Drying out

[CYJ]

My final thoughts on the drying out of a dog. I feel if you have the pulling dog on it's best pulling weight. Do not over work it,Dog works well and stays on it's weight. Weight should not be jumping up and down through each week. We did not weigh every single day just kept a eye on the dog and weighed about every third day.

If dropped a 1/4 pound would increase the raw food. The amount of kibble that was used was the amount the dog was eating in the pre keep when it was on it's strongest lowest weight. If cold weather may go up a 1/2 pound or pound. Hot weather went with lowest weight with still having it's strength.

So if dog is working well, on weight, skin not slack when pulled. Gums and under lips nice and blood red. Is probably dry as needed . In the dog pull dog event will get plenty of time to dry out some more. LOL In other words V. J. did not dry out a dog and told me not to do it. There is a right way to rub a dog down as well, that helps to remove any excessive water under the skin. That today may be considered a wives' tail. But most in my time era did it. Cheers

[CYJ]

Sorry for not knowing the correct name of this medication, when I started posting about this medication on earlier posts. Was Predef 2X sterile aqueous suspension medication by the Upjohn company. Today it is shown made by another drug company. Sorry for any confusion. Went back and made corrections. Was many years ago. So have forgotten a lot of things. Cheers

[FrostyPaws]

If a person wants to know if dex will have negative effects on their dog, give the dog dex halfway through the keep and see how it effects the dog. Give the dog dex before the keep and pay attention to your dog. That will go a long way in telling you what you need to see about the animal. I'd used dex for many years before a show and never had any issues with it, so it's a case by case basis. It may also have to do with the amounts given.

On a previous post in this thread, I wouldn't consider a 1/2 count a dry dog personally. I've seen dogs before with a 2-3 count, and to me, those dogs were dry.

[EWO]

Agree with Frosty on this one. I think anything done to the dog should be done prior to the keep just to know the reaction. Most dogs who have made it to the keep stage have had some dex experience. There should be some mental notes made here about how it affected the dog. The case by case basis is always a good idea. Good post. EWO

[R2L]

What's in your experience the average amount to be given and what time before the show? (lets say 40 lbs)
I heard people vary injecting it from 1 till 6 hours before the show. I would like to test and weigh/skincheck/empty a dog, every hour for 6 hours. Will do the same thing the day before, with no dex been given. Will post the results

[gotap_d]

Dex has about a 3 day half life on it. Thats where i believe the whole 3-2-1 method of dexing comes from. I usually give one shot about 24 hours out.

[CYJ]

Finally found the correct name of this inflammatory medication etc. It is still available through a Veterinarian. Used mostly on sick dilapidated Cattle/Horses/Swine.
It is called Predef 2X Sterile aqueous suspension. Can be pulled up on the internet and read about what it does and not do.

Is in the inflammatory steroid groups, I believe this medication is not Prednisone. Is listed more powerful than Prednisone and the other inflammatory type steroids. Been a long time, even though I did list using 1cc of Dexamethasone 6 hours under the skin before weigh in time.

I believe on my last dog I only used 3cc of the Predef 2X under the skin at 12 hours before the weigh in. This product pretty well covered all bases including balancing out the water in the body. Believe that is mentioned in the write up effects on this medication.

So as I said before did not have to put a dog through a drying process. Removed water 24 hours before weigh in time, reintroduced at the 12 hour mark and 6 hour mark. Even at four hours if dog was still weighing a little light.

If dog was on weight at 12 hours and 6 hours before weigh in. Allowed dog to drink at each time till lifted head. If dog weighed light at either weigh in, gave that amount in ounces To help dog stay on weight.

This is important, dog should be given it's water after walked/weighed and rubbed down. Have to use your own judgment on the fluids according to how the dog was weighing at each session.

Only works for a one dog show and should include a forfeit lost, if the other dog man decides to show up two hours late etc. This medication helped to point and peak a dog at just that right time.

If a dog went through a very bad match, was the very best to keep shock off a dog, dog would drink plenty of water within minutes after a hard dog pull. Medication stayed around three days in the system. A good shot of penicillin,dog's body washed and cleaned up next day, put up off the ground. In three days or so, dog would running around like nothing ever happened.

I know many wish to stay with 100% natural keeps and that is just fine. Probably can not get this type medication much less take a injured dog to many of these new pacifist type veterinarians. Cheers

[EWO]

It is a fine line on the last days and even a finer line the last hours going in. It is hard enough to call the right weight but it is also very hard to hit that weight in the right proportion.

If 50lbs is the right weight and the dog has been dialed in to 50 the right way, all is well. But it always important to remember that 50 is nothing more than a number. What is important is what makes up that 50lbs. and the proportion of muscle mass/bone/coat/hair/water etc.. Adjusting water the last few hours can be very tricky. If a dog is proportionately correct at 51 and is dried to 50 then at 50 he is no longer in proportion. If the water content is over proportioned at 51 and then dried to the correct and proportionate 50lbs. then all is well.

Lots of dogs run hot 10-15 minutes in and everything from B-12 to steroids is to blame. When in reality they were on 'weight' but on that fine line of proportion they are one way or the other, usually on the dehydration side.

Dex and predef are fine when they are used correctly. The issue is when they are used as a fixer in the final hours. Basically I put in 8 weeks of work and yet missed my mark, but these couple of shots will make it all better. It is really not that simple.

Corticasteroids are really no different than anabolic steroids in a sense that either of them used correctly will benefit the dog, and at the same time used incorrectly will have undesired effects.

I prefer the dog to be wet in the last hours leading in and let the natural fall hit the mark. I have never been a fan of working a dog a pound or so heavy and then drawing him to weight the last few days. I get him to pit weight sooner in the keep and leave water readily available to him throughout. I always add water to the food and after about 5-6 weeks of hard work and watered food they seldom go to the water bowl. The last three or four days I remove it and they are watered thru feeding.

This leaves the dog slightly wetter in proportion and allows him to fall to the proportionate weight at show time.

More than likely I am not a 'dex' guy because simply I was never taught it was needed. With that said, I know a bunch of guys who are very successful using dex beforehand. EWO

[S_B]

That is an excellent post EWO!

Those fine tuning details are very important and I think you explained it perfectly.

Thank you,
S_B

[loot]

I agree 100%. Great Information EWO.