I have a dog that is coursing wide and losing lengths on the turns but makes up ground in the straights. I had him checked over and all was aok but it was noticed that one of his testicals was up in his gut. It's not visable nor can you feel it until he is laid on his side. Could this be the reason for him running off on the turns? Any help or advice would be appreciated.
Unfortunately an un-descended testicle where one is caught in the groin high on the inside of the hind leg is a fairly common problem.
These are routinely removed because it is a simple operation, and there is a chance that if it enlarges it may then interfere with the galloping action of the dog, or may become cancerous in the long term.
However in most instances, a small un-descended testicle that is caught in this position is unlikely to make any real difference to the galloping action of the dog either up the straight or around a turn.
Just about every case where a greyhound slows down on the turn, or runs wide and seems to scatter around the turn is caused by an undiagnosed injury.
The most common cause is damaged accessory carpal ligaments on the left wrist joint, with quite often similar damage but to a lesser extent to the right wrist.
Other common reasons can be: damaged ligaments to the right hock - hairline fracture to the base of the Ulna where it joins the left wrist - an extremely severe muscle spasm to the base of the neck and the top of the right shoulder that interferes with the Radial nerve of the right shoulder - or a severe misalignment of the L6/L7 and/or L7/S1 segments of the lower spine that causes severe pain when driving pressure is placed on the right hind leg.
You can check for these problems yourself to ensure one or more have not been missed by the person that checks your greyhound for injuries.
Damaged accessory carpal ligaments: straddle the dog, lift the left leg just off the ground, bend the left wrist to 90 degrees, place the thumb of your left hand in the hollow of the wrist behind the stopper bone and try and push the stopper bone towards the toes.
You should not get anymore than 1mm of movement in the stopper bone, nor should there be any pain. Repeat the procedure to the right wrist joint.
Hairline fracture to the base of the Ulna: straddle the dog, lift the right leg just off the ground with your right hand, and then place pressure on the base of the left Ulna by placing your left index finger in the hollow of the left wrist under the Ulna and your thumb on the top of the Ulna and rock your thumb backwards and forward.
There should not be any pain, nor should the dog be trying to put its right foot back on the ground to try and relieve the pain in the left wrist. Repeat the procedure to the right wrist.
Severe muscle spasm to the base of the neck and right shoulder: straddle the dog, place the index finger of your right hand between the top of the shoulder blade and the lower base of the neck and while pressing down rock your finger backwards and forward.
There should not be any pain or discomfort, nor should the dog be collapsing through its right front leg.
Severe misalignment of the L6/L7 and/or L7/S1 segments of the lower spine: place the side of your left thumb between the L6 and L7 spinal segments and press down on your left thumb with your right thumb.
There should not be any pain nor should the dog be collapsing under the pressure. Repeat the procedure to the space between L7 and S1.
If you do find any of these injuries, all I can say is its time to find someone else to check your greyhounds.
Cheers,
Tom