dexa pre match

Dex was a mainstay some years back and it was one of the things that was a must.

What I found, and this is just personal experience, is that every dog reacted differently. If one were to read the older written keeps that show use 2CC's, then 1CC, the 1/2CC as show time approaches, it never factors in the weight of a dog. 2CC's to a 55lb dog is way different than 2CC's to a 35 pound dog.

In my experience the dog's weight must be correct with him having his right amount of muscle, right amount of fat and right amount of water. What often happens is that the amount of fat is off and the water weight is correct. Dex will then lower the dog's total weight to the desired number but the dex will lower his water weight, which was correct prior to its use.

This means the dog is hung on the scale and makes weight but he has a lesser water content and he will soon tie up and blow hot. So many dogs have blown hot and it is always the steroids or the B-12 or the carpet mill or the whatever/whatever, when in fact it is the water content was missed as the dog was dialed the last 30-42 hours.

If the dog is properly fed and properly watered he will piss and shit himself really close to where he needs to be water wise. The problem I found with DEX is that the final draw can be excessive and I am compensating for the mistake I made in muscle-fat-organ-skin-hyde total weight by making a last minute adjustment to water weight.

The intended use of DEX as an anti-inflmmatory/cortica-steroid is very effective and its use in the treatment of shock can be lifesaving. Using it just prior can indeed limit some swelling and inflammation but at the same time I have seen dogs I thought we dulled down by the DEX. I read an article once and for the life of me I can't remember where and I have googled a ton times searching but...as a cortica steroid DEX will work, muscles that flex pull in blood and blood is transporting oxygen/ (the article went into 'MAX VO2' and "ATP/ADP", etc. but said when the muscle swelling is limited the blood passages and oxygen transfer is then limited. When DEX works it can limit the efficiency of blood/oxygen transfer. Basically having that muscle "pump" is reduced. Dogs can go in spurts but the spurts are short lived and the time between spurt to spurt gets longer and longer and there is no sustained delivery.

I'm not that deep into the science but I can see where there could be some truth to that theory but I am certainly not smart enough to attempt to debunk it. I will look for the article again.

S

 

I have seen a few US1's Chloe (1XW/1XL) react to the use of dex in a negative way, damn near to the point it was more of a sedative. She was a nut job of a dog and always on the go, always after something that was moving. After DEX she mellowed right out for a couple of hours, almost to the point we said she looked like she was high.

So I cut her weight down, and did what little work she would do and as always she was bouncing off the walls. Til the DEX. And she calmed down, damn near mellow.

She is the dog that made me question its value. I had been using it because I was always told it was the way things were done. I was a good little sheep and followed right along.

When Chloe needed DEX for anti-inflammatory reason I cut her dosage by more than half and it worked wonders for her in that regard and still dropped water weight.

From there I eased off of it as a psrt of the final days of prep.


S

 

Understanding 1/2 life is of the utmost importance. Then the importance of blood work. Then hydration.

And understand the line of success is the width of a razor blade.

Move off that line in either direction and its a lot more simple to knock him in the head and mail the money as it will save you gas and time.

But best of luck.

S

 

1/2 life is like it was posted up above and it is where over-dosing comes in to play. Medicines have half life and that is why they are prescribed in amounts per dose and the duration of dosage so there is a certain amount in the body over a certain period of time in order attain a certain objective.

Blood work for said drug is most important because understanding what is there can dictate how much the next dose should be but most do not use blood work on the regular. Most, over whelming majority, and I repeat the overwhelming majority, fuck the dog up with their use.

Drug XXX has a 10 day half life. On Monday he is given 2CC's (just a number for the math). 5 days later he will have app. 1CC worth remaining in the system. He doses again on Day 5 and he will have 3CC's in the system and the 1CC from the first dose is fading at a faster rate that the second dose of 2CC's. So five days later and five days later. So the math gets really complicated and at the end of the day does not really mean anything, because....

Every dog's metabolism is different. Even from keep to keep as they age tings change. The steroids were designed for slow moving large bodied animals. Any one ever seen a horse or a bull that is in constant motion like a bulldog? Nope.

Do they work? Absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt. When the dog lands perfectly square on the cutting edge of that razor blade it is something to behold. I would not say they can't be beat but I will say in order for them to lose they have to quit on top.

Getting it right, understanding the half life, spending $$$$ in weekly blood work, getting real lucky......it is a lot on the line.

S