COMMON INJURIES IN SPORTING DOGS

INTRODUCTION

Injuries are common in sporting dogs. However, research is lacking on the prevalence, types of injuries and risk factors for injury for most companion dog sports. The largest proportion of dog sport research exists for the sports of greyhound racing and endurance sled dog racing. There is also a large body of research evaluating injuries in working and military dogs. However, little is known about the increasingly popular companion dog sports. The majority of the research available on companion dog sports is based on retrospective, owner-based surveys which have many inherent limitations. The purpose of this discussion is to recognize the physical demands required for the various canine companion sports, review the most common injuries associated with different dog sports, and discuss the possible risk factors associated with injury in canine athletes.

AGILITY

            Agility is the most popular canine sport, which requires the dog to navigate a pre-set course of obstacles with the goal of completing the course in the correct order, with the fastest time, while making no errors. Obstacles include a variety of types of jumps, as well as A-frames, teeters/see-saws, dog walks, weave poles, tables, and tunnels. The speed and the large variety of obstacles and body movements required to navigate the course makes agility very physically demanding. A number of studies have been performed to evaluate biomechanics in agility dogs. Current studies have evaluated both kinematics (movement) and kinetics (forces) for some jumping-specific tasks and A-frame performance. No studies have evaluated the dog walk, teeter, tunnel, varying jump approaches/exits, course design, surface, or effect of handling on biomechanics. In addition, no studies have evaluated the relationship between agility biomechanics and injury.

Studies have shown that the frequency of injury in agility dogs ranges from 32% to 42%. The most commonly reported anatomic locations of injury are the shoulder, iliopsoas and back (particularly the low back). The majority of injuries reported fall under the general category of “soft tissue injury.” Of the known shoulder pathologies, biceps tendinopathy, medial shoulder instability and supraspinatus tendinopathy are the most frequently reported. The most consistent factors associated with increased risk of injury in agility dogs include the Border Collie breed and a higher weight to height ratio. Handler experience and level of competition also appear to be associated with injury risk.

FLYBALL

            Flyball is a relay race that involves jumping four hurdles, doing a swimmer’s turn off an angled box to grab a ball, and returning over the set of four hurdles to the start line. The distances between the components are set and do not vary. The angulation of the box, however, varies and is not set by the governing bodies. The height of the jumps is based on the smallest dog on the team. Because the course is not variable, the physical demands on the body are relatively more predictable, as compared to a sport like agility where courses vary at every competition. Initial biomechanics studies are underway and preliminary results have indicated that the angulation of the box does not appear to affect the impact forces, though the outside pelvic limb withstands higher forces than the inside pelvic limb during the box turn.

Three retrospective surveys have been conducted to determine common injuries in dogs competing in flyball, as well as possible associated risk factors for injury. These three surveys were conducted in different populations of dogs and injury rates were reported to be 23% over a year period and 39% over the lifespan of the dog. The most commonly reported anatomic locations for injury were distal limb (digits/pads, nails), shoulder, back/neck, and iliopsoas. Carpal injuries were uncommon in all surveys. The majority of injuries were reported to be strains/sprains, but further specifics were not noted. Risk factors correlated with increased injury included faster course times/speeds, age, and carpal wrapping. One study also suggested that a box angle of 45 to 55 degrees was associated with the highest injury risk, whereas steeper angles were actually associated with a reduced risk of injury, though there are confounding factors associated with this correlation. Additional research is needed to further evaluate the biomechanical stresses associated with flyball performance and risk factors associated with injury before any definitive conclusions can be made.

CANICROSS

            Canicross is a sport in which a human handler runs cross country attached to their dog, or multiple dogs. The human wears a specialized waist belt which is attached to a shock absorbing lead and connected to a pulling harness worn by the dog. The distance of canicross races can vary between 1 mile and 28 miles, and sometimes even longer. A single, small survey of 106 dogs was performed in 2015, to evaluate injury in dogs competing in canicross. This survey found that 22% of dogs had sustained one or more injuries. The most frequently reported category of injury was lacerations/abrasions/punctures, representing 45% of the reported injuries. These lacerations/abrasion/punctures were most commonly to the footpads (particularly of the thoracic limb). Sixteen percent of the reported injuries were muscle/tendon injuries, but details of the locations and types of muscle/tendon injuries were not specified. Risk factors associated with injury included the Labrador Retriever breed, dogs running with another dog, and dogs concurrently competing in agility.

OBEDIENCE/RALLY

Competitive obedience requires a dog to perform a series of exercises with high levels of precision and minimal and regulated verbal commands. Exercises include precision heelwork, position changes, several different jumping exercises, and multiple exercises that involve a dumbbell retrieve, among other exercises that include skills such as command discrimination and scent discrimination, depending on the level of competition. The most physically demanding exercises include the heelwork, jumping, and dumbbell retrieves, though the precision position changes require significant body awareness and movement control. Rally is similar to obedience, but tends to not be as formal and the handler can provide their dog more verbal feedback.

Heelwork is different than walking on a leash in the heel position and is very physically demanding. The dog must be at the handler’s left side and walk close to the handler’s left leg. Their head should be looking up and to the right toward the handler while performing a series of commands. The guidelines regarding heelwork include the following: the dog’s shoulder should be level with and close to the handler’s leg at all times. Performing in this unnatural position for extended periods of time has resulted in concern for injuries, and it is hypothesized that cervical injuries and left shoulder overuse injuries, such as supraspinatus tendinopathy, could result from heelwork. However, no studies have evaluated frequency, types of injuries or risk factors for injury in obedience dogs. Two studies have evaluated biomechanics of the heelwork position. The apparent neck angle shows a wide variation based on position, ranging from 97.2 degrees to 169.7 degrees. Vertical impulse and stance duration have been shown to be decreased in the forelimbs and increased in the pelvic limbs during heelwork as compared to normal walking, indicating a caudal weight shift. No studies have evaluated how these biomechanical changes are correlated with potential injury.

HERDING

            Herding is a competitive sport as well as a vital working dog activity. Some dogs only compete in herding competitions and do not actively work stock as a lifestyle, other dogs compete at trials while actively working stock as their daily job, and other dogs only work stock as their job and do not compete in trials. Physical demands vary widely based on terrain, property size, and type of stock. The current literature has only evaluated injuries in working farm dogs, not dogs actively competing in herding trials. While types of injuries are likely comparable between these different groups of herding dogs due to similar biomechanical stresses, frequency and risk factors associated with injury may not be equivalent.

            One study looked at musculoskeletal injury in New Zealand working farm dogs. In this study, 43% of dogs were reported to have musculoskeletal abnormalities. 29% of dogs had musculoskeletal abnormalities in the pelvic limbs and 20% of dogs had musculoskeletal abnormalities in the thoracic limbs. Of the pelvic limb musculoskeletal abnormalities, the hip represented the most affected anatomic location, followed by stifle, tarsus, then digits. Of the thoracic limb musculoskeletal abnormalities, the carpus was the most commonly affected anatomic location, followed by the elbow, shoulder, then digits. No details on type of musculoskeletal abnormality were reported. Risk factors associated with injury were not evaluated. Another New Zealand-based study reported that hip dysplasia, degenerative lumbosacral disease, gastrocnemius and calcaneal tendon injury, tarsal injuries and multi-ligamentous stifle injuries were common. Anecdotally, other common injuries reported in herding dogs include digit injuries, sesamoiditis, and gastrocnemius musculotendinopathy.

HUNTING TEST/FIELD TRIAL

            Hunt tests and field trials were developed to test a hunting dog’s abilities. The nature of the activity depends on the breed and type of hunting that breed performs (retrieving, pointing, flushing, trailing). No studies have evaluated overall frequency or types of injuries in dogs competing in hunt tests or field trials, though some studies have looked at specific injuries within defined populations. Anecdotally, injuries in this population of dogs include digit injuries, sesamoiditis, carpal injuries, and shoulder tendinopathies. One study evaluated cranial cruciate ligament disease in field trial Labrador Retrievers and found that the rate of cranial cruciate ligament disease was 12% in the surveyed population, compared to 5.8% of Labrador Retrievers within the general population.

OTHER DOG SPORTS

            Many other popular canine companion sporting events exist, such as dock diving, disc (frisbee), racing (Fast CAT), barn hunt, tracking/scent work, among others. These sports also have physical demands specific to the performance of that sport. However, there is currently no published research regarding injury frequency, types of injuries or risk factors associated with any of these sports. Biomechanical studies in these sports have also not been performed.

SUMMARY

            While injuries are thought to be common in sporting dogs, much remains to be determined about frequency, types of injury, and risk factors for injury in the canine companion sports. In the limited studies available, it appears that soft tissue injuries represent the majority of injuries across all companion dog sports. It is important to understand the physical demands of the various canine sports and the commonly associated injury patterns in order to best diagnose and treat these canine athletes.

REFERENCES

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