Sore Chest Muscles | The Health of the racing Greyhound

Barry
Guest

Sore Chest Muscles Oct 4, 2010 23:18:07 GMT 10

Post by Barry on Oct 4, 2010 23:18:07 GMT 10

Hi Tom,
This is a problem that has went unnoticed in a dog that was running well.
First sign of a problem was the dog had blood running down into is left hock.It looked to be coming from the dogs stomack area
This was the next day after a trial in which the dog had performed better than he had before.I left the dog off for 6 weeks and checked him over he seemed fine.I then raced him where he finished second after drifting of the final bend and giving the race away.On checking there was still no sign of injury or no more blood came down.He was then trialed and he ran shocking wide on the bends giving a lot of ground away to be beaten 4 lenghts in a very good time.
This is where I should of stopped but I didnt.The dog was then entered in a race but i struggled to get him into traps then at trap rise low and behold the dog turned in the traps after his 15th race i nearly died.
I couldnt wait to get the dog back to a set of traps to see would he do it again and the following week I got another race for the dog.
I really struggled to get him into traps again and again he turned but righted himself before trap rise and jumped out two in front.He ran wide again after slowing for the bend and got beat.

I have left the dog off for two weeks and checking him today I noticed both his chest muscles are very sore he looks as if he is straining when walking but in a small area he has no problem running.He has also no problem flexing his front legs and seems otherwise fine.

I understand it should of never got this far and it is probably my own fault.
No the questions....
Do you think the dog could of torn a muscle in his chest when the blood flowed into his hock ?
Why would the tear not of bleed out again after the other runs.
He has great drive from his back end but looks stiff on his front end.He has no wrist problems or shoulder problem and would the sore chest muscle make him run wide.?
Do you think the dog knew this is going to hurt and thats why he decided he would turn in traps after never showing signgs of it in schooling or 15 races ?

This dog allways had a problem at staying but if you gave him 2 quick runs the dog would find 60 spots in time if you left him for two weeks he would seem stiff again and lose the 60 spots again.I have allways suspected that they was something just not right and just went along with it as the dog was running well.

I know you cannot see the dog and he will be assesed by a professional I am just looking for some ideas as to what is wrong.

Thanks.
Barry

Tom Meulman
Administrator

Posts: 1,183

Sore Chest Muscles Oct 5, 2010 5:31:33 GMT 10

Post by Tom Meulman on Oct 5, 2010 5:31:33 GMT 10

Hi Barry,

It certainly sounds like the dog has multiple problems.

Firstly the original injury that caused the fluid in the left hock area would have been caused by torn muscle tissue somewhere up high on the inside of the left hind limb. This would have most likely involved either the groin muscle (Pectineus), the top of the back muscle (Gracilis) or the top of the inside thigh muscle (Medial Vastus).

Muscle fibre damage in any of those areas would have caused blood to have run down to the hock as well as blood spreading into the stomach area.

In relation to the current symptoms such as the dog resisting going into the traps and turning around in there are all indicative of a greyhound that knows running around the track is going to hurt and does not wish to take part. This indicates to me that the original muscle damage to the top of the hind limb may still be causing the dog some discomfort.

That brings us to the pain in both chest muscles; the most likely cause of acute pain in either one or both chest muscles without visible tissue damage is pinches nerves in the base of the neck where it joins the upper spine. Pinched nerves in this area will also cause a stiffer gait in the front legs and is likely to make the dog run off on the bends.

This would have most likely to have been caused when the dog turned in the trap on both occasions, as this action would certainly cause muscle spasms in that area.

Hot towels to the base of the neck and in between the top of the shoulder blades plus deep massage between the shoulder blades and the base of the neck, and some gentle manipulation may relieve those problems. But it is certainly essential that the dog is thoroughly examined to ensure that the original injury is no longer causing problems, and to rule out other muscle, ligament or bone problems that may be affecting the greyhound.

Cheers,
Tom

Everything that happens to a greyhound can only happen because of an action or inaction by its carer, so don’t blame the greyhound when it all goes wrong.

Barry
Guest

Sore Chest Muscles Oct 6, 2010 6:19:18 GMT 10

Post by Barry on Oct 6, 2010 6:19:18 GMT 10

Hi Tom,
Thanks for your advice.I have checked him over again and he is sore on both sides of his balls.It is like the second muscle in on the inside of the leg.It is quite high up and when you hit the right spot the dog would hit the roof.It seems like the pectineus ok but I have experience of this injury before with a different dog and it seems a little different than then.
The last time I had this injury it was three months solid phiso twice daily but it did work in the end.

Thanks again.