Clean Run - June 2011 - 34

toms were the number two reason for physician visits. Muscuioral issues may appear (ear pinning at gait transitions, tail loskeletal symptoms include pain, ache, soreness, discomfort, swishing, bucking, rearing, hypersensitivity to leg pressure, and cramps, contractures, spasms, limitation so on). These changes may be subtle but of movement, stiffness, and weakness. are felt and noticed by experienced riders. As a young athlete develops More than one in four Americans has a Finding out why changes in gait, jumping (horse or dog) it is important musculoskeletal impairment. Back or knee form, or behavior may be occurring keeps injuries are the most prevalent musculoskequine veterinarians busy in daily practice. to gradually build strength eletal impairments.” If this is occurring in Our job is to find the answer. Sometimes and maintain flexibility. humans, where the majority of us are not the answer to the problem is many layers Compensatory injuries occur athletes, then why do we not consider that deep. It is like peeling an onion, layer by when young athletes are pushed too these types of symptoms may be occurring layer, unraveling the pain and compensain our agility dogs? In horses and dogs I tion until you reach the primary source. quickly to do a job that their body see muscle and fascia soreness and tension Even then it is hard to determine whether structure is not ready to handle. daily. When either are present, the body it is primary or just secondary to another Repetition is good when used moves and functions differently. The body compensatory problem. It is a challenge correctly. But if used incorrectly will always compensate for pain or sorethat we as veterinarians would love to have ness. It will move differently, bear weight a cookbook recipe for diagnosis and treator obsessively it can create many differently from one limb to another, stand ment. None of us individually have all the lameness problems down the road. differently, bend one way but not another, answers. It is always a team effort that inbut still move from point A to point B. cludes many specialists in the veterinary world, the owner, the trainer, and rehabilitation specialists. In horses the rider can use many “aids” (crops, whips, spurs, and so on) or intimidation to make a 1000-1400 lb. animal Commonly Seen Changes in Jumping Style take a jump. If lameness issues that have not been addressed Most agility dogs that love the sport will attempt to take a are present, however, there comes a time when horses will start jump whether they leave long (meaning from far away from refusing to jump due to pain no matter what aid the rider may the jump and off the front end), or deep (meaning from the use. Initially there is a change in the “feel” of the horse to the base of the jump and off the hind end), use a short stride (quick experienced rider. There may be stiffness from one side of the steps right before the jump), or simply jump through (crash) body to another in bending, or gait abnormalities and behav-

Fabulous Fun!

Hands-on Workshop on Canine Structure and Movement by Chris Zink, PhD, DVM

Saturday and Sunday August 13 and 14, 2011
Held at The Clarion Inn in

Grand Junction, Colorado
On the beautiful western slope of the Rocky Mountains Co-sponsored by Sue Sternberg and Tiara Rado Animal Hospital

Designed for puppies and dogs at any skill level, the Foundation Fundamentals program will help your clients build the skills their dogs need before starting obstacle training, as well as help them develop their dog training skills.

This two-day intensive workshop is a mix of lecture, video, and hands-on analysis of structure and movement. Chris Zink is an icon in the dog world. She has much knowledge to share and we owe it to our dogs to learn what she can teach us. Working spots still available! Have your dog’s structure analyzed!
For more info: sue@suesternberg.com
Clean Run | June 11

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Clean Run - June 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - June 2011