dogs and cats with certain health problems. Each die provides a proper balance of total nutrients while meeting special dietary needs. These veterinary diets are backed by extensive Purina research, which allows innovative changes based on the latest nutrition findings. For more information, please call 800-879-1266 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. CT or visit www.purinaveterinarydiets.com.
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Canine Health Foundation |
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Purina Sponsors Canine Health FoundationPurina’s support of the sporting dog community goes beyond providing excellent nutrition for our hunting companions and sponsorship of Sporting Dog and Conservation organizations. Since 1997 Purina has been a corporate partner with the Canine Health Foundation (CHF) and has provided millions of dollars to the CHF to conduct canine research to find cures for the diseases that our hunting buddies face. The Founding of the Canine Health FoundationFounded in 1995 by the American Kennel Club, the Canine Health Foundation raises funds to support health research to benefit all dogs. Research funded by the Canine Health Foundation covers many aspects of canine health. Investigators are studying the genetics of disease, so that the causative mutations can be determined and tests made available to breeders to eliminate disease. There are also many clinical programsunder-way that will develop methods for earlier diagnoses and also better, more accurate treatments. In 14 years, more than $22 million has been allocated to health research covering topics such as epilepsy, cancer and heart disease. Research Underway for Sporting DogsSpecifically for sporting dogs, there are currently 19 active grants totaling more than $1.2million. These projects include exercise induced collapse, degenerative myelopathy, reference ranges for thyroid function in specific breeds, epilepsy, cancer (osteosarcoma,soft-tissue sarcoma), lupoid dermatosis, tricuspid valve dysplasia, portosystemic shunts, hemophilia, Addison’s Disease, cystinuria and cruciate ligament rupture. Summaries ofThese grants may be found at the Canine Health Foundation website, www.akcchf.org. Research SupportNestle Purina PetCare Company provides the Foundation substantial support each year. Purina has several programs that support both the health education work of the Foundation and the funding of research. One of the programs is the Purina Parent Club Partnership Program (PPCPP). This program has raised more than $1.4 million for the Canine Health Foundation’s research. In 2009, the Canine Health Foundation will make grant payments in the amount of $2.4 million to veterinary schools and research institutions in the United States and around the world who are involved in ongoing research to better the life of all dogs, including our sporting breeds. Donations from individuals, organizations and foundations are needed to expand the CHF’s research capabilities and keep our hunting companions in the field. Since dogs and humans share much of the same genetic makeup (and often the same physical environment) canine research is leading to advancements in human research as well. So in addition to the joy they bring us in the field this is just one more reason why the dog is man’s best friend. If you need additional information on how to donate or you have questions on research projects contact Erika Werne, Director of Education & Communications (
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 888-682-9696)
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Insuring Your Hunting Dog |
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Insuring Hunting Dogs: Most hunting dog owners will tell you that above everything else the thrill of the hunt is watching their dog or dogs do what they were bred and trained to do. As owners we have the responsibility to care, feed, and train and condition our dogs to enable them to perform at their best. Even with our best efforts hunting dogs run the risk of injury as they search to find game. The varying terrain, types of cover, barbed wire fences, heat and cold are just a few of the things that could lead to some type of injury which would require a trip to the veterinarian. Of course our first concern is the welfare of our dog and then you begin to wonder what is this going to cost me? If you run hunting dogs it’s not if this will happen, but when and how often. Purina® understands the needs of the hunting dog and provides a complete line of nutritional dog foods and performance formulas to meet the energy requirements of your hunting companion. Recently, the folks at Purina® developed their own brand of pet health insurance to further its relationship with hunters and their dogs and launched PurinaCare® Pet Health Insurance. PurinaCare® Pet Health Insurance (www.purinacare.com) includes two plans that offer a choice in caring for pets with its PurinaCare® plus Preventive Care and PurinaCare® without Preventive Care plans. Both of the plans would be suited for the hunting dog population as they cover many of the unforeseeable accidents that occur when these high performance companions are in action, such as snakebites, gunshots, sprains, impalements and broken bones. The plans also cover a variety of illnesses that could result from bug bites, poisonous plants or interaction with wild animals and game. The policies also cover hospitalization, surgery, prescription medications, and hereditary conditions. The PurinaCare® plus Preventive Care plan is designed to encourage the use of routine preventive care by also covering certain customary annual costs of routine vaccinations, flea and heartworm preventative medications, routine annual physical exams and lab tests, and certain other preventive care. The Microchip tracking system is also covered by the policy which can help dog and owner reunite if they are separated while afield. Pet owners can choose from four different deductible options: $100*, $250, $500 or $1,000. There is a 20-percent co-pay once the annual deductible is satisfied, and after that. Plus a multiple dog discount. Insuring puppies with the PurinaCare® plus Preventive Care plan provides coverage for certain initial care procedures including vaccinations, spaying/neutering. And, it means coverage may already be in place if a serious accident, illness, or hereditary condition covered under the policy occurs unexpectedly. PurinaCare® Pet Health Insurance coverage is available beginning when a puppy is eight weeks old and is currently available in 41 states. Sign up today and have the peace of mind that your dog will have the best of care and you will still have money left for another hunting trip. * $100 Deductible not available for PurinaCare® with Preventive Care
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D.T. Systems Natural Flush Bird Launcher Posted on August 7th, 2009 by Mike  I bought a pair of these launchers and have found them to be an indispensable training tool, particularly when training alone. They are easy to load and quiet on the release. The beeper locators come in handy if you forget your survey tape for marking where you set them down. The remote can control up to 16 different launchers. The only complaint I have so far is that I don’t have a third one. Check it out. {rokzoom}images/stories/blwithbirdsm.jpg{/rokzoom}
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Posted on August 7th, 2009 by Mike
I built one of these lofts to keep a few birds on hand at the house. With basic carpentry skills and about 6 hours you too can keep pigeons close at hand. Lumber and hardware for this project were under $100. I’m purchasing the optional aviary from LCS. The bobs for the flight door can be ordered from LCS as well and are only a few dollars. In the interim, I have stapled a couple of pieces of poultry wire over the openings on the inside to keep birds in, other critters out and provide for adequate ventilation. I have been able to keep about 8 birds comfortably as the description indicates. Plans for this loft cost only $5.95 at Lion Country Supply. Check it out.
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Posted on August 7th, 2009 by Mike 
This is pretty ingenious. I had the opportunity to test this product and was highly impressed. A patented cam locking system allows you to mount the bowl, bucket or a number of other accessories to a variety of surfaces and easily remove and reinstall as needed. Particularly useful for dogs that flip their bowls or paw at water buckets. The mounting system keeps the bowl / bucket where you want it. Helps to eliminate wasted feed. Can be used in crates, runs, even the hitch receiver on your truck. Definitely worth a look Check it out.
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   The Northern Bobwhite, Virginia Quail or (in its home range) Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) is a ground-dwelling bird native to North America and northern Central America and the Caribbean. It is a member of the group of species known as New World quails (Odontophoridae). They were initially placed with the Old World quails in the pheasant family (Phasianidae), but are not particularly closely related. The name "bobwhite" derives from its characteristic whistling call.
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Training Table Plans |
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The easiest way to build a training table is from one sheet of plywood 4' x 8' x 1/2 or 3/4 inches.
- Cut the sheet in half the long way.
- Cut one of the halves in half the short way.
- This gives a total of 3 pieces: one 2' x 8', two 2' x 4'.
- Fasten one of the 2' x 4' pieces to each end of the 2' x 8' piece with hinges so they can serve as ramps and be folded flat over it for storage.
- Nail some strips across each of the ramps for traction.
Attach 2' tall legs under the main table and some bracing for stability. The legs can be made to fold to provide easy storage and hauling.
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