Pre and Post Lamping Feeding

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

What and when do you lampers feed your dogs on a lamping night?

 

I've heard various opinions, from running a dog on empty stomach which hasn't eaten since the evening before to lads who feed pasta 4 hours before.

 

Also what about when you get back? Are the dogs fed before they are kennelled down or left until morning?

 

I personally feed morning and night so would it be wise to run a dog at say 11pm which hasn't eaten since 8am? Or would an additional meal at 4pm be a better option?

 

Also I think they need a meal when they get back from a nights Lamping and after 20 mins or so in the car on way back home and then 20 mins at home while I sort the car out, towel wet dog down and get changed etc then he should be settled enough to have a meal?

 

Look forward to hearing your views on this.

 

Gaz

[sandymere 8,263]

This is an old post but looks at this subject.

 

It's pretty much accepted that different types of exercise and lifestyles require different feeding regimes i.e. a lap dog in a posh pad will need a markedly different diet to a sled dog during a long distance race. Most dogs will fall somewhere between these two extremes with working dogs, in particular, needing individual management of their diet to optimize performance.

 

Canine athletes depend on fats as their main fuel source when resting or at gentle exercise, 60% of energy supplied by fats at 40% of effort, however glucose converted from glycogen is needed especially during high intensity exercise such as sprinting. As exercise intensity increases the amount of glucose used increases whereas fat use remains relatively stable. So % of energy is supplied by glucose at 85% of effort. Studies have shown that dogs undergoing high intensity exercise were only replacing approximately 65% of their stores of glycogen in the first 24 hours when fed a “normal meal†an hour or more post exercise This can result in dogs undertaking high speed type work, such as lurchers or any breed that push their own personal limits, not fully replacing their energy stores by the next day. Fine for the once a week workers but this may well have a negative impact on those that work their dogs on a more regular basis.

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The process whereby glycogen is taken up by the dogs muscle cells is normally controlled by insulin but this is superseded while exercising and for approximately ½ an hour afterwards by another, faster, process, that could be described as direct uptake. As this process is so short acting, to utilize it, appropriate carbs need to be made available to maximize re-stocking of energy stores during or within half an hour of exercise. There is a reduced blood flow to the gastrointestinal system during exercise and for a period after but that does not mean that there is a complete cessation of digestion and appropriate carbs at this time will be digested and enter the blood stream, as glucose, to become available for this direct uptake system to utilize.

 

Previously I have advocated glucose, usually in drink form, as an appropriate form of carbs for this replacement but there are some problems with this. Simple sugars like glucose need to be diluted in a lot of water for digestion so water needs to be given at the same time or body fluids will be utilized when they are needed elsewhere but a stomach full of water soon after high intensity exercise may cause vomiting, the glucose/water effect may cause diarrhea and a sudden increase in glucose can cause a matching insulin high which in turn may lead to a reduction in blood glucose. As a dropping glucose will be counterproductive other alternatives have been tried to overcome this problem. Complex carbohydrates, i.e. cereal etc, are slow to break down and better suited to being part of the main meal as a baseline Carbohydrate to replace the stores through the slower insulin process. Honey has been used in the past but it can have the same digestion problems as glucose plus it takes time and energy to be converted into glucose and may not be ready within the ½ hour time frame. Maltodextrins are sugars that fall between these two extremes they are easily/quickly absorbed, are less likely to case sudden rushes of glucose with the resultant insulin highs and are readily available.

 

Maltodextrin use in sporting dogs has been the subject of a number of studies, these seem to show dogs given a supplement prior to exercise had raised glucose levels during the exercise period, so glucose is available for direct uptake when needed; alternatively a supplement afterwards increased glucose levels within 15 minutes of administration. With both methods glycogen levels recovered significantly better during the following 24 hrs than those not receiving a supplement.

 

In conclusion the research suggests that a supplement of multodextrin may well increase work tolerance for sprint type exercise and improve recovery during the following 24 hours. Bearing in mind the above results and easy availability of maltodextrin type energy bars giving approximately one and a half grams per kilo of body weight to a hard working dog is defiantly worth considering.

 

 

[leegreen 2,210]

Very good Sandy, but do you think many would understand this?

 

Edited to say; My dogs are always fed after a nights lamping, if I was to feed them in the day I would only do it with a small feed at least 4 or more before I go out, my dogs get a good varied diet and are fasted from time to time depending on there work load.

Edited August 11, 2011 by leegreen

[Born Hunter 17,813]

Sandy, do you believe a lurcher on a high carb diet will perform better than if not fed relatively high levels of carbs?

 

Also, when do you feel a dog should be fed and how many times a day and does it depend on the type of diet? ie high fat or high carbs or mix of both.

 

Once youve answered my first question I'm gonna leave it at that as I really dont wanna start another 'pasta for carbs' thread, lol.

[sandymere 8,263]

Very good Sandy, but do you think many would understand this?

 

Edited to say; My dogs are always fed after a nights lamping, if I was to feed them in the day I would only do it with a small feed at least 4 or more before I go out, my dogs get a good varied diet and are fasted from time to time depending on there work load.

 

I hope so, but basically a little feed soon after lamping etc, these days there are a lot of products/ bars that contain sugars and protein available for those wanting an out of the packet option but I tend to give an egg mixed with a little water and a couple of biscuits prior to loading up for the drive home then a handful of complete before bedding them down..

I think we need to move away from the not feeding for 12 hours prior to work after all we‘ve done so with human athletes and can learn from the advances being made. I feed the main meal in the morning so there is a good gap but will happily give a light snack prior to setting off on a long nights lamping.

 

 

 

Sandy, do you believe a lurcher on a high carb diet will perform better than if not fed relatively high levels of carbs?

 

Also, when do you feel a dog should be fed and how many times a day and does it depend on the type of diet? ie high fat or high carbs or mix of both.

 

Once youve answered my first question I'm gonna leave it at that as I really dont wanna start another 'pasta for carbs' thread, lol.

 

I believe a dog should be fed a diet that meets it nutritional needs based on the three basic food groups of fat, protein and carbohydrate. As the essay stated diets will change at suit the energy requirements of the individual. So a dog will perform best when fed a diet that suits its needs.

I tend to feed the main meal in the morning with a couple of biscuits in the evening or a post work meal. I don’t vary depending on ingredients.

 

 

 

 

 

[Moll. 1,770]

I always feed at night.

The morning prior to a big night lamping they get a light meal, with loads of fluids then they get nothing else, not worth the risk imo. Afterwards i wait about an hour after lamping before feeding, again with loads of water in their feed.

A small nights lamping here local (say approx 7-15 runs) i don't feed in the morning, basically because a healthy fit dog should manage a night like this without needing extras, but also because i don't always know when i am going out...weather changes, moon goes behind clouds, i get itchy feet

[Tiny 7 1,694]

Iam with Moll here always feed mine last thing at night be i go bed cause you just never know whats happening,

 

I dont feed anything other than that feed, Then after lamping i just give them a decent meal and bed them down... The way iv always done and woked for me so anit changed it

[Gaz_1989 9,539]

Thanks for all replies. Much appreciated.