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            Download my referral form for equine and canine treatments below.  |
1st January 2007
Canine Pre and Post Event Preparation Canine Pre and Post Event PreparationBy Tace Allen It is so disheartening to see dogs pulled out of a car, queued up on a line and then put through a course of jumps, twists and turns with cold muscles and expected to do well or even win. A 100 metre sprinter or steeplechase runner would not dream of running a race with cold muscles, so why should we expect our dogs to do it. Of course as owners / handlers we must accept that putting our canine athletes into an agility scenario carries a higher risk of injury, so we must also accept responsibility for warming up and cooling down our dogs properly to reduce that risk. Like their human counterparts, canine athletes need to warm up, cool down and stretch in order to give their best performances. The ability to jump turn, bend and balance relies on comfort, good flexibility and joint range of motion. Tight and sore muscles coupled with limited joint mobility can have a serious impact on our dog's speed, agility and focus. Discomfort, distracts and discourages the movements which have previously resulted in pain. Injuries occur when a dog is not warmed up properly or has had insufficient recovery time in-between training sessions. A performance dog is more prone to injuries due to the stresses on their muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments. This all makes the preventative care so much more important. Massage is by far the best treatment for reducing muscle tension and recovery periods. Warming Up Warming up should be done in a slow rhythmical manner, gradually building up speed to actively warm up the target muscles required to perform effectively. Warming up the muscles increases the blood flow, reduces stiffness, increases waste product removal, keeps joints supple and counteracts tension. The increased blood flow allows the muscles to absorb nutrients more easily, and helps any injury present. Nerve impulses increase allowing the muscles to contract more readily allowing the dog to move and respond faster. A warm up should not tire the dog out but is used to warm up muscles ensuring suppleness and joint lubrication.
Stretching It is common to see people stretching their dogs on the line but it is probably the worst thing you could do if you are not experienced in it. It is all too easy to overstretch your dogs muscles, causing an injury detrimental to their health, which is why you should encourage an active stretch which is where the dog stretches themselves i.e. playing 'tuggie' where they stretch out the backs of their hind legs. In-between runs It is ok to put the dog back into the car / van in-between runs but allow them to have a brief spell of exercise to wind down slightly. If you warm up properly at the start of the day, the muscles have been primed for what is expected of them. The massage on the start line ensures the muscles are thoroughly warm, and will stay warm for about 15 minutes post massage as long as dog is still moving. Warm Down Warming down is important to cleanse the muscles of lactic acid that is produced when a muscle is used. It is very common to see agility dogs perform and then put straight back into the car and driven home. Imagine going for a run one day and how stiff you may feel the following day, now you can probably sympathise with how your dog feels the following day.
If the warm up and cool down procedure is performed religiously before, during and after competition, you as the owner will become more aware about your dogs body, and any injury will become apparent during its early stages which can be resolved more easily from a veterinarian or a qualified canine sports massage therapist. Legal Aspect The treatment of animals in the UK is controlled by The Veterinary Act 1966. Massage is considered a manipulative therapy, so always consult your veterinary surgeon before any treatment, as it is illegal for anyone other than yourself to treat your animal without the vet's approval. Complementary therapies are not a substitute for veterinary care; consult your vet if in doubt at all. Contraindications - When not to massage your animal Do not massage if your dog has:
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