FIRST AID FOR THE RACING GREYHOUND by Dr Chris Petzel BVSc - Technical Services Manager, Virbac (Australia)
Greyhounds are the pinnacle of athleticism in the canine world. However it is this very trait that exposes them to injuries of varying severity every time they run. Muscle, tendon, ligament, joint and bone injuries are extremely common in racing greyhounds. They account for more lost training days and below expected performance than any other disorder or disease. Additionally their famously thin and elastic skin often results in wounds larger than you would naturally expect. Serious injuries sustained during a race will be the responsibility of the attending veterinarian. If, however, your Greyhound injures itself whilst schooling or in the yards, then the initial care and attention quite often falls at your feet. It is the purpose of this article to provide the reader with some basic guidelines for greyhound first aid. First Aid Kit Every trainer or owner should have a portable first aid kit available for emergency situations. A suggested and economical kit would consist of: Cotton wool roll x 1 Cotton gauze bandages of varying widths Flowrap® an elastic adhesive bandage with water-repellent properties. 1 x 7.5cm roll. and/or Vetrap® a reusable elastic bandage that stretches and sticks only to itself, not to hair or skin. 1 x 10cm roll. Antiseptic such as Chlorhexidine or Iodine. Splinting materials such as tongue depressors or ice block sticks. Scissors/knife Bucket This collection would form an absolute minimum for a first aid kit and any additions suitable to individual needs can be made. Emergency Care Greyhounds have a very stoical nature so when dealing with one that has just injured itself it helps to assume that it may be in pain and not showing any outward signs. It is, therefore, very important to approach the injured dog as calmly and reassuringly as possible to prevent further injury to the dog or yourself. The following should be considered when administering emergency care: Control Bleeding - Apply finger pressure or pressure bandage with cotton wool/gauze over the site of bleeding. Placing the gauze between the wound and the cotton wool will result in an absorptive bandage whilst preventing wound contamination with cotton wool fibres. Allow 1 hour for blood to clot before removing any bandages. Avoid Infection - After bleeding stops the wounds should be flushed and cleaned with an antiseptic solution. Diluted Iodine, Chlorhexidine or other personal antiseptic solutions will provide adequate temporary protection. This will help remove dirt and bacteria from the wound. Stabilise Fractures - If a broken bone is suspected it is advisable to get your dog to your vet as soon as possible. Fractures are very painful and until they are stabilised will be a cause of suffering for your greyhound. Prompt veterinary attention will optimise recovery and future athletic potential by minimising tissue damage and muscle loss. Minimise Swelling - Injuries involving muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints and bone will result in inflammation. This is classically seen as heat, swelling, pain and loss of function. Applying a Sea Minerals® Ice Pac or cool water baths can reduce inflammation. Cold should be applied for 10-15 minutes and repeated hourly. If the wound or injury is extensive, or the dog is in significant pain then prompt veterinary attention is needed to reduce the severity of the condition and to rule out hidden complications. If in doubt it is always better to consult your veterinarian before attempting to treat wounds/injuries yourself. Skin Wounds - Although there are many types of wounds they must all undergo similar stages in healing. The duration of any stage will vary with the wound type, management, infection and other physical factors. There are four major stages in wound healing after a deep skin wound. Inflammation - Therapy is aimed at minimising inflammation/swelling and relieving pain. Sea Minerals Ice Pacs may be of benefit to limit bleeding and the detriment of inflammation. Wound cleansing - The immune system attempts to clean the wound and remove any foreign material, including bacteria, from the wound. Adequate emergency care taken to ensure minimal wound infection will assist in this stage. Repair - This is where the skin and tissue cells begin growing and is the most critical stage. Products such as Sea Minerals Dermal Spray/Ointment may benefit this stage in by preventing secondary infection whilst encouraging the growth of new cells. Septicide can also be used to prevent irritation and infection spread by flies. Supplementation with Feramo-Greyhound is recommended as zinc and vitamins A and C are essential to aid in collagen and tissue repair. Maturation - This is the final stage of healing. It is during this stage that tissues align and wound strength increases. With most tissue types the wounded area never regains 100% strength, however by optimising the healing process by using good wound care management, you can keep this deficit to a minimum. Musculo-Skeletal Injuries The key to treating muscle, tendon, ligament, joint and bone injuries is prompt and appropriate first aid and the use of anti-inflammatory agents to help minimise tissue damage, inflammation and scar tissue formation. This can be achieved by following a modified form of RICE, as developed for human athletes. Rest - It very important to ensure that your greyhound has a sufficient period of rest to allow it to recover from its injury. This length of time will vary greatly depending on the type and extent of injury. The worst thing a trainer can do is bring a dog back into work before the injury has had a chance to heal. This will only prolong the recovery time and potentially cause the injury to develop into a chronic state. Once an injury becomes chronic it is very hard to correct due to muscle loss/imbalance and scarring. Ice - Cold therapy is essential as a first line of attack to limit soft tissue bleeding and swelling. Sea Minerals Ice Pacs or cold water hosing, for 10-15 minute periods every hour, should be utilised for the first 36-48 hours. This will also help relieve pain and muscle spasms. Compression - Compression bandages, such as Flowrap or Vetrap, can be used to hold ice packs in place and can be applied in between ice treatments to limit swelling. Heat - Tissue bleeding is usually controlled within 36-48 hours after injury.   After this time heat therapy can be used to promote tissue healing and reduce pain.   Heat therapy will also reduce joint stiffness, relieve muscle spasm and improve mobility. Remember that heat therapy should not be commenced for 36-48 hours after the injury has occurred to avoid further bleeding and fluid accumulation. Anti-inflammatory Agents - A wide range of anti-inflammatory injections and tablets are available through your veterinarian. These will be prescribed after veterinary treatment of fractures or severe soft tissue injuries. For less severe injuries, topical liniments are quite suitable.  DermcusalÒ is a unique liniment that is very effective in treating racing injuries such as tendon and ligament sprains, shin soreness, joint problems and arthritis. It contains copper-salicylate complex and DMSO, which are known for their anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. The DMSO carries the copper-salicylate complex into the blood stream and as such will help with multiple sites of inflammation eg arthritis. NB: There is a minimum race-withholding period of 168 hours (7days) after Dermcusal use. Injury Prevention Injuries are inevitable in any athletic animal however the following management hints should help to reduce the frequency of injury: Always ensure that greyhounds are warmed up well before galloping particularly during cold weather.  Pay particular attention to muscles or limbs that have had a previous soft tissue injury. Make sure that the dog is healthy, fit and prepared for the distance over which it is to be raced. Watch closely for signs of injury during races or trials.  Obvious lameness is not hard to detect, however many injuries are initially low grade and the greyhound may not actually appear lame. Look for subtle signs of a low grade injury such as a poor jump out of the traps, uncharacteristically slow acceleration, drifting or running out on bends, change of driving leg during galloping or changes to galloping posture such as a raised head or tail. Examine each greyhound carefully after each gallop for signs of injury.  Always consult your vet if an injury is severe or you require advice on diagnosis or management of the problem. Feed a well balanced diet with adequate calcium and trace minerals and vitamins to ensure that the ration contains the necessary building blocks for strong bones, tendons and ligaments.  Supplements such as Feramo-Greyhound and Calci-D will make up short falls of these nutrients in the diet. Remember: apply prompt first aid if an injury does occur. It is important to identify and treat musculo-skeletal and skin injuries as soon as possible to avoid them becoming more serious or long lasting.