Leg injuries jumping - Page 1

I am hoping someone can advise me how long a dog should be rested from jumping after sustaining a minor front leg injury???. My boy 2 1/2 years old clipped the metre Schutzhund jump and landed on an angle it appeared and yelped as his front legs touched the ground. He didn't fall down like his leg collasped and remained on his feet, but he limped on his right front leg slightly for about 10 minutes afterwards and came good.

The following day we did some jump training after 4 jumps, he didn't yelp but limped again slightly for a few minutes and came good. We abandon training and went home for a rest. He seems fine and doesn't pull away rubbing his legs and shoulder and isn't limping at any time now, but if he has sustained a jar or muscle pull, I don't want to aggravate which seems minor now, and make it worse by training again until he is properly healed. 

Any suggestions what best to do whould be much appreciated???

Definitely see your vet. He could have easily have a fracture, ligament/ muscle pull, or just a bad bruise. Your vet  would be best to advise you as to what injury and resting period. I would not continue to train until the vet takes a look.

are his elbows clear?f  If the elbows are not certified I would get bthem x-rayed . but they can get soft tissue injuries they really need to get on some anti inflamatory if its that

His elbow scores were perfect, I don't think there is a problem genetically more an injury from the way he landed from clipping his back leg on the jump and threw him off balance a little for the landing. As he came good shortly after, I didn't suspect it to be overly serious, perhaps a bit sore at the time, but I should take him to the vet to have his leg checked out properly.........thanks for your responses.

Common sense suggests that when a dog has an injury one day jumping, that one does NOT go right back out and jump the dog again. While you, human, can control what and how you do it, and also know how you feel before, during and afterwards, the dog cannot tell you and of this and you may or may not miss what the dog exhibits in behavior. Many dogs are stoic and will come to death's door and never make a peep. Others want to please so much that they will do what is asked of them even though injured. At a minimum, resting the dog for a good two weeks on jumps or any like activity would be smart.

Secondly, since the dog showed pain the next time you jumped, I would also suggest what mking suggested above and see a good vet who can hopefully help decide what the injury is. Jumping over meter walls can easily cause a permanent injury. I have a dog who was well on the way to his SchH 1 and another person was jumping him and he hit the wood, solid and immovable jump just wrong and that was the end of it. To this day, he limps when stressed physically and numerous exams and other diagnostics have never found the exact problem, although we know he does have some torn meniscus.

As an aside, it is just my opinion that too many people do way too many jumps and teach them incorrectly to begin with. This further predisposes the dog to some injury, and often these kinds of injuries turn into chronic problems, just as in humans. So for the sake of your dog, err always on the side of caution when it comes to doing things that could result in injury. Also, be certain to keep the dog properly conditioned, at a proper weight, and properly warm the dog up before jumping and such activities (especially when it is cold).

Good luck. Hopefully, it is just a muscle strain or sprain that will heal without complications.

Edited to fix typo.

Thanks for your advice Hodie, much appreciated.

Going to the vet is the sensible choice and obviously the best course of action except that my boy is a total nightmare at the vets and is highly stranger aggressive making vet visits difficult with dogs flagged aggressive as many vets won't treat them, none the less, there are some that will and we can have access to if needed.

He's fine at the moment no limping at any time or touchiness manipulating his leg and he is using his leg as normal and will keep my eye on him. When he had the stumble and yelped muffled by the dumbell, he completed the exercise as normal and was eagerly awaiting the next throw over the jump although he was in pain at the time remained willing to keep working. If only they could talk to tell you what is hurting???  

 If the dog would go after the dumbell in pain, this is an indication you MUST pay very close attention to the dog because he IS going to do what it takes to please you, or complete the exercise. It is also very important that you find a way for him to be examined safely. I have had many, many GSDs and NONE are aggressive with the vet. When a dog is older, it is difficult to break and can be almost impossible. At the very least, for everyone's safety, muzzle him, let them give a mild sedative if necessary so he can be examined and treated. As I pointed out, injuries that seem like no big deal can come back to haunt you and the dog and you want the dog to be able to live a long life, unfettered by injury. Schutzhund sport has a multitude of opportunities for both handlers and dogs to injure themselves. So take it easy LOL!

Good luck and I will hope the injury was only a strain.

Just got done taking care of the same sort of problem with my dog.  After $400 dollars in x-rays to rule out Pano or anything genetic, the thing that fixed him up perfect was rest.. 8 days of nothing but walking on leash and no running or jumping and now he is 100%. I'd say give him a bit of a break and he will likely take care of it on his own.
 

I have rested my boy for past 6 days, no strenuous exercise just a walk and he seems fine, hasn't the slightest appearance of any limping. We don't go back to training for another 4 weeks and will keep my eye on him a little longer. Thanks for your responses.