delburt0 Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 (edited) Long story short was on a shoot yesterday with my 3 yr old cocker after several drives nothing too hard even though it was not stopping to rain and freezing In not so sunny Lancashire my dog took a turn for the worst, Started with him just laying down and not wanting to move, staring vacantly through me and uncontrollable shaking and twitching of the body and head, Not responsive to his name or any noise his body had just shut down, He had a energy bar and I carried him in my coat half way back to the car when I stopped for a rest he seemed to perk up so I walked him back to the farm on the lead. I dried him back at the farm put his coat on and gave him my dinner which he wolfed down watered him then put him under the heater in the footwell, I am confident he had just run out of steam as even though I rested him for the rest of the day I would have been confident he was fit for the 2 drives after dinner I think his sugar levels went down to nil. Any similar experiences would be appreciated to hear he is back to 100% but was quite worrying. On the downside a beater took my gun and shot more than me..... Edited November 9, 2014 by delburt0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wj939 Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Article about this in last month's sporting gun, as you say one of the common reasons was sugar levels dropping off causing a collapse. Could also cause fits apparently. Sounds like you done the right thing, hope he's okay next time out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted November 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 (edited) Article about this in last month's sporting gun, as you say one of the common reasons was sugar levels dropping off causing a collapse. Could also cause fits apparently. Sounds like you done the right thing, hope he's okay next time out He his fine now just thought I would post this to make other shooters aware about carrying energy bars lucozade Mars bars etc for your dogs because to be honest in 30 years of shooting I was unaware and never seen this before, and I feel ashamed and ignorant in not Knowing this, at the end of the day the dogs welfare comes 1st before pulling the trigger. Edited November 9, 2014 by delburt0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TR1 Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 (edited) Could also be mild hypothermia in the conditions you describe. Cockers can have little body mass to retain heat and a thin coat to shed water. Edited November 9, 2014 by TR1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted November 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 I would have thought hyperthermia at first as he was out the day Before for 4 hours in wet weather but I think anything else would have lasted longer as after 20 mins he was tip top but scared the hell out of me.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 There's an article in the current BASC magazine Shooting and Conservation about this very subject. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbird Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Gosh I bet that was awful for you both - I know nothing whatsoever about this, glad he's ok! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted November 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 There's an article in the current BASC magazine Shooting and Conservation about this very subject.thAt will be the one in its bag on my telephone table in the hall thanks Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted November 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Gosh I bet that was awful for you both - I know nothing whatsoever about this, glad he's ok!he his 100% but I just thought I would post this to make others aware that had not heard or come across this my friend who is a gun dog breeder had told be to give him half a tin of tomatoes a day to reduce acid there's lots of old wife's tales coming In but the more information on this is not enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted November 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Just read that Phil the first paragraph is what exactly happened, but as he recovered within 10 minutes of having a protein bar even though not too concerned and confident it was his sugar levels I will keep my eye on him on the next few outings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilR Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 Glad to hear he's OK. I'm not a dog owner yet but had just read the article in the mag and saw your thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted November 9, 2014 Report Share Posted November 9, 2014 We see this commonly. Some dogs are unconscious and need IV glucose. I think it is important to get breakfast into the dog and something to eat at lunchtime as prevention. Getting cold or dehydrated won't help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spandit Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 It's only happened to my dog once on a hot day when he was chasing a throw toy. Considering he has reduced lung function due to a bad case of lungworm a few years ago and an enlarged heart, he still has way more stamina than my much younger sprocker bitch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchman Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 one of my spaniels has done that...........but during summer.........they burn themselves out....ever since that happening...i never let them off the lead until there was something for them to do........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 What sort of energy bar would you recommend carrying just encase this ever happens to me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim85 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 My Cocker had this issue a number of years ago before we had her so the previous owner stopped working her completely. I have read up on the subject and most would recommend glucose powder you can add to the water or rub in the mouth too, obviously chocolate bars etc may not be the best for the dog, however i would use what ever i had to hand if she had any other fits / collapses. Some people just forget they are not machines though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
apache Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Anything with sugar in it will be fine. Little pots of Golden Syrup you get in hotels are handy. The most important thing is following up with carbohydrate - ie slow release energy. Feed the dog. I wouldn't be worried about a chocolate bar or anything from your lunch box. It amazes me how many people will take a dog out to work hard with no breakfast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stumpy69 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I give mine a bit of Kronch pemmican a couple of times during the day. its like an energy bar for dogs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenman99 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Lack on sugar mate in working dogs. My youngest spaniel started rear-end wobble while on early partridges this season. Got some glucose drink (made with powder) into her, fine within the hour. I have seen many dogs suffer from this if worked hard when not used to it & its VERY distressing for the owner but don't panic get some choc-wafer bar or sweet drink into them. I always have glucoses drink in the motor for just for this emergency. You will be suprised how quick they come round. The best thing is get some sweet food/drink into them BEFORE they start working & sugar collapse will not happen. fenman99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rimfire4969 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I give mine a bit of Kronch pemmican a couple of times during the day. its like an energy bar for dogs Someone else told me about this when we were having a chat the other day. Think I will get some, I have never had the problem with my dogs but prevention is better than a cure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 (edited) I will get many remedies on hand but I've just got a few bars of honey and cherry flapjack from my local shop says 500 cal per bar and loaded with sugar, I will look into animal supplements but this should be fine in the meantime. Just never had this before even though he had his breakfast as normal before he started I think he just did that bit too much before dinner energy bars packed in car already aswell as 2 in the cart bag for regular feeding intervals. Edited November 10, 2014 by delburt0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 (edited) Anything with sugar in it will be fine. Little pots of Golden Syrup you get in hotels are handy. The most important thing is following up with carbohydrate - ie slow release energy. Feed the dog. I wouldn't be worried about a chocolate bar or anything from your lunch box. It amazes me how many people will take a dog out to work hard with no breakfast. Dogs do not need carbs in there diet at all and can be harmful if given a lot the most important thing to give a dog after it's sugar fix would be protein and fat, giving the dog any high protein food would be fine.Eggs meat fish etc scotch eggs would be ideal for the dog Edited November 10, 2014 by delburt0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gazbev Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 I give mine a bit of Kronch pemmican a couple of times during the day. its like an energy bar for dogs A lot if the field trailers use this have heard good things about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greenshank1 Posted November 10, 2014 Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 Sorry to hear about your spaniel . I used to cook and cut up venison liver into cubes and give my lab these as treats throughout the day. Kronch Pemikan does work but be carefull it is rocket full for huskies so use sparingly. My wife took my lab hill walking and gave her a few squares and she did 7 Munros in one day and even on the last top the dog was still flushing ptarmigan out the scree !! When I am beating I half the squares and give her half square late morning and a half square mid afternoon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delburt0 Posted November 10, 2014 Author Report Share Posted November 10, 2014 (edited) A lot if the field trailers use this have heard good things about it.this seems to be a good thing to have at hand sparingly of course after research thanks for this lads.. Edited November 10, 2014 by delburt0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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