HEMATOLOGICAL AND METABOLIC CHANGES IN RACING SLED DOGS DURING A TRAINING AND RACING SEASON .1. RESPONSES TO TRAINING

During a complete training and racing season (24 weeks), 12 racing sled dogs were studied for training-induced hematological and metabolic changes. On basis of digestible energy (DE), the diets contained protein, fat and carbohydrates at a ratio of 29.2: 53.7 : 17.1 (group A) and 34.1 : 48.5 : 17.4 (group B), respectively. Blood samples were taken under resting condition at the beginning of the training period and 7,20 and 24 weeks later. 21 blood variables were determined: packed cell volume, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, hemoglobin, total plasma protein, albumin, globulin, albumin:globulin ratio, free fatty acids, cholesterol, lactic acid, creatine phosphokinase, creatinine, ALT, AST, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium and chloride. The present study showed obvious typical hematological and metabolic changes during the progress of training. There were only negligible differences between the two diets.