Dogs love fetch, an enormously athletic activity, actually a great deal of what dogs love to do would classify them as world class athletes. Owners of working dogs such as sled, herding, rescue dogs, etc understand the nutritional requirements of these animals. A majority of the natural and organic dog food industry evolved from the dietary needs of these dogs. Anyone who has played fetch with their hound has seen the athletic performance of a sprinter.
Working dogs are conditioned through constant activity and special diets that support the nutritional needs that their lifestyle requires. The average family pet exercises sporadically but when they do it is at the same level or higher then a typical working dog. This lifestyle for dogs can mimic that of an athlete who over trains. The athlete simply over reaches their bodies ability to respond, a dog who engages in a game of fetch will over reach, the consequences such as muscle damage act as precursors to long term problems as opposed to the damage immediately presenting itself as an injury. Although sporadic, your dogs intense physical activity is ongoing throughout his life and the ongoing physical punishment will cascade into sever health problems unless owners supplement their dog’s diet . Providing your dog the level of nutrition that will help them avoid the consequences of sporadic intense physical activity is important to the long term health of your dog.
Without the proper supplements a dogs digestion process will fail to derive the proper nutrients from the carbohydrates in their diet. The resulting deficiencies lead to a reduction in glycogen, amino acid levels, thereby effecting the dogs bodily functions especially when trying to respond to physical activity. Of particular interest is the amino acid glutamine. Glutamine is used as a nitrogen source for nucleotide synthesis in lymphocytes.