need water bad!

[Alabama Cathunter]

This is my first time trying to post on here but I will do the best I can for a beginner. Dont know what kind of conditions you all are having to hunt in but in south Alabama it is extremly dry but I had a 2 hr cat race saturday mourning that really did this cat hunter lots of good If I had not brought water the dogs would not have been able to do the job they did They jumped the cat at 5:30 am no water in the woods what so ever with in 30 minutes dogs were coming around trying to get back on the front end of the race. I had 6 trained dogs and 4 pups 8 months old it was their first wild cat In this heat and humidity it does not take much time and dogs need water in a hurry! Any body that hunts in the south knows you can kill dogs in this kind of heat. After about 30 minutes dogs were coming buy the truck trying too get back in the race I would give them water then those dogs would get back in the race and some off the other hounds would come buy and I would give them water. well they taged in and out of the race for the better part of the race but it was your regular cat race with walker fox hounds. The last 30 minutes of the race the puppies finally got in their and got them some of it It was truly a war. After a good cat race it will make you want too start raising more puppies. Good hunting everyone

[Alabama Cathunter]

I realize I didnot say that after 2 hrs they did catch her! It is a shame that a wildcat cant run for 3 or 4 hrs all that ducking and dodgeing sure makes excitement for some puppies, the old dogs have it a while then the pups will have it.

[dwalton]

The guys that hunt in the dry season where there is no water understand how important water is. Dogs can not work a track when they over heat and water is the key to not over heating. It is good to see someone that carries water for the dogs. I have stopped the dogs and water them, give them a hour break to cool down and go and catch the cat. I over heated a dog a couple of weeks ago in the California desert on a hard running bob. We treed the cat and when I got there one of the dogs went into a seizure, I had water with me and poured it on the tongue and month to cool him down and he came out of it . I think it is important to keep the dogs hydrated in the summer with water and electrolytes before hunting them. It is tough to tree bobs in the summer months but when you do you know that you have cat dogs and it will be easy when the cool season comes. In the hot dry summer Is about the only time I hunt at night because it is cooler and the dogs can do better. Dewey

[floridacathunter]

Hey Alabama cat hunter, we been real dry in Florida, too. Its raining in S.W. Florida right now. I hope we are getting some in North Fl, also. Major problem is, usually, any water in our woods has a gator in it. I wish they would open season on them,so we could do like Troy on TV, and "shoot em Lizabeth". Glad you are having some running. Over the years, we have lost several hounds and cow dogs from getting to hot. A good Veternarian told me if you can submerge the whole body of an overheated dog in water it wont hurt them. He said if their internal heat gets too high and stays up long enough to kill the digestive organisms in their stomach they almost always die. I havent tried it. Might want a second opinion. Hope this might help. Give me a call when you can. John I'll hush now.

[Alabama Cathunter]

Mr. John, If any body knows about the importance of keeping them cooled down you do!We are completly dry> Some people about 2 miles from the house caught about a six ft gator in there yard last week. Places are dry that I have not ever seen dry in 45 years of hunting, The gators and snakes are crawling trying to find water.As long as I live I will never forget our hour and fortyfive minute cat race that mourning! Good hunting!

[Dads dogboy]

AL Cat Hunter,

Mr. Robert, thanks for calling Dad today. Talking on the phone to his friends and fellow Cat hunters is one of his High Points for the Day!

Glad that you had a good Race. Your Breeding program and starting the pups properly is paying dividends. You tell a good story so keep us posted when you have another good race.

Mr. John, you know ALCat Hunter from up our way as he is a very good friend of Martin Sewell.

For all the Hunters who are running Hounds in these Hot Dry conditions, here is something that the VACathunter turned us onto:

Rehydrate the Electrolyte Sports Drink for Dogs -
REHYDRATE is designed to give canines a more effective hydration system than drinking plain water.

http://www.rehydratetabs.com

We mix one tab in 2 1/2 gal of water. 10 Hounds will drink over 7 gals of water after a Race here in AR right now. Using this product and hauling 20+ gals of water is the only way that we are able to have more than one Race per day.

Good Running to All!

C. John Clay

[amos]

Alabama Cathunter, what part of Alabama do you live? I live near Troy.

[BLOODY REDBONES]

floridacathunter i don't know what vet said to submerge a dog thats over heated from runing cats or any game into water. but a over heated dog can go into shock or get amonia and die that day/nite. as dads dogboy said use sport drinks if you have it or cool the dogs down slowly. do not use cold water.not trying to be a ahole just trying to help save a dog. i have seen this happen a many of times. luckly for me theres lots of water in md,pa and coast nc where i run.

[floridacathunter]

Bloody Redbones, thanks for your reply. I Believe our goals are the same. That is to help our hounds and fellow hunters. The Vet that told me to submerge an over heated dog, did so as we were working on a cur cowdog that had trailed up and bayed a small bunch of cattle. We had to ride more than a mile to get to a gate to get to her. When we got within voice range and got her stopped, she collapsed. My son rode hard, through rough woods ,,to our truck and got water. When he returned, I poured water on the dogs feet and ankles, also in her mouth. I was afraid to wet, or cool her down to quickly. When I expressed my concern to the Vet, about cooling her too fast, was when he said it probably would'nt have done any more harm to have put in water. His main concern, in this case, was reducing the dogs core temperture, as soon as possible. This dog was gasping for air and unable to lap much water. In this case I don't believe we could have gotten enough electrolytes in her to have helped. This valient little gyp died later that night, as the result of her desire to do her job in spite of all hardships. Over the years, I've seen a lot of hot dogs, lay down in water, swim out in ponds and jump into water troughs, to cool off. I sure don't have any answers. I wanted to more clearly explain the circumstances surrounding this Veterinarian's reccommendation. He is a good man and I believe, a good Vet. Sorry for long post I'll hush now

[Alabama Cathunter]

To CJC and mr John, and everybody that has responded thank you! I cannot tell a story like cjc nor am I a good speller I just like to hear a good cat race as often as possiable when I cant a grey fox will have to scratch the itch! I live in Dothan Al. where we do a lot of row croping. We donot have the big woods and high numbers of cats that a lot of you have so we just do the best we can. I start my puppies in my 40 acre fox pen I break them off of deer and break them to the truck horn and load in the pen. Having those deer in ther sure helps cause he cant run those deer but about 3 to 5 min before the thunder and lighting comes down around his neck. 2 or 3 teatments is all it usually takes but I hunt with only broke dogs and that helps not too temp them. After you do that a while you could not put them in waterhose spray them on A DEER. wELL THANK YOU GOOD LORD for the two and one half inches of rain we got last night I feel another hunt coming on for saturday mourning. The hunter that lives in troy give me a call 334-7932679 my home is 334- 6773206 cell 334-7148406 My name is Robert Martin the first # is my work # good hunting everyone!

[floridacathunter]

Hey Robert glad you got some rain. It always comes at the end of the dry spell, and we never quit needing it before we get it. Hope you have good hunts. I'll hush now. John

[Rod Vinson]

I worked with a Vet when I was in High School because my plans were to go to Vet school but I got tired of school and never finished, anyway we had a dog come in that had gotten too hot and he sent me to get some bags of ice and we put the dog in a bath with cold water and ice. He said you need to quickly get the temp. down on a dog. The dog lived and so did several more we did that way in the 3 years I worked with him. This time of the year I like to run foxes (especially young foxes in soybeans) to get my dogs in shape so when cat season comes in they will be ready. I lost a dog in a big bay last week that got to hot before I could get her up. I always carry about 35 gals of water and on the way I stop and get gas,drinking water and drinks, I always take some ice and put in the buckets and tank to the water will be cold. When I load the dogs after a race or see some needing water during the race I put them in the truck and wet them down good then recast or drive down the road to get the breeze to blow in on them and get them cooled off. I know this was lengthy but hope this helps. It is dry in parts here in NC as well and not much water in the ditches in the woods.