http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed...672977/related
Effect of postexercise carbohydrate supplementation on muscle glycogen repletion in trained sled dogs.

AuthorsReynolds AJ, et al. Show all Journal
Am J Vet Res. 1997 Nov;58(11):1252-6.

Affiliation
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of immediate postexercise carbohydrate supplementation on muscle glycogen (MG) repletion during the first 4 hours of recovery in sled dogs.

ANIMALS: 24 Alaskan Huskies.

PROCEDURE: Dogs were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups, and a muscle biopsy specimen was obtained 1 hour before and immediately (group A) or 4 hours (groups B and C) after a 30-km run. Immediately after exercise, dogs in group A and group C were given water; dogs in group B were given a glucose polymer solution (1.5 g/kg of body weight) in water.

RESULTS: At 4 hours after exercise, MG concentration was significantly greater in group-B than in group-C dogs; the value in group-C dogs was not different from the value in group-A dogs immediately after exercise. Assuming similar rates of glycogen depletion between treatment groups, during the first 4 hours of recovery, group-B dogs replaced 49% of the glycogen used during exercise. Plasma glucose concentration was significantly greater in group-B than in group-A and group-C dogs at 100 minutes after exercise.

CONCLUSIONS: Immediate postexercise carbohydrate supplementation in sled dogs leads to increased glucose concentration, which in turn promotes more rapid rate of MG repletion in the first 4 hours of recovery than is observed in dogs not given supplements.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For dogs running in multiple heats on a single day or over several consecutive days, immediate postexercise carbohydrate supplementation may promote more rapid and complete recovery between bouts of exercise.