Summer Heat

[FrenchieDante]

Does anyone put electrolyte supplements in their dogs water on particularly hot days, or when the pup has played extra hard? If so, what supplement? (Pedialite, smartwater) is this okay for a puppy? 10 weeks?

 

[Jakeyjake]

I've never given them electrolyte supplements. They just have plenty of fresh filtered water available at al times and we don't walk or play in the heat of the day.

 

[Cbrugs]

I don't give Jax any supplements, just filtered drinking water.

 

[KimB3384]

No supplements, but I've started adding some apple cider vinegar to help with fleas. Not sure if it'll do anything, but my boyfriend's mom drinks it every morning. She just turned 90 and has never had fleas a day in her life, so that's something.

Seriously though, I did just buy a cooling mat and cooling bandana (both on sale at Drs. Foster and Smith, as are car booster seats, if you're interested), and picked up a kiddie pool last night. Because: insane.

 

[karla215]

Not sure if it'll do anything, but my boyfriend's mom drinks it every morning. She just turned 90 and has never had fleas a day in her life, so that's something.

Hilarious Kim! I have heard from ex brother in law that acv helps adding dogs with joint health and other ailments. He had ancient pugs who def improved when they started on it. The one with the mother in it was required, he said. Not the supermarket brand. Your mileage may vary, as they say. Your post made me laugh tho!

Karla

 

[Cbrugs]

No supplements, but I've started adding some apple cider vinegar to help with fleas. Not sure if it'll do anything, but my boyfriend's mom drinks it every morning. She just turned 90 and has never had fleas a day in her life, so that's something.

Seriously though, I did just buy a cooling mat and cooling bandana (both on sale at Drs. Foster and Smith, as are car booster seats, if you're interested), and picked up a kiddie pool last night. Because: insane.

I've been looking for a cooling mat for Jax. What size did you get?

 

[KimB3384]

I've been looking for a cooling mat for Jax. What size did you get?

Bisou is really tiny - she's only 16 lbs., so I got a medium. It's 19.75" x 15.5" and it's just about right. I'd have gone bigger, but the next largest size is 20" x 36" and that seemed huge for my needs. That might be good for you, though. Didn't I see a post recently where you said that Jax is 30 lbs.?

 

[KimB3384]

Hilarious Kim! I have heard from ex brother in law that acv helps adding dogs with joint health and other ailments. He had ancient pugs who def improved when they started on it. The one with the mother in it was required, he said. Not the supermarket brand. Your mileage may vary, as they say. Your post made me laugh tho!

Karla

I'm in a Frenchie group on Facebook and everyone* there was raving about the benefits of adding acv to water. It sounds terrible to me, but if it helps I'd gladly add it. Also, glad to have entertained you. I've been feeling off my game for a couple of weeks, but maybe I'm getting my mojo back!

*by everyone, I mean there were, like, 6 people saying, "Oh my gosh, yes! Add it! It will kill fleas and make your dog immortal!" So, we'll see.

 

[2bullymama]

Apple cider vinegar with the mother is great... it has great benefits for human and dog.

I pulled this from our sister site (Englishbulldognews) that was posted by another meber there:

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider is known around the world as Mother Nature’s miracle medicine, a powerful weapon in the war against aging and disease that is more effective than many high-priced prescription drugs. When God created this fruit He designed it be a food and a medicine!
Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is golden liquid concentrated with the healthy goodness of apples. It contains more than 30 important nutrients, 12 minerals, over 6 vitamins, essential acids and several enzymes. Moreover, it has a large dose of pectin for a healthy heart, and thus, healthy as a whole.
Many vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and substances are available in ACV to improve the health of your dog. ACV can provide them with enzymes and important minerals, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine,
phosphorus, iron, silicon and other trace minerals. The vitamins contained in ACV are bioflavonoids (vitamin P), beta-carotene (precursor to vitamin A), vitamin C, E, B1, B2, and B6. Tannins from the crushed cell walls of fresh apples as well as malic acid, tartaric acid, propionic acid, acetic acid and pectin (fiber) are also contained in ACV.
ACV is cheap, easy to use and it really benefits our health in numerous ways. ACV can benefit both people and their pets. It is antibacterial and anti-fungal and gives the immune system a good boost. As a high potassium electrolyte balancer, it remineralizes the body and helps normalizethe blood’s alkaline acid balance.ACV is the natural king of skin remedies. It is wonderful for itching and scratching pets as well as a superb skin and hair conditioner. Good old apple cider vinegar either straight or diluted 50/50 with water can be applied directly to the affected area and allowed to dry. It will kill bacteria on hot spots, eliminate dandruff, rejuvenate hair, skin and help sweeten and balance the pH levels in the body. When giving your dpg a bath, shampoo, rinse, then apply ACV either straight or diluted, followed by rinsing with water. Notice, any residue shampoo will be washed out and you will feel and see an increased softness and sheen to the coat.
Apple cider vinegar is a powerful detoxifying and purifying agent. It breaks down fatty, mucous and phlegm deposits within the body. By breaking down these substances it improves the health and function of the vital organs, such as the kidneys, bladder and liver, by preventing excessively alkaline urine. Put a tablespoon of ACV in your dog’s drinking water every day and you will no longer have those brown spots in your lawn from the dog’s urine.

This powerful potion also promotes digestion, assimilation and elimination, all the while neutralizing any toxic substances that enter the body. Cider vinegar has been found to ..neutralize any harmful bacteria that may be found in certain foods. While dogs and cats do not have to worry too much about the bacteria in raw meat, if YOU are in doubt, you can pour a little Apple Cider Vinegar over thier raw meal.
Cider vinegar can also be beneficial for symptoms such as tooth decay and splitting of your dog’s toenails, which can be symptoms of potassium deficiency. Potassium is essential for the replacement of worn-out tissues within the body. This mineral is also important to soft tissue repair, as calcium is to the bones and teeth which makes it a wonderful supplement for senior dogs.
Tests have proven that when potassium, in the form of cider vinegar is fed to livestock their appearance improves and their stamina increases.
Cider vinegar is thought to be beneficial in the treatment of arthritis, as a supplement added to your pet’s daily water supply (or poured over the food) or with compresses soaked in hot vinegar applied directly to the joints. It is also thought to be helpful when used to treat allergies, osteoporosis, cancer, candida, high cholesterol, constipation, muscle cramps, colitis, diabetes, diarrhea, depression, dizziness, ear discharge, eczema, fatigue, kidney stones, kidney and bladder problems, metabolism, and stiff joints.
The supplementation of ACV has been known to naturally remove red tear stains from the inside out. It is also used by many to prevent fleas when used in a rinse for the dog’s coat.
Recently, Dr. Louis Ducarre of Geneva, Switzerland, author of the fairly new book,Natural Cures, Natural Life states that when mixed with honey, apple cider becomes potent enough to cure cancer, heart disease and other deadly ailments .
Natural apple cider vinegar is found in health food stores. It should be a rich amber color with the “mother” quite visible as sentiment on the bottom. The strength of vinegar is important. All varieties of vinegar contain about 4 to 7 percent acetic acid, with 5 percent being the most common amount. Acetic acid is what gives vinegar its tart and sour taste.
There is nothing beneficial about commercial distilled vinegars except for pickling, cleaning and disinfection —they have no health value!
Bragg, Paul and Linda, N.D., Ph.D., “Apple Cider Vinegar, Miracle Health System”, Published Health Science, Santa Barbara, California
Jarvis, D.C, M.D., D.C. “Folk Medicine”, and“Arthritis and Folk Medicine”, Published Fawcett Publications, Inc., Greenwich, Connecticut
Puotinen, C.J., “The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care” Published Keats Publishing, Inc., New Canaan, Connecticut

 

[KimB3384]

Blerg. Mine doesn't have mother in it, so it's probably not doing anything, huh? Can I get the real stuff at someplace like walmart, or do I need to go to a health food store?

 

[Cbrugs]

And dogs don't mind drinking water with the acv in it? I would think it would not taste too good.

- - - Updated - - -

Bisou is really tiny - she's only 16 lbs., so I got a medium. It's 19.75" x 15.5" and it's just about right. I'd have gone bigger, but the next largest size is 20" x 36" and that seemed huge for my needs. That might be good for you, though. Didn't I see a post recently where you said that Jax is 30 lbs.?

Yup, my Jaxie is 30 pounds of muscle! We call him Biggie Smalls.

 

[KimB3384]

We might not be the best ones to ask about this since Bisou will eat or drink anything. And I mean anything. Giving her medication is never an issue. Gobble, gobble, gobble, slurp, gone, burp.

I added the acv to her water for the first time the other day and it almost seems like she's drinking MORE. Didn't phase her at all. I'm not sure she's hooked up right.

 

[Cbrugs]

We might not be the best ones to ask about this since Bisou will eat or drink anything. And I mean anything. Giving her medication is never an issue. Gobble, gobble, gobble, slurp, gone, burp.

I added the acv to her water for the first time the other day and it almost seems like she's drinking MORE. Didn't phase her at all. I'm not sure she's hooked up right.

Jax definitely eats anything, not sure if he will drink anything but I am going to give this a try!

 

[winginit66]

Need to give this a whirl...

 

[Fitz]

Seriously though, I did just buy a cooling mat and cooling bandana (both on sale at Drs. Foster and Smith, as are car booster seats, if you're interested), and picked up a kiddie pool last night. Because: insane.

Ha! Too funny!! I feel the same way every time I drop $100 at the pet store ... On what?!

 

[davidh]

I would not give anything but water or maybe water with some ACV in it. Be very careful with giving them anything else, as some chemicals that are OK for us are toxic to them, especially artificial sweeteners.