Strange question, but is there any food that would give my springer a bit more energy? I do flyball and agility with him, and he is usually really good at training, but can't cope with a whole days racing or competing very well. I know alot is doe to the mental stress, but i could do with a bit more get up and go generally. He's currently on autarky. I know a lot is down to motivation, but he starts off ok and just seems to run out of steam very quickly. I don't know whether i should be feeding something permanently or something that i can just give on a competition day?

You have a Springer who lacks energy?????   I've never met a quiet one and those I've known have only started to calm down in their teen years!   My brother's would do a full day beating/picking up and still want to race around !

Seriously tho, how old is your dog?  How long have you been competing with him?  Does he drink enough? (thirst can make us all feel weak/tired/under par)  Has he always 'run out of steam quickly or is it a recent thing?  Maybe he needs a check up to make sure there's nothing wrong?

What food is he on?  How many meals a day does he get and have you been to a vet?  Thyroid problems could be a case hear so would need to have them ruled out.

Although from my flyball days dog's were given glucose in their water on day of races t give them more energy, not sure if it's still practised.

>What food is he on?

>He's currently on autarky.

Maybe this food isn't suiting him,and it's not providing him what he needs.The body cant work efficiently with the wrong fuel.I think finding the right food might be a matter of trial and error, look for meat as the first ingredient,minimal carbs(grains/cereals) and decent protein and fat levels,if it is indeed a nutritional problem..He may just be a laid backed boy :-D

Take a look at the B-natural site,there;s probably something about this in their newsletter index.

You have a Springer who lacks energy?????
I know what you mean! I rescued him at 11 months because i had a hyper Bc and a goldie who spent most of her time asleep and i wanted something with a little more get up and go. (But mum didn't want another BC.) He's now just coming up 4 and he just sleeps all day. Even my goldie (5yrs) has more energy. He runs around like a loon on walks, but i have found i actually have to rest him a lot to get anything out of him for agility and flyball. My other 2 are often playing, and he used to joing in but he doesn't bother anymore. He seems fit and healthy enough, but i would like to have some Blood tests just to make sure. Mum reckons he is drinking more than usual, but it could be down to the increase in temperature. He also breathes quite fast when he sleeps some time, even though hes not been running around. My vet also runs the flyball and she seems to think its just him and hes just lazy. I'm sure he never used to be this bad before. Hes been competing for a couple of years now, it took a while to get him to focus on me. He was just starting to race properly at flyball over the winter and now at the last comepetion he just gave up completely.
He's been on autarky for a while, but if i could find something that would give him a bit more get up and go i would be willing to try it.

have you tried testing for thyroid problems?? A colleague has a springer who was very lethargic, now back to his old self now he's on medication for his thyroid....

I'm also wondering about Thyroid or maybe Heart?  (which could lead back to thyroid)  but it really doesn't sound like 4 year old springer's behaviour

If you really want to try changing his food, James Wellbeloved is medium priced and doesn't contain Maize (which is the main cereal in Autarky) Also Wainrights (from PAH) 

I would also be checking thyroid levels.  I would say that this sounds more like a health problem than the food.

It sounds odd but part of me would be glad if it was, because at least it would explain things a little more and would mean with treatment he would be a little brighter than he is now. Otherwise i may just have too accept that he is just too laid back for training. (Not that i would love him any less). He has always been a little odd, he is a shadow chaser, and although much improved with age and training, he does seem to go into a trance like state sometimes. Am i right in thinking thyroid problems can have an impact on aggressive behaviour too? I am definately leaning towards checking just for peace of mind.

I have springers for many years and one of mine was a shadow chaser & torch light chaser. My male springer i have now also seems to go into a trance esp when on his back legs in the air and a toy in his mouth - he's completely out of it and doesn't move. Never had any energy problems though.

The bitch springer i have runs like mad on her walks (well canters along with more of a plod compared to my male) she is slightly over weight and when i questioned thyroid to my vet siad its unlikely as they tend to get coat problems. I think he meant thining patches, she does not have this but is more sleepy than her mate.

Is your flyball in the new forest?

It took two years and a number of vets to finally say my grandparents boxer has thyroid problems and be willing to do tests!  Once on medication he really picked up!  But vets don't seem to like testing for it?

Also could tiredness and drinking more be a sign of diabeties?

With all that you are saying about him does sound thyroid or illness related.  Hope you get down to the bottom of things.

Thanks very much, i'm definately going to investigate it further.

Is your flyball in the new forest?
Yes in Brockenhurst. Our top team is currently 5th fastest in the country. (My collie's in that one though, not murphy!)

Make sure they do a full thyroid panel (i think they may need  to send it away to the USA), as the basic tests often don't show up the problem when if=n fact the dog is under-active.

Lethargy and patchy coat growth on flanks was what my Friend noticed with her two unrelated Dobermans, both had under-active thyroid.  As it was both they thought it had to be environment so changed food etc.  Once on correct doses of thyroid medication both lived to 13 years of age, good for Dobes.

Here is an article by Dr Jean dodds acknowledged expert on thyroid in dogs: http://www.nzymes.com/Articles/autoimmune_thyroiditis_by_Dr_Jean_Dodds.htm

Hi, thanks for all your help. Murphy went to the vets today and has a check up. He has a low grade urinary infection which we are treating with synulox, and a blood test revealed that he has a slightly low white blood cell count, which suggest that he has had a virus which has knocked his immunity, which would explain why he's been off colour for so long. So if anyone knows anything that can boost the immune system i would be very pleased to hear it!

Just had even more results through and he has loads of sruvite crystals in his urine, so if left untreated he could have got bladder stones. He's now going to start eating royal canin urinary prescription food. He must have been feeling really miserable poor boy. :-(

My god i feel like such a bad owner, a change in diet and a course of antibiotics and hes a different dog! He has started playing with the others and with toys again, and for the first time in months he greeted me at the door, got so excited that he started barking and grabbed a toy and started shaking it from side to side! He's definately got more energy now! :-)

Dont beat yourself up because your mind reading skills weren't working. Its all better now and you took him to the vet and paid so you are a very good Mum!!