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Post by EL Jay on Dec 2, 2009 17:18:15 GMT 10
Hello Tom
I have a dog that has had all bloods done, normal feed nutriants and looks a million dollars.
Sometimes very rarely maybe once every 2 months after a run, whether it was 150 meters or 600 he would get the staggers.
I try to keep him walking and Ive even had to give him "mouth to mouth" to revive him otherwise he would collapse. Now sometimes its bad and sometimes not so bad.
Ive spoken to some top name trainers, but I have been recommended to ask for your opinion.
Help plz Thanks Tom
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Post by Tom Meulman on Dec 2, 2009 18:48:48 GMT 10
Hi El Jay, Mate that is a difficult one, particularly if it does happen after an easy run such as 150 metres as well as after a 600 metre gallop. The most common reason for a dog to get the staggers after a run is because of lack of oxygen and/or blood supply to the brain causing dizziness and disorientation. However in your case if it has occurred even after a 150 metre run this is unlikely to be the cause. The only instance that I have ever been in a situation where one of my greyhounds appeared to be suffering from the staggers and almost seemed to be throwing a fit in the catching pen, turned out to be caused by the catcher doing the collar up one notch too tight after catching the dog. Because the neck of a greyhound swells such a large amount for the first five to ten minutes after a run, it can cause a massive reduction to both oxygen intake and blood supply to the brain if the collar is done up to its normal position directly after a run. The only other reason that I know off that makes greyhounds susceptible to both the staggers and throwing fits after a run, is a chronic shortage of Vitamin B1 in the body caused by having been unknowingly fed meat that contained large amounts of preservative, which destroys Vitamin B1. While I do not know if you do feed meat in the diet, or what type of meat is being used, however from the information in your post I believe this to be the most likely cause of the intermittent staggers being suffered by the dog. Because it is often quite difficult to know for sure what or how much preservative there is in the meat you buy regardless of what people tell you, and because of the dramatic effects that a lack of Vitamin B1 can have on a dog’s performance, I believe it is worthwhile to buy some 100mg B1 vitamin tablets from a chemist shop and to chuck one in the breakfast every day, if meat forms part of a greyhounds diet. For more information about the function of Vitamin B1 see: Vitamin B1Cheers, Tom
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