A dog that regularly plays sports, especially at a competitive level, is certainly a healthy animal with the correct morphological structure. But, first of all, the level of sports results, as well as the ability to withstand intensive training and withstand many shots, change of direction, touchdowns and turns, characteristic of agility competitions, disk dogs or canicross, depends on the health of his joints. Perhaps played on land that is not favorable (dirt, synthetic or hard soils). In addition to assessing the overall physical “shape”, one of the “primary health needs” of sporting dogs, therefore, is to support the joints, maintain their physical and functional integrity for as long as possible, and facilitate their quick recovery between maintenance and the other during training.
The risk that should be avoided The risk is that if they are not adequately protected from numerous and prolonged mechanical stresses, these important organs of movement deplete their energy and muscle reserves, lose their ability to remain steady and steady, and cause fatigue and, as a result, , fatigue and, consequently, to a sharp decline in athletic performance. Excessive stress from physical exertion and hyperfascism can also negatively affect the integrity of these tissues (cartilage, bones, synovial membrane, muscles, tendons and ligaments), which, playing "in a team", guarantee a complete and harmonious mobility of the dog, as well as its suitability for a competitive course. Thus, here the opportunity is opened for the early use of joints, which inevitably should develop into full-blown and painful osteoarthritis (arthrosis), which blocks the future athlete of the dog, but, above all, exposes him to a lifetime of pain and disability.
Information and Prevention
Joint health, especially a sporting dog, is the result of a clearly defined care and special care program, which should be immediately implemented by a knowledgeable and knowledgeable owner. It is indispensable to visit orthopedists before playing sports, which ensures the release of the future sample from dysplasia or from the results of previous injuries, and also confirms its suitability for sports. In this sense, this visit may turn out to be a strategic prevention tool, capable of, for example, “detecting” early orthopedic problems with the development of arthrosis, which can worsen due to intense physical activity and due to complex joint overload.
Power supply: quantity and quality.
Keep in mind the power supply. It is important to avoid dietary and metabolic imbalances, which inevitably affect the well-being of the joints. It is also very important to regulate the amount of food that, despite being calibrated in accordance with intense exercise, should not be excessive and possibly predispose to overweight and / or obesity after an active competitive commitment has been fulfilled.
Additional help
The joint protection program also includes the use of special tools to protect and strengthen the joints of sports dogs. In particular, in the field of sports veterinary medicine, substances have been studied that can: nourish and strengthen the cartilage that is tested by sportswear (for example, chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine); increase the stability of joints under stress, increase the energy reserve and the performance of restraint systems (muscles). Nucleotides have these effects. These are compounds with a proven ergogenic effect: that is, they improve muscle strength and endurance and, thereby, support greater activity of the muscle apparatus and the need for more stability of joints that are actively involved in sports; Another very useful substance is SOD (superoxide dismutase). This enzyme is the main antioxidant defense of tissues. Its supplement is necessary to fill the increased antioxidant needs of joint tissues during sports. In favor of the physical and energy characteristics of the joints, which must withstand the “weight” of competition and continuous training. Both nucleotides and SOD have already achieved important results, improving antioxidant ability in dogs participating in competitions (dog sledding), and at the same time, lowering the level of lactic acid in the blood, a well-known indicator of muscle fatigue.