poppythedog Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 My No.1 springer is 10 & I think she would benefit from some sort of energy boost at lunchtime during a shoot day. Does anyone know of any manufactured drink or should I just give her a Mars bar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WelshLamb Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 isnt chocolate bad for dogs? :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattslaptop247 Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Red bull lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dazbrit Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 I give mine glucose tablets at dinner time, it keeps their energy levels up and you can get them from the chemists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpk Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Chudleys make a energy type bar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardo Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 yeah chocolate (ie mars bar) is a big no no - it's highly toxic to dogs. Have a read up... http://www.vetrica.com/care/dog/chocolate.shtml Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigger Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Couple of the lads on the shoots give them sugary water or glucose tablets as has been said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrispti Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 If she cant last the day, dont make her. Get her fitter, if she cant get any fitter, then her body's had enough. Forcing her with energy supplements will probably end up doing more harm than good. Time for a new pup/ younger dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codling99 Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guest1957 Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 Caffeine will also kill dogs pretty effectively so avoid energy drinks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foxnet22 Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 If she cant last the day, dont make her. Get her fitter, if she cant get any fitter, then her body's had enough. Forcing her with energy supplements will probably end up doing more harm than good. Time for a new pup/ younger dog .....+1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kent Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 A milk choc mars dont contain enough chocolaite to harm a large dog, a bar of bornville or other dark choc is a very different matter as they contain far higher levels o the bad stuff. Personally i wouldn't though and agree with others, its time for her to take a step back from the frontline now, perhaps a half day etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gillaroo Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 My springers will have a Mars bar half way through if its been a really hard day. Not enough chocolate in one to cause harm every once in a while. At 10 though she can start to take life a bit easier and I'd be thinking about getting a youngster in her place. Cheers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 The simple answer is to take some dog food for a mid-day snack. Chocolate is not magically toxic, its just dogs are more sensitive to the theobromine. I wouldn't aim to give it regularly but if the dog has worked hard it's ok giving a small amount of milk chocolate. You actually want to give carbohydrate to provide sustained energy, the chocolate bar will give a fast sugar hit that will be used or stored. Carbohydrate is released slowly and sustains work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TaxiDriver Posted November 7, 2011 Report Share Posted November 7, 2011 The simple answer is to take some dog food for a mid-day snack. Chocolate is not magically toxic, its just dogs are more sensitive to the theobromine. I wouldn't aim to give it regularly but if the dog has worked hard it's ok giving a small amount of milk chocolate. You actually want to give carbohydrate to provide sustained energy, the chocolate bar will give a fast sugar hit that will be used or stored. Carbohydrate is released slowly and sustains work. Some Pasta then ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bi9johnny Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 If she cant last the day, dont make her. Get her fitter, if she cant get any fitter, then her body's had enough. Forcing her with energy supplements will probably end up doing more harm than good. Time for a new pup/ younger dog wise words pushing them too far proves costly later on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppythedog Posted November 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Thanks for the answers so far. Just to clarify I have her son as No.2 spaniel & I make him do the majority of the days work (picking up) much to his mother's disgust as she is very much the alpha dog of the pack (we also have a non working Labrador) I only use her for easy, fairly short retrieves, anything running or in thick cover is her son's job. At present I give them a light snack of their regular food at lunchtime but I want to give her something that will be of more benefit to her without filling her stomach. She is a fit as they come and as active as any 10yr old could be, I wish I was in as good shape! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruz Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 The simple answer is to take some dog food for a mid-day snack. Chocolate is not magically toxic, its just dogs are more sensitive to the theobromine. I wouldn't aim to give it regularly but if the dog has worked hard it's ok giving a small amount of milk chocolate. You actually want to give carbohydrate to provide sustained energy, the chocolate bar will give a fast sugar hit that will be used or stored. Carbohydrate is released slowly and sustains work. Humans get their energy from carbohydrates ,dogs get most of theirs from fats. I would give the dog an electrolyte drink such as Recharge,which can be bought from greyhound suppliers, a glucose tab would do no harm , failing that honey and water mixed beforehand is a mainstay.At 10 you need to be realistic about the dog's capabilities, and keep a look out for signs of flagging/loss of drive etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 as apache says food keeps them going better than anything else, mine gets the odd bit as we go along and a small amount at lunch time just to top up. No need at all to pump them with sugar, when they get to 10 often if they are flagging its best to let them just do half a day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Humans get their energy from carbohydrates ,dogs get most of theirs from fats. No. In the wild state dogs get most of their energy from deanimation of proteins. All commercial food contain carbohydrate and the dog can use that nicely as an energy source. I would give the dog an electrolyte drink such as Recharge,which can be bought from greyhound suppliers, a glucose tab would do no harm , failing that honey and water mixed beforehand is a mainstay. For a 15 minute 'sugar high'? No point. That's how quickly the body will deal with it. There is no reason not to give something sweet if the dog works so hard it collapses, there is a recognised condition of working dog hypoglyceamia. No point whatsoever giving such things at lunchtime to sustain the dog for the second half of the day. Basic physiology. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppythedog Posted November 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 No. In the wild state dogs get most of their energy from deanimation of proteins. All commercial food contain carbohydrate and the dog can use that nicely as an energy source. For a 15 minute 'sugar high'? No point. That's how quickly the body will deal with it. There is no reason not to give something sweet if the dog works so hard it collapses, there is a recognised condition of working dog hypoglyceamia. No point whatsoever giving such things at lunchtime to sustain the dog for the second half of the day. Basic physiology. So is what I do at the moment i.e. a small amount of their regular food & water at lunch time still the best thing to give them? Thanks for all the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 So is what I do at the moment i.e. a small amount of their regular food & water at lunch time still the best thing to give them? Thanks for all the replies. Think how much better you feel after some lunch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackley Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 I was picking up on shoot when it was really hot in Yorkshire the guy i was riding round with had an aditive he mixed with his water.it was something they give greyhounds after they have ran a race,it puts salt and other minerals back into them,dont know wht it was called but he sais it worked a treat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppythedog Posted November 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 Think how much better you feel after some lunch. Yes but where I go picking up we are given a huge lunch the same as the guns + a huge pudding and as much ale as you want. After shovelling it all down all I want to do is go to sleep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren m Posted November 8, 2011 Report Share Posted November 8, 2011 i give mine a handful of biscuits and pour on a little tuna oil ( my lunch )in a tuperware container at lunch time , some of the chaps feed a mars bar , no ill effects.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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