Page 78 - 4TH QUARTER 2017

DOG SPORT INJURIES

By Cris S. Pineda-Alcantara, DVM

ith the increasing number of people interested in getting into dog sports, as with

human sports and activities, injuries are bound to happen. The proper training,
practice and conditioning are important to make a successful dog athlete.

Injuries will be accidental or inevitable, some of the more common sport related injuries
will mostly be involving the bone, muscles, ligaments and tendons, aside from this dehydration
can also cause serious damage to a dog athlete.

Bone fractures can and will happen if we are not too careful. Foot pad lacerations and
puncture wounds
would be the most
likely of injuries to
occur. Small cuts due
to trauma on rough
surfaces may easily be
treated by the owner
just by cleaning the
wound and keeping
it clean until it heals.
Deep tissue lacerations
will most likely need
sedation and stitching.

Limb injuries are
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/dog-spies/do-dog-athletes-get-dog-injuries/
some of the most
common in sporting dogs. Some trauma may occur in the shoulder, elbow, down to the carpals
resulting in fractures, shoulder luxation, torn ligaments to osteoarthritis. The same goes for the
hindlimb, where hip dyslocations, patellar luxation injuries may be resolved with therapies or
surgery.

Unfortunately, even the smallest of injuries will require rest from the usual training, and
sport. Though in most cases whatever injuries that are incurred during the competitions, will
render the athlete immobilized for quite some time.

So, if you are thinking of going into dog sports, these are things that are to be considered.
That however simple it may seem, there is more to dog sports than meets the eye.

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