Laurie's Blogs.

Hi Laurie!  Sorry to bother you do quickly again! My hospital manager has a very high level flyball dog - 4 yr old whippet. Acutely lame 3 weeks ago at competition . First evaluation by her revealed nothing, then later in day he yelped  when she pulled his LF out to the side . Saw our specialist three days later and the dog was sound and no pain anywhere. The owner went on vacation and the pet sitter noted occasional LF lameness, then he was better. I just saw him last week. He is sound but very tender on teres major .   I'm doing laser, dry needling, heat before some light exercises.  He did walk in UWT - although he doesn't really walk being a whippet . 

He has a big competition in 3 weeks. Do you think it's reasonable to try to compete him? I was thinking yes but I have not dealt with a t major strain. The owner is most concerned about long term health of the dog, so she would be ok if she did not run him . He does not need training , so she was fine to not do any flyball training until competition. I'm just not sure how much I could reasonably do from now until then...  Or if she should just plan to not compete and continue rest and rehab. 

I read your paper on website but needed a little more specific guidance on this one. 

Thank you for advice!! 

L.T.

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Hi Laurie,

Sorry for my tardy reply!  I seem to be typing that a lot today!  LIfe just gets busier and busier!

So, as for your case...

If he is sound, but still tender, then you need to up the exercise component a bit.

I'd add in short retrieves (to start the 'fast acceleration, deceleration' & turns).

I'd suggest setting  up a flyball practice with only two jumps and a shorter distance to go (i.e. less speed going into the turn).  Work that for a few days to a week, then try full speed and distance.

Home stretches of course.

Pull him from UWT - it won't be doing the kind of conditioning / muscle activation of Tere Major that he needs.

He needs to train before the competition - otherwise he'll be set up to do more damage!  (Wish I had replied a week ago! - But you still have time.)

I'd also add balancing exercise (3-leg stands, diagonal leg stands... even surfaces, then uneven surfaces, or on a plank of wood or small stool, or peanut/ball/donut...) - to work on fine motor control and small muscle reaction time.

Sounds like he's on his way... you just need to push him back to being an athlete!

Cheers! - Laurie

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Thanks ! Do you suggest active stretches or passive stretches specifically of the t major after a warm up and after exercise? 

L.T.

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Research is telling us NOT to stretch before competition or training - so active warm up in that scenario... which could include things like tug of war that accomplishes both warming up and active stretching.

Stretching can occur passively later - after competition / training - or just in the evening (or whenever) on a regular day, as part of the routine.

You will be doing it for muscle fibre stimulation - stimulation to heal - not lengthening - so I'm not even concerned about the tissues being warmed up per se.  It is simply a mechanical stimulus to the fibres.

Cheers! -  Laurie