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Post by clare on Aug 21, 2011 4:38:16 GMT 10
greyhound bitch has started to struggle running the bends  , she has never had any problem before but last couple of races is pulling up on bends and her tails spins showing shes is less than comfortable i have had her to 2 muscle men and both have found muscles down but after treatment gave all clear she is running straights and lifting very well but i am lost with what to do now she is currently resting and i am trying massage and acupuncture but i am very nervous to put her back on track since i have no idea what is wrong with her...  |
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Post by Tom Meulman on Aug 21, 2011 12:33:53 GMT 10
Hi Claire,
To be able to understand why greyhounds run in a certain manner, it is essential to understand some basics about how certain injuries influence the way they gallop.
Firstly, a greyhound cannot take a bend unless the leg that carries the major portion of their body weight is on the ground, and keep in mind that during a full stride, only ever one of its legs is in contact with the ground at anyone time.
If you stood a greyhound with its front legs on one set of scales, and its hind legs on another set of scales you would find that two thirds of its body weight is carried on the front legs.
Therefore a greyhound cannot pivot its body weight in order to negotiate a bend unless it is able to fully place its own weight, plus the stresses incurred by inertia, on the one front limb that happens to be on the ground at that particular time.
If a greyhound cannot negotiate a bend comfortable the most common reason will be due to an injury in one or both front legs, and because the wrist joints, wrists and feet, and all their associated bones and ligaments are the weakest part of that whole structure, the injury or injuries that cause the inability to take a bend at full speed are most likely to be found in these areas.
The other area that will affect one or both front legs and that can cause a lot of pain when negotiating a bend, and that is severe muscle spasms to the base of the neck and/or the upper saddle area.
The possibility of this can easily be checked for by anyone by simply placing the index finger with the tip flat, between the base of the neck and the top of the shoulder blade, just forward of the tip of the blade, pressing down firmly, and sliding the finger forwards and backwards. If this area is affected, the greyhound will certainly show a considerable amount of discomfort.
There are of course a lot of other complications and severe injuries in other parts of the body that can also influence the way a greyhound negotiates a bend, however none as much as injuries in one or both of the front limbs.
Cheers,
Tom
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Post by clar on Aug 21, 2011 19:25:10 GMT 10
hi tom thank you very much for your reply i have checked the bitch over following your advice and cant get a squeak out of her seems to be no discomfort in areas you suggseted what do you recommend i do next, many thanks, Clare.
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Post by Tom Meulman on Aug 21, 2011 20:45:27 GMT 10
Hi Claire, It is simply not possible for a greyhound not to be able to negotiate a bend unless it has a very painful injury. Unfortunately it is just about impossible to describe in print how to really thoroughly check for injuries in most instances. I guess you would have read THIS post, however I would appreciate it if you could check the wrists as advised. It is also important to check the front of the wrist just below the radius, as the wrist bone in this area is prone to fracture. The other areas of concern are the sesamoids, particularly those in the rail side toes of the front feet, the flexor tendons of the wrist, an area known as the tuberosity of the radius that can fracture, and also the radial muscle tissue at its origin at the front inside of the forearm at the height of the elbow. The tip of a finger placed at the top of the long hollow between the muscle and the bone will soon find soreness if it this damaged. But then lets face it, a greyhound with a fractured hock or a broken fibula can’t get around a bend either.  Cheers, Tom |
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Post by clre on Aug 21, 2011 22:18:28 GMT 10
hi tom, thanks again, I have read link to post and re-checked areas still she has shown nothing she wasn't resisting or showing any discomfort, Is there anyone in the UK you could recommend i take her to see who could check her over for me (Australia is a bit far  ) someone that will be able to find out what is wrong? ? Thanks Claire |
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Post by Tom Meulman on Aug 22, 2011 7:51:39 GMT 10
Hi Claire, Unfortunately I'm not going to be able to help you there, however if you ask on THIS site about someone to check your girl for injuries in the UK within a reasonable traveling distance of where you live, you are more likely to get a positive response. Cheers, Tom |
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Post by clare on Aug 22, 2011 19:26:33 GMT 10
thank you for your help  |
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Post by Steve on Aug 22, 2011 20:52:25 GMT 10
Take her to see Robert Meek, he will diagnose the injury correctly.
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Post by claire on Aug 22, 2011 20:52:58 GMT 10
hi tom am sorry to bother you again I have had my dad over to check the dog for me as he stood directly behind the dog and lifted front left foot off the ground and placed finger in the pocket above the accessory carpal bone on the right and applied pressure she is shouting when he repeated on other side she is fine, so it seems there is an injury exactly where you said on the right, what would you suggest i do now Thank you for your patience with me (I am new to this) |
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Post by clair on Aug 23, 2011 19:31:36 GMT 10
hi tom,
just to add to that there is no swelling to the area.
Claire.
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Post by rayjones on Aug 26, 2011 0:27:42 GMT 10
You really need to get the dogs stopper bone xrayed,he could have a hairline fracture or a chip,a vet with a digital xray machine is best the results are much clearer.
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Post by claire on Aug 26, 2011 21:50:01 GMT 10
thanx rayjones,
I have booked her in for x-ray Wed I'll let you know how we get on.
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Post by Claire on Aug 27, 2011 8:42:07 GMT 10
If there was bone trouble wouldn't there be swelling? |
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Post by rayjones on Aug 27, 2011 9:11:35 GMT 10
If there was bone trouble wouldn't there be swelling? No,not necessarily,I had a dog with a hairline fracture of the stopper,he was quite lame but had no visible swelling. |
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Post by Claire on Aug 27, 2011 9:39:29 GMT 10
Oh! Ok, thanks again, I'm hoping it's not to serious and I can get her back to the track fit, I appreciate your help.
Claire.
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Post by claire on Sept 1, 2011 0:11:48 GMT 10
Hi Tom, I have had the bitch for an X-ray this morning (about the right wrist) and there is no bone damage, although the vet has found a small amount of arthritis on the p2 of the toe, she has prescribed Loxicom for this. I am still continuing the Iodised oil treatment for suspected acc. carpal ligament damage, do you have any advice for me on the arthritis, ie. if I should use anything before or after racing in the future THANKS. Claire. |
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Post by Tom Meulman on Sept 1, 2011 6:17:45 GMT 10
Hi Claire,
The arthritis in the toe joint should not be a major problem, and should be able to relieved by simply massaging a little iodised oil into the joint for a couple of days after each run. At the same time while rubbing the iodised oil into the joint you will soon find out if this is still causing pain, and this will then give you some idea if to continue treatments or not.
The Loxicom will of course also relieve the pain and inflammation caused by any other injuries the bitch may have as it is a systemic NSAID.
This in itself may be enough to get the girl to handle the bends again. However, if the problem with handling the bends reoccurs after two or three runs, then you will know that the original injury that caused the problem in the first place has still not been found and/or rectified.
Cheers,
Tom
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Post by Claire on Sept 1, 2011 8:49:52 GMT 10
Hi Tom,
Thanks, I will do that with the toe, I just want to know about accessory carpal ligament (She was showing discomfort when pressure was applied to the pocket above stopper) should the area be completely pain free (with pressure) after iodised oil treatment before gallops, handslips???
Claire.
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Post by Tom Meulman on Sept 1, 2011 9:28:29 GMT 10
Hi Claire,
The area should definitely be pain free before she runs again.
Keeping in mind that ligament injuries generally take three to four weeks to come good even with treatment, and if there is any bone involvement such as a small chip (difficult to see on most X-rays unless they are digital and taken just at the right angle) it can take up to six weeks.
After her first run repeat the treatment for at least two days before her next run.
Cheers,
Tom
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Post by Claire on Sept 2, 2011 9:23:38 GMT 10
Hi Tom, Thanks you have been a great help she is def not feeling it as much as she was so fingers crossed once treatment is finished the injury will be sorted, I would also appreciate your advice on using tens/ems unit I have bought, am I right in thinking I am to use it on muscles after ultrasound treatments to help muscles regain strength? I am unsure about how long to use it, for example how many minutes over how many days? Claire. |
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, she has never had any problem before but last couple of races is pulling up on bends and her tails spins showing shes is less than comfortable i have had her to 2 muscle men and both have found muscles down but after treatment gave all clear she is running straights and lifting very well but i am lost with what to do now she is currently resting and i am trying massage and acupuncture but i am very nervous to put her back on track since i have no idea what is wrong with her... 
) someone that will be able to find out what is wrong?