Owner-reported treatments and outcomes of perceived injuries to the thoracic and pelvic limb of agility dogs.

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the type of veterinary care sought by handlers of injured agility dogs, the types of treatments the dogs received, and the timeframe for return to training and competition.

Procedures: Owners of agility dogs completed an internet-based survey. They were instructed to report injuries that had kept the dog from training or competing for over a week, identify which area(s) of the body had been injured and answer questions about the most severe injury to each body part.

Commercially available wearable health monitors in dogs only had a very strong correlation during longer durations of time: a pilot study.

Objective: To compare a commercially available accelerometer, FitBark 2 (FitBark 2nd Generation; FitBark) with a previously validated accelerometer, Actical (Actical; Respironics Inc) during periods of activity and rest. We hypothesized that the FitBark 2 would correlate strongly with the Actical during periods of activity and rest.

Methods: 20 dogs between the ages of 1 and 9 years of variable sex, breed, and body weight were enrolled from April through August 2022 in a 1-week pilot trial.

Risk Factors for Injury in Border Collies Competing in Agility Competitions.

Border Collies are the most common breed in agility and their reported injury rate is much higher than that of other breeds. We aimed to identify demographic, training, and competition variables associated with the injury risk for this breed. We hypothesized that higher jump heights and competition at national/international levels would increase the injury risk.

Proximal lateral insertion portal of an intra-articular arthroscopic stifle lever: A cadaveric study.

Objective: To (1) Describe the proximal lateral insertion portal for the placement of an intra-articular distraction lever. (2) Assess for associated damage with the insertion of the lever and (3) evaluate the impact of duration of lever use on articular cartilage damage.

Study Design: Ex vivo canine cadaveric experimental study.

Evaluation of surface type and time of day on agility course performance.

Introduction: Canine agility competitions are performed on a variety of surfaces. In the equine and human literature, surface type has been associated with speed, performance, and injury risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of general surface type and time of day on calculated speed (yards per second over a measured course distance) and course performance during the UKI Agility International (UKI) U.

Evaluation of variability in performance and paw placement patterns by dogs completing the dog walk obstacle in an agility competition.

The objective of this study was to describe paw placement patterns for canine athletes completing the dog walk obstacle during canine agility trials. It was hypothesized that dogs would demonstrate defined sets of paw placement patterns as they complete the dog walk obstacle and that those could be classified based on end contact behavior. Videos of 296 dogs attempting the dog walk obstacle at the 2021 UK Agility International (UKI) US Open were reviewed online.

Risk factors for the development of stifle injuries in canine agility athletes.

Objectives: Our aim was to determine risk factors for developing stifle injuries in canine agility athletes. We hypothesized that increased weight, increased frequency of competing, and greater number of runs/day would increase risk.

Study Design: Internet based survey,  = 4,197.

Commercially available wearable health monitor in dogs is unreliable for tracking energy intake and expenditure.

Objective: Assess the accuracy of predicted daily energy requirement (pDER) reported by a triaxial accelerometer and activity monitor for dogs (FitBark 2; FitBark Inc) and determine whether the activity monitor accurately estimates the observed daily energy requirement (oDER). We hypothesized that the activity monitor would accurately estimate oDER in dogs and meet standards established for human devices.

Animals: 23 dogs between the ages of 1 and 10 years and variable sex, breed, and body weight were enrolled from May 5, 2021, through July 23, 2021.

Corrigendum: Effects of jump height on forelimb landing forces in border collies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.

Characteristics, surgical treatment, and outcomes of injuries involving the tarsus in greyhounds.

Objective: The first objective of this study was to describe the type of tarsal injuries sustained, surgery performed, and postoperative complications in greyhounds presenting to a single veterinary hospital. An additional objective of the study was to determine the surgical site infection (SSI) and explantation rate, and if any variables were associated with an increased risk of SSI and/or explantation.

Animals: 116 greyhounds receiving surgical intervention for a tarsal injury.

Effects of jump height on forelimb landing forces in border collies.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of jump height on the landing forces of dogs.

Animals: Client-owned Border Collies experienced in agility competition, = 9.

Procedures: The study involved client owned border collies with the same AKC standard jump height of 20 inches and preferred height of 16 inches.

Long-term outcome of dogs treated by surgical debridement of proximal humeral osteochondrosis.

Objective: To evaluate long-term clinical outcomes of dogs surgically treated for proximal humeral osteochondrosis (OC).

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Sample Population: Twenty dogs (n = 26 shoulders).

Biomechanical evaluation of a 4.75-mm and a 5.5-mm bone anchor at two insertion angles using one and two strands of suture.

Objective: To compare biomechanical strength of 4.75- and 5.5-mm suture anchors when pulled at 45° or 90° angles using 1 versus 2 strands of suture.

Conservative nonsurgical treatment for cranial cruciate ligament disease can be an effective management strategy in cats based on validated owner-based subjective assessment in some cases.

Objective: To describe long-term outcomes of cats managed medically for cranial cruciate ligament disease (CCLD) via a validated owner-based questionnaire.

Animals: 18 client-owned cats.

Procedures: Retrospective review of medical records at 2 tertiary referral hospitals was conducted for records of cats diagnosed with CCLD for which medical management was pursued.

Internet Survey Evaluation of Iliopsoas Injury in Dogs Participating in Agility Competitions.

Objective: To describe risk factors associated with demographics, training, and competition for iliopsoas injury in dogs participating in agility competitions, as well as describe owner reported treatment and return to sport following injury.

Procedures: An internet-based survey of agility handlers collected risk factor data for dogs participating in agility. Owners were asked questions about demographics, training, and competition as well as injury treatment and recovery if applicable.

Objective Gait Analysis: Review and Clinical Applications.

Objective kinetic and kinematic data can be used as an objective measure of treatment intervention over time but can also be used to evaluate progress of clinical patients. Force plate and pressure sensitive walkway systems both offer the clinician the ability to obtain useful kinetic data, whereas additional equipment is required to obtain kinematic data. Which system is preferred depends on what specific data the researcher or clinician hopes to acquire; both are accurate and consistent, and each offers pros and cons compared with the other that must be considered.

Internet Survey Evaluation of Demographic Risk Factors for Injury in Canine Agility Athletes.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare previously identified demographic risk factors for injury in agility dogs, and explore other potential associations with demographic risk factors in new populations, and across different levels of injury severity.

Procedures: An internet-based survey of agility handlers was conducted. The primary outcome was if the dog had ever had an injury that kept from agility for over a week.

Internet Survey of Risk Factors Associated With Training and Competition in Dogs Competing in Agility Competitions.

To describe risk factors associated with training and competition in relation to frequency and severity of injuries experienced by agility dogs. An internet-based survey collected data on competition level variables and training level variables. The primary outcome was history of any injury and a secondary outcome considered history of severe injury (injury lasting > 3 months).

Use of a protective cover affects ground reaction force measurements obtained from dogs walking on a validated pressure-sensitive walkway.

Objective: To determine whether use of a protective cover would affect temporospatial gait or ground reaction force (GRF) measurements obtained from dogs walking on a validated pressure-sensitive walkway (PSW).

Animals: 5 healthy dogs.

Procedures: In a crossover study design, all dogs were walked across a calibrated PSW with and without a protective cover in place in random order.

Evaluation of Variability in Gait Styles Used by Dogs Completing Weave Poles in Agility Competition and Its Effect on Completion of the Obstacle.

The aim of this study was to evaluate and define paw placement patterns for canines completing the weave pole obstacle during canine agility trials. The secondary objectives were to determine the most efficient running style and completion percentages and provide a basis for future studies to evaluate the long-term implications of variants in weave style and predisposition to injury. We hypothesized that dogs would display definitive gait patterns and that a single stepping pattern would yield faster run times compared to double stepping patterns.

Internet-based survey of the frequency and types of orthopedic conditions and injuries experienced by dogs competing in agility.

Objective: To describe the frequency and types of injuries experienced by dogs competing and training in agility and identify breed and geographic differences in frequency and types of injuries.

Sample: Surveys completed by owners of 4,701 dogs.

Procedures: The study involved an internet-based survey.

Effects of perioperative saphenous and sciatic nerve blocks, lumbosacral epidural or morphine-lidocaine-ketamine infusion on postoperative pain and sedation in dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy.

Objective: To compare the quality of postoperative analgesia and sedation after preoperative saphenous and sciatic nerve blockade, preoperative lumbosacral epidural injection and perioperative intravenous (IV) morphine, lidocaine and ketamine infusions in dogs undergoing stifle arthroscopy and tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) under general anesthesia.

Study Design: Prospective, blinded, randomized, clinical comparison study.

Animals: A total of 45 dogs weighing 33.

Penile urethral resection and anastomosis augmentation with regional tissue tension relieving technique: A cadaveric mechanical study and clinical outcome in two dogs.

Objective: To describe penile urethral augmentation anastomosis (PURAA) for resection anastomosis (RA) of the canine penile urethra by using autogenous tissue in two dogs and to determine the mechanical properties of the augmentation technique in cadaveric specimens.

Study Design: Cadaveric study and two case reports.

Animals: Sixteen canine cadavers and two dogs with urethral obstruction.

Conservative management of sacroiliac luxation in 17 dogs: Radiographic changes and long-term owner follow-up.

The long-term outcome of dogs with sacroiliac (SI) luxation treated conservatively was evaluated in this study. The cranial displacement of the ilial wing relative to sacral length was measured. Long-term follow-up was conducted owner telephone interview.

Juvenile Disease Processes Affecting the Forelimb in Canines.

Several juvenile diseases affect the canine forelimb. The most common are hypertrophic osteodystrophy, panosteitis, and retained cartilaginous core. Panosteitis and hypertrophic osteodystrophy tend to be self-limiting, with a good long-term prognosis, although severe cases can develop.