Gundogs – keeping them fit for the field and beyond with clinical canine massage

Gundogs play a vital role in the success of a shoot day, undertaking physically

demanding work often in challenging environments with varied terrain, and so it is that we should consider them as hard-working athletes. Over the lifetime of a gundog their body will come under considerable stress, whether they are used in the beating line, or as picking up dogs, and who in the pursuit of this, may be seen jumping obstacles, swimming in lakes and rivers, and working over long periods of time.

A study¹ of more than 1300 gundogs in Great Britain during the 2005/2006 and 2006/2007 shooting seasons, found that musculoskeletal injuries were one of the most commonly reported injuries, but many cases causing lameness were not presented to a vet for diagnosis. It can be very tempting to get a gundog back out working in the field as soon as possible, after all, they hate to be left behind at home! But continued use of injured muscles will lead to more severe injuries, greater recovery times and greater risk of re-injury in the future, which could lead to chronic conditions that affect the longevity of a dog’s working career.

¹ Houlton, J.E.F. (2008) A survey of gundog lameness and injuries in Great Britain in the shooting seasons 2005/2006 and 2006/2007. Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology. 21(3): 231-237

Musculoskeletal injuries are common in gundogs due to the speed at which they often work, the ground they work on (often wet, slippery and uneven), fast turns, and carrying heavy birds in their mouth. They are usually walked and worked from one side of their handler, which can also lead to them becoming one-sided. They also have to work for prolonged periods, often in wet and cold conditions, from a stationary position, and have long periods of being still in-between work, where muscles cool down which can make them more prone to injury. If gundogs aren’t properly warmed up for work and cooled down afterwards, this can also increase their risk of injury. Musculoskeletal injuries and issues can have both short and longer-term impacts on a gundogs’ fitness, health, and comfort, and on their performance and longevity in the field.

Common musculoskeletal injuries in gundogs:

• Strains are the most common injury and are a tear to the muscle or tendon, caused by over-stretching and over-loading;

• Hypertonicity is an abnormal increase in normal resting muscle tone, meaning the muscle cannot relax. This causes the muscle to become fatigued, and more prone to strain. It causes pain, inflexibility, stiffness and reduced range of motion;

• Trigger points are hyperirritable taut bands of focal point tension, commonly known as ‘knots’. They can restrict blood flow to the muscle and cause patterns of pain referral. Dogs may appear stiff, especially after rest, can cause fatigue and exercise intolerance, muscle weakness and reduced performance;

• Myofascial pain is caused by dysfunctional fascia and is directly linked to multiple trigger points. Myofascial pain can affect large areas of fascia, which can cause large areas of pain. This also causes limping and stiffness, distorted pain perception, reduced mobility, changes in behaviour and a reluctance to be touched;

• Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is exercise-induced muscle damage (micro-trauma), as a result of over strenuous exercise. It causes stiffness, and pain when the affected muscle is stretched or contracted, usually 24-72 hours post-exercise;

• Tendonitis is inflammation of a tendon, usually caused by repetitive activities (repetitive strain) and can be very painful and cause stiffness. One of the most common tendon injuries in gundogs is to the biceps brachii tendon (bicipital tenosynovitis) of the foreleg;

• Ligament Sprains are the result of damage to the ligaments holding bones together, stabilising joints. Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) damage (tears and ruptures) of the knee (stifle) is fairly common in working gundogs, and is commonly observed as limping and hindlimb lameness, and is very painful.

Common orthopaedic conditions in gundogs:

• Hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia are abnormalities of the hip and elbow joints causing joint instability, inflammation and pain. They can be diagnosed at any age and can lead to Osteoarthritis.

• Osteoarthritis can affect any joint and causes joint deterioration, inflammation and pain. Whilst more common in older dogs, it can occur at any age. It is more common in highly active dogs and those taking part in high impact activities and is the most common cause of chronic pain in dogs, affecting up to 80% of older dogs.

Commonly observed symptoms of musculoskeletal issues in gundogs are:

• Lameness / limping / an awkward gait;

• Reduced performance or exercise intolerance (early onset fatigue);

• Appearing stiff, this might be after periods of rest or directly after a day’s work;

• Muscle wastage;

• Difficulty: rising from their bed / getting up or down stairs / jumping in or out of the truck;

• Frequently rolling on their back or licking their joints;

• Performance issues or training issues e.g. a reluctance to retrieve;

• A change in their behaviour – might be less tolerant of being touched or groomed / has become grumpy with other dogs.

How clinical canine massage can help your gundog:

Massage can play an important role for gundog health and welfare, assisting in the prevention of injury and in rehabilitation when injury does strike, but it is often underutilised in gundogs. Clinical canine massage can precisely identify and target muscular injuries, working with the dog as an individual and tailoring treatment to their specific needs, helping with the management of pain, improving comfort levels and quality of life, helping to reduce recovery times, restoring mobility, reduces the risk of re-injury, improving muscle strength and stamina and overall performance.

Working gundogs also benefit from regular maintenance sessions, to keep on top of any issues during the ‘off-season’, and during times of increased training and participation in working tests, and importantly, ensuring they are ready to perform ahead of the working and trialling season.

Massage is also hugely beneficial for the senior gundog, supporting a musculoskeletal system that has seen a lifetime of hard work, improving comfort levels, reducing stiffness and managing pain associated with common orthopaedic conditions, keeping them mobile and active into their senior years. In particular, massage can be utilised more frequently in the winter months when conditions like osteoarthritis can flare-up and worsen due to colder, damper weather.