Glyco-Gen Energy Shake, 5lb

Understanding how your canine athlete uses energy is important when trying to improve performance. Fatigue can lead to a sluggish response to commands and injury in an overall diminished performance. Preventing or decreasing fatigue may be the difference between winning and merely finishing.

Canine athletes derive energy primarily from fats in the form of free fatty acids (FFA) and carbohydrates in the form of glycogen. FFA’s are the preferred source of energy for endurance activity. In addition, fat stores in the dog are generally large and easily replenished with a balanced diet. Glycogen is necessary for the initial minutes of activity and for buirst of energy such a sprinting. Glycogen stores, however, are relatively small and not so easily replenished.

Dogs have relatively small glycogen stores in the muscles that can be quicly depleted. In general, a dog on a well balanced diet will replace, on average, only 40% of pre-exercise levels of glycogen in a 25 hour period. Consider the canine athlete working and competing on consecutive days. That dog will eventually deplete its glycogen stores leading to fatigue and diminished performance.

Fortunately, we can improve glycogen replacement by taking advantage of GLUT4 pathways on muscle cells that are active during exercise and for short periods after exercise. By providing a “good carbphydrates” within 30 minutes of exercise, glycogen stores can be refilled to approximately 85% of pre-exercise levels. That’s more that twice the glycogen restored!

Full dose = 1 scoop per 10lb dog weight, 1 scoop = 1 tbsp

Before Exercise:
Give a half dose 15-30 minutes before exercise. This will provide a readily available source of carbohydrates for the dog to use before using stored carbohydrates thereby increasing the total carbohydrates available. If using the Gylco-Gen Shake in this manner, be sure to use the lowest volume of water necessary. Be sure to follow with a full dose after exercise for the best results.
 

During Exercise:
Give half does every 45-90 minutes during long or strenuous exercise to slow depletion of glycogen from the muscles. If using the Glyco-Gen Shake mix in this manner, be sure to use the lowest volume of water necessary. Be sure to follow with a full dose after exercise for the best results.
 

After Exercise:
Give a full dose within 30 minutes of exercise. A second dose 45-60 minutes later may provide additional benefit to a very exhausted dog. Be sure to allow the dog to rest (no vigorous exercise) for at least 2 hours for best results.