Clean Run Magazine - March 2010 - 71

injury and the surgery/rehab that has been undertaken to date, start by designing a program that begins with the components of the sports that are least stressful to the dog’s body and are best able to protect the dog from re-injury. Then gradually progress to more complex physical requirements of the sports, always keeping in mind how you plan to monitor the dog to assess whether the retraining program needs revision. This can happen with dogs that are so driven in agility that they risk re-injury, because the dog is just progressing more slowly than expected, or because other injuries surface that were masked by the more urgent injury. Depending on the injury, it takes approximately two to three months of retraining (three to four training sessions a week) to go from pet-level fitness to agility competition, although this is highly variable depending on the dog. Since sharp turns, slipping, and movements involving extension and/or abduction of the rear leg would increase the chances of re-injury, Risky started with 8" jumps, tunnels and tables in straight lines or wide curves with a maximum of six obstacles and only 5- to 10-minute training sessions for the first two weeks of sports retraining. Kathy was advised to ice his groin for 20 minutes after each training session during the entire sports retraining period. In addition, Risky was given exercises to increase the strength of his lower back and rear legs, as well as proprioception exercises to tone up his knowledge of rear foot placement. For the next two weeks, he worked with 12" jumps with up to 90° turns. The chute and teeter were now included in the training sequences and up to 10 obstacles were included in a sequence. Training sessions could now be 15 minutes, including breaks to change obstacle configurations. Next, he progressed to 16" jumps with occasional wide 180° turns, use of the A-frame and tire, up to 12 obstacles, and 20-minute training sessions for two weeks. In the final two weeks, jump heights were increased to his competition height of 20", but only 25% of the jumps were at that height. The dogwalk and weave poles were added and Risky could train for up to 30 minutes with relatively normal course sequences. Kathy was advised to be sure that the footing where she trained was absolutely slip-proof and provided a soft landing to help prevent future injuries. Risky went on to a complete recovery and qualified for the Nationals the next year. D M. Christine Zink, DVM, PhD, a veterinary sports retrainer and consultant on canine fitness, has authored many books and DVDs on the care and training of the canine athlete. Her latest book, The Agility Advantage, published by Clean Run, was released in January 2008. Dr. Zink runs a Border Collie and a Norwich Terrier in agility. Contact her via www.caninesports.com. Debra Canapp, DVM, CCRT, CVA, practices veterinary rehabilitation at the Veterinary Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group (VOSM) in Annapolis Junction, Maryland, with her husband Dr. Sherman Canapp. She lectures on current techniques in veterinary rehabilitation to veterinarians, agility groups, police, and search and rescue groups throughout the United States. and ARE THERE OBSTACLES to your athlete’s performance? If so, we will make a diagnosis quickly and accurately, getting your teammate back on course. Veterinary Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Group (VOSM) is the gold standard in quality Veterinary Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitative Care. We have the resources to provide the best, most advanced care in the nation for agility dogs. Call us today, or visit www.vosm.com to learn more. • • • • • • SportS Medicine Gait analySiS SySteM arthroScopic & orthopedic SurGery Sport Specific rehabilitation & retraininG hydrotherapy pool & underwater treadMillS board certified SurGeonS & certified rehabilitation therapiStS 10975 Guilford Road Annapolis Junction, MD 20701 410.418.8446 March 10 | Clean Run

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Clean Run Magazine - March 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run Magazine - March 2010