Articles Tagged: health

PRP is a regenerative medicine therapy that is thought to hasten healing of tissues when applied directly to the site of injury. Performance dogs can suffer significant tendon and ligament injuries and PRP is now being considered for treatment.

Being prepared for sun exposure at a trial is as crucial as packing your water, loading up on treats, and making sure you have your height cards. What can you do to save your skin from the sun? Here are some suggestions from a dermatologist.

Many myths and controversies surround canine infectious tracheobronchitis or kennel cough. It is the most common upper respiratory disease encountered by dog owners, but what is it exactly and what does an agility handler need to know?

Early takeoff syndrome (ETS) is a term used to describe a jumping problem seen in some performance dogs where they take off too early for jumps. The syndrome ranges from a subtle hitch on the dog’s final stride to severe stuttering before a jump. The dog most often inappropriately shortens his last stride before takeoff, but some dogs simply leave out the last stride.

Patellar luxation is a common congenital condition seen in toy, miniature, and large breed dogs. Here we’ll examine anatomy, diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and therapy.

The field of canine massage has been much misunderstood until recently. Learn what massage is really about and why vets and other canine health professionals are touting the benefits of massage for the performance dog. By Natalie Winter

With proper diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, and sports retraining, we can return dogs with soft-tissue injuries to their full function and decrease the chances of re-injury.

What was once perceived as holistic and novel has now become mainstream in the treatment and prevention of OA. Although many products are available, not all are effective in all patients.

Which vaccinations does your dog really need? When should he get his first vaccination? Should you be concerned about adverse reactions? Two experts in their field help you understand what you need to know about canine vaccinations.

Does a two-on/two-off contact place more stress on the dog’s joints than other methods? In a first-of-its-kind study, the author examines joint angles and body movement on the A-frame descent using Dartfish software.

As a growing number of dog owners seek natural and holistic methods to keep their dogs healthy and happy, some understanding of Chinese herbs and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine can expand your health care choices.

There are so many different dog foods available now, where do you begin? Good nutrition is critical for performance dogs; however, it is far from a straightforward subject and there is no one perfect diet for all dogs.

Backing up can increase rear-end awareness, coordination, and core muscle strength—all of which are critical in agility.

Elbow dysplasia is the leading cause of forelimb lameness in dogs. The onset of elbow dysplasia can be insidious because lameness may be noted with no radiographic evidence of any disease process. Conversely, degeneration of the joint can be well established before lameness is apparent.

To stretch or not to stretch before competition is a commonly discussed question among human athletes and handlers of canine athletes.

Many agility handlers have very little background in any sport requiring eye-hand or eye-foot coordination and often may have no sports background at all. Here are some drills to help develop these skills.

Orthoses, prostheses, and other assistive devices are an emerging technology that can aid in the well-being of canine patients. These devices are used to either correct or accommodate the affected limb following trauma or surgical intervention, and may be used as temporary or permanent modes of treatment.

Decisions that you make when your dog is young and has an injury will affect his future performance if not properly managed. A basic understanding of the language surrounding pain and pain management is necessary for clear communication with your vet.

Why proprioception is so important on the agility course and try some simple exercises that can improve your dog’s performance and decrease the likelihood of an injury.

Tick-borne illnesses are a growing concern across the USA. Learn the facts so you and your vet can decide what is best for your canine athlete.