Frequently Asked Questions

My dog is spending more time off the track than on it, what can I do to lift performance?
Build the dogs immune system by introducing the following to the diet is the ideal way to start: Probiotic, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Honey, Coconut Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Turmeric
My dogs urine is dark in colour, thick and smelly and has difficult passing urine.
High level protein diets of excess meat/chicken with added kibble can cause excess stool size and dark urine as well as placing excess workload on the digestive system. The kidneys and liver are filters. A quality diuretic flushes these important organs of acids and toxins leaving you with a clean sound base to build from. Using a quality probiotic on a regular basis will assist further.
My dog struggles to finish its races beyond distances of 400m to 450m what can I do?
A quality iron supplement will assist the building of haemoglobin (oxygen carrying capacity of the blood) and the maintenance of a healthy blood supply which may also increase the red cell count. A PCV (packed cell volume) of 59 to 62 is critical to athletic performance. The average greyhound sized dog body contains 3.4 litres of blood. Red cells oxygenate the blood to assist with higher energy levels in the finishing stages of the race.
My dog is underperforming and cramping in the catching pen what can I do?
To start with we must assume that you are feeding a quality race diet and not kibble and meat given that the salt additive to kibble does not assist with this issue. If not please contact us for quality diet suggestions. The supply of electrolyte prior to and after heavy exercise is critical to avoiding dehydration, muscle and soft tissue injuries as well as tying up and in severe cases, acidosis. A quality electrolyte of essential salts will supply your dog with the necessary amounts of potassium, sodium and magnesium to delay the onset of cramping. Kibble salt additives of sodium chloride cause imbalance of these body salts, which in turn increases demand for excess water. Another major obstacle trainers need to overcome to win races is tying up. The invisible sign of tying up (lactic acid) causes dogs to slow near race end, effectively giving the race away. Acid neutralising products that supress and buffer lactic acid allow your athlete to finish the race. Pain Free!
I'm breeding. What should I do to prepare mum for her litter and help the pups along when they arrive?
The race dog skeletal structure all starts with supplementing mum with a quality calcium supplement at mating. The supplement MUST contain Vitamin D for the uptake of calcium phosphate into bone marrow. Taking short cuts with DCP (DiCalcium Phosphate) alone will spell disaster. A mum providing for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 pups needs to be able to supply the litter with the requirements to form a strong bone, ligament and teeth structure. Remember that mum supplies the pups with what they need and what you put into mum helps her to supply the essential building blocks that the pups need from her. What you put into mum comes out in the health and quality of the pups. At 12 weeks (Pups weaned from mums milk) the litter will require a quality calcium supplement until the skeletal structure is fully developed at break in. Athletic dogs require an ongoing daily calcium supplement to maintain strong bones, ligaments and teeth throughout its racing career. This will also substantially help to avoid arthritis and osteo issues later in life. The diet for growing pups should contain high levels of protein for muscle and tendon development. A strong bone, ligament structure with well-developed muscle and tendon formation will give an athletic dog its best chance of performing to its ultimate ability. 1. Prepare mum with a quality diet that is specifically supplemented with the nutrients needed for when she is in pup. 2. When she is carrying a litter continue with the appropriate quality diet that is supplemented with the nutrients that the pups will be taking from mum. You certainly don't want these to be in short supply. Don't get carried away. Unless advised otherwise by a vet, just follow the directions on the labels as they've been scientifically formulated. 3. When weaned, pups no longer get their nutrients from mum and have to rely on the nutrition in their diet. Again, a quality diet that is supplemented with the necessary elements to grow healthy and strong in a way that endures. 4. Remember that you are literally laying the foundations, just like building a house. The nutritional foundation of the pups is the equivalent to the quality of the concrete in your house foundation. If the concrete in the foundations of your house is poor and not strong enough, it won't matter how well you paint it, or how much money you pour into the taps and tiles, it will still crack and in the worst case fall over. All because the concrete foundations that you can't even see just weren't suitable for the load they needed to carry. Pups put an additional load on mum and athletic dogs have a higher load than domestic pets just due to the nature of their athleticism. Make sure you lay a strong foundation for both mum and the pups and just like your house, that small effort will provide you the essential foundations to build a strong, healthy, athletic dog.
Is ginger really any good? Can it actually help with travel sickness?
We get asked this quite a bit. Yes Ginger is ideal for motion sickness. Ginger settles a dog’s upset tummy, coughs, nausea and stomach pain by working as an anti-vomiting and anti-nausea agent. Ginger can also alleviate digestive problems such as diarrhoea, colic and flatulence. Ginger is an antioxidant that also enhances digestive health. As a guide - small animals give a small pinch sprinkled across feed weekly. Larger animals 1/4 teaspoon weekly.
My dogs coat is flat / wiry how can I make it shine?
Coat and skin health is very often a sign of diet and what is going on in the digestive system. Commence with investigating a quality diet for your dog. What you put into your dog you get back out again. Feel free to contact us for some suggestions. Kibbles contain 1 – 3% salt and are generally high in protein, this is not ideal for athletic dogs, especially greyhounds. Introduce a quality probiotic for 5 consecutive days then twice weekly. This will ensure a sound base to build from. The diet of a racing dog should contain carbohydrate, fatty acids (Omega 3, 6 & 9 Oil) and protein in the correct ratios. Omega oils are great for enhancing coat condition. Also consider introducing coconut oil to the diet as it offers benefits such as Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Viral and Anti-Fungal. It is also great for coat condition as well as controlling kennel cough.
I'm concerned about my dogs pads how can I help them?
Walking on hard surfaces like concrete and bitumen will toughen pads. Avoid salt treated surfaces and be sure to wash pads with clean water and rub with coconut oil and or tallow (Fat) after swimming in the ocean. Regularly check pads for glass and other cuts and abrasions, then treat with antiseptic. Treating with coconut oil is ideal and if racing it won’t result in a positive swab. It has anti-bacterial properties as well as being a great pad conditioner.
My dog has a muscle / tendon injury what can I do to help healing?
Immediately treat in the first instance with Ice or Ice Gel Pack (NOT Heat) to stop the blood vessel rupture. Oral Vitamin E will help heal tissue and cell as well as blood vessels. After 48 hours put 1kg of magnesium sulphate in a pillow case, seal the top with tape and wrap around the injury to draw the fluid from the area. This also works well on swollen joints (Arthritis). After the dog has had enough of the pillow case it is time to palpate (massage) a liniment into the injury. Keep the dog moving - Walking machines are ideal as you can regulate the speed. Furthermore the dog cannot favour the injured limb and exercise will be even to both sides of the body unlike natural walking.
My dog has fleas. Help!
Not only will fleas irritate your dog and cause excessive scratching, once they get into your house they also lay their eggs in your furniture, carpet, and anywhere else they can access. We recommend following the advice of your veterinarian, but if you'd prefer an alternative approach there are a number of ways to treat fleas on dogs without using chemical treatments. Apple Cider Vinegar and Salt Flea Spray The beauty of apple cider vinegar is that it is a way to treat fleas on dogs by balancing a dog’s pH levels, creating an environment that is optimal for your dog’s health yet unsustainable for fleas. Dilute six cups of apple cider vinegar with four cups of water, add a dash of sea salt, then spray directly onto your dog’s coat. Make sure to avoid your dog’s eyes. Apple Cider Vinegar Drink To combat and prevent fleas from the inside out, try diluting apple cider vinegar in your dog’s drinking water. You’ll need to check to ensure they enjoy the taste as you don’t want to put them off drinking their water altogether. One teaspoon of apple cider vinegar for every four cups of drinking water is a good ratio to aim for. Not only can you keep fleas at bay, but your dog’s coat and skin will also see the benefits too. Coconut Oil Rub Is there anything that coconut oil can’t do? Coconut oil can help in a number of ways when treating fleas. Rubbing a teaspoon of coconut oil directly into your dog’s coat will not only repel fleas but will make the coat shiny and reduce body odor. If added to your dog’s normal food, coconut oil can even help treat intestinal parasites due to its antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Dog Shampoo We recommend the shampoo available here for any pet owners looking for a powerful flea shampoo without harsh chemial ingredients. This shampoo kills fleas on contact, can be used in conjunction with spot-on type flea products and flea collars, it's safe for dogs and puppies and repels fleas for up to 7 days afterwards. Pro Tip If you have the opportunity, plant plenty of rosemary around your dog kennels. We don't know why, but fleas that may be around outside just don't seem to like it. Of course the added benefit is that you'll have plenty of home grown rosemary to put on your roasts just like Mum did. It has a pleasant aroma too.