Racing greyhounds sometimes tear muscles because the sport requires a lot of stress on them. According to the Newtown Veterinary Clinic, greyhound racing has been popularized in the past years. As a result, greyhound medicine and surgery has become highly specialized as well. If you suspect your greyhound has suffered a muscle tear, you should seek veterinary advice.
Symptoms
If a greyhound has suffered a muscle tear, it may not want to walk around, or even to get out of its crate if it has one, because it's too painful. Muscle tears often cause swelling, and severe muscle tears may even cause hemorrhaging. If your greyhound is in severe distress, see the veterinarian immediately.
Treatments
See the veterinarian to determine the extent of your greyhound's muscle tear. If it is mild, you may be able to treat the dog at home using massage techniques and making sure the dog takes time off of conditioning and gets plenty of rest. It may be possible to treat the dog at the veterinarian's office on an outpatient basis, using ultrasonic or electromagnetic therapy, which is noninvasive. However, for many muscle tears surgery is required to repair the damaged muscle tissue.
Recovery
After a muscle tear, your veterinarian may prescribe painkillers or anti-inflammatory medications to help your dog deal with the painful symptoms. The muscle may also have to be wrapped for a time to provide extra support.
According to Greyhound Racing Victoria, after any muscle tear, especially when surgery is required, the dog may not be able to perform at the level it did before the injury. If you choose to continue racing the dog, make sure your expectations are realistic. You may want to consider physical therapy for your dog, in order to normalize the muscle.
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