Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.2
3.0
Journals
Animals
Special Issues
Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Companion Animals
share announcement

Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Companion Animals

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Companion Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 June 2024 | Viewed by 12027

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mila Benito

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, CEU-Cardenal Herrera University, 46115 Valencia, Spain
Interests: veterinary sports medicine; sports dogs; working dogs
Dr. Francisco Miró Rodríguez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department Comparative Anatomy and Pathology, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Interests: veterinary; dog; biomechanics; horse dentistry; equine; dog physical therapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The increasing popularization of canine sports activities, mainly aimed at improving canine welfare and animal–human interactions, invites us to continue researching and disseminating knowledge and updates in this specialty. Furthermore, thanks to the increased presence of veterinary rehabilitation in companion animal clinics, with proven methodology and results, we aim to facilitate the dissemination of rehabilitation techniques in companion animal clinics.

This Special Issue welcomes original research articles, reviews, and case studies. Areas of research may include (but are not limited to) the following: benefits and physiology of canine sport, diagnostic innovation, nutrition and specific supplementation in sport dogs, training guidelines, effort testing, role of veterinarians in sport competitions, pathologies associated with canine sports, use of orthoses, regenerative medicine and rehabilitation in companion animals.

Other topics may include the use of behavioral methods/ethology in sport and utility dogs, including aspects of animal–human interactions during canine sports activities as well as other aspects of sports dog care (transport, housing, drug testing, preventive medicine and animal welfare).

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mila Benito
Dr. Francisco Miró Rodríguez
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • veterinary sports medicine
  • sporting and utility dogs
  • management of sports units k9
  • canine sports training
  • nutrition in sporting and utility dogs
  • benefits of canine sports
  • role of the veterinarian in sports competitions
  • pathologies associated with canine sports
  • physiotherapy and rehabilitation in companion animals

Published Papers (6 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

20 pages, 539 KiB  
Article
Injuries and Associated Factors in Swedish Sporting and Utility Trial Dogs—A Cross-Sectional Study
by Ann Essner, Catarina Kjellerstedt, Amie L. Hesbach and Helena Igelström
Animals 2024, 14(3), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14030398 - 26 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1476
Abstract
Canine sporting competitions, e.g., agility, obedience, rally obedience, and utility trials, e.g., protection, tracking, search, and messenger, are physically and mentally demanding disciplines. This study aimed to describe the types and frequencies of injuries experienced amongst Swedish sporting and utility trial dogs and [...] Read more.
Canine sporting competitions, e.g., agility, obedience, rally obedience, and utility trials, e.g., protection, tracking, search, and messenger, are physically and mentally demanding disciplines. This study aimed to describe the types and frequencies of injuries experienced amongst Swedish sporting and utility trial dogs and to explore associations between discipline, breed, sex, neuter status, age, and injury history. Dog handlers provided information on competition-level dogs (n = 1582) through a cross-sectional survey. The overall proportion of dogs sustaining any injury during their lifetime, whether it was during competition, training, or outside of sport, was 58.7% (n = 928). Muscular, joint, and dermatologic injuries were most commonly reported and the most common injury locations were the thoracic, lumbar and lumbosacral spine, paw, head, shoulder, and stifle. According to multivariate analysis, Border Collie (adjusted OR 1.93), Belgian Malinois (adjusted OR 2.51) and higher age at the time of report (adjusted OR 1.81–9.67) increased the odds of injury history. Our results provide more understanding of injuries in sporting and utility dogs and contribute to injury prevention strategies that potentially enhance canine welfare. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Companion Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1190 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Effects of an Undenatured Collagen Type-2-Based Nutraceutical (ARTHROSHINE® HA²) on Recovery Time after TPLO in Dogs: A Prospective, Randomized Study with Objective Gait Analysis as the Primary Outcome Measure
by Maria Assies, Björn Berger, Bente Stegen, Thomas Rohwedder, Marcus Doherr and Peter Böttcher
Animals 2024, 14(2), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020298 - 18 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1085
Abstract
This randomized, prospective clinical trial investigates the impact of a novel undenatured collagen type 2 (T2NDC)-based nutraceutical, ARTHROSHINE® HA² (AS), on postoperative rehabilitation following Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) in 50 dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). The patients were [...] Read more.
This randomized, prospective clinical trial investigates the impact of a novel undenatured collagen type 2 (T2NDC)-based nutraceutical, ARTHROSHINE® HA² (AS), on postoperative rehabilitation following Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) in 50 dogs with unilateral cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR). The patients were randomly allocated to either group A, receiving AS once daily for 24 weeks post-TPLO surgery, or group B, without any supplementation. Frequency matching was applied to enhance group comparability. Assessment of outcomes included computerized gait analysis and a validated owner questionnaire. AS supplementation was well received, without any reported side effect. Consistently, patients in group A exhibited significantly higher peak vertical force values during all follow-up assessments. By the 12-week mark, gait analysis indicated a return to a physiological gait pattern in group A, while group B achieved this normalization only by the 24-week point. The administration of AS post-TPLO surgery demonstrates promise in enhancing limb function, leading to faster restoration of a physiological gait pattern. The inclusion of AS, a T2NDC-based nutraceutical, in the post-TPLO rehabilitation protocol may contribute to improved limb function and an expedited recovery, potentially facilitating a quicker return to normalcy. It is noteworthy that subjective owner perceptions did not differ between the two groups. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Companion Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 6703 KiB  
Article
The Effect of Therapeutic Exercise on Body Weight Distribution, Balance, and Stifle Function in Dogs following Stifle Injury
by Ida Brantberg, Wilhelmus J. A. Grooten and Ann Essner
Animals 2024, 14(1), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14010092 - 27 Dec 2023
Viewed by 2113
Abstract
Stifle injury is common in the companion dog population, affecting weight bearing, neuromuscular control, and balance. Therapeutic exercises after stifle injury seem to be effective, but high-quality research evaluating the effects is lacking. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a 12-week [...] Read more.
Stifle injury is common in the companion dog population, affecting weight bearing, neuromuscular control, and balance. Therapeutic exercises after stifle injury seem to be effective, but high-quality research evaluating the effects is lacking. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effects of a 12-week progressive therapeutic home exercise protocol on three-legged standing, targeting balance and postural- and neuromuscular control and disability in dogs with stifle injury. Thirty-three dogs with stifle injury were randomly allocated to intervention (n = 18) and control groups (n = 15), both receiving a standard rehabilitation protocol. Additionally, the intervention group received a progressive therapeutic exercise protocol. The outcome measures were static body weight distribution between hindlimbs, balance control, the canine brief pain inventory, and the Finnish canine stifle index. Both groups improved after the intervention period, but the group using the progressive therapeutic exercise protocol improved to a greater extent regarding static body weight distribution between the hindlimbs (I: median = 2.5%, IQR = 1.0–4.5; C: median = 5.5%, IQR = 3.0–8.8), pain-related functional disability (I: median = 0.0, IQR = 0.0–0.2; C: median = 0.9, IQR = 0.1–1.8), and stifle function (I: median = 25.0, IQR = 9.4–40.6; C: median = 75.0, IQR = 31.3–87.5), with intermediate to strong effects. These clinically relevant results indicate that this home exercise program can improve hindlimb function and restore neuromuscular control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Companion Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 327 KiB  
Article
Efficacy of Medical Ozone as an Adjuvant Treatment in Dogs with Intervertebral Disc Protusions—A Retrospective Study
by Miriam Portero, Luis Villalonga, Mercedes Hernández and Carmen Pérez Díaz
Animals 2023, 13(23), 3717; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13233717 - 30 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1461
Abstract
Ozone-therapy is used in humans as a coadjutant treatment in intervertebral disc diseases due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. References in dogs are scarce and limited to clinical cases (intradiscal/paravertebral infiltrations). The aim of this study was to assess the use [...] Read more.
Ozone-therapy is used in humans as a coadjutant treatment in intervertebral disc diseases due to its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. References in dogs are scarce and limited to clinical cases (intradiscal/paravertebral infiltrations). The aim of this study was to assess the use of medical ozone (MO) as an adjunctive treatment in dogs with intervertebral disc protrusions (Hansen Type II/Chronic). A retrospective study was conducted in dogs diagnosed with intervertebral disc protrusions by MRI/CT in which MO was used as an adjuvant therapy to conventional medical treatment. Neurological examination and quality of life (QL) at the beginning and end of study were recorded, as well as posology and possible side effects. A total of 21 patients of different breeds and sex with a mean age of 12 years were included in this study. Results showed pain relief (7 ± 3 days) and improvement of neurologic signs (11 ± 9 days) with a consequent increasement in QL (13 ± 9 days). Thirteen out of the twenty-one patients (62%) showed a complete remission of the clinical signs. No serious adverse effects were observed. Medical ozone could be a potential complementary therapy to medical treatment in dogs with intervertebral disc protrusions. Prospective studies are necessary. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Companion Animals)
14 pages, 1099 KiB  
Article
A Randomized Cross-Over Study Comparing Cooling Methods for Exercise-Induced Hyperthermia in Working Dogs in Training
by Sara C. Parnes, Amritha Mallikarjun, Meghan T. Ramos, Tesa A. Stone and Cynthia M. Otto
Animals 2023, 13(23), 3673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13233673 - 28 Nov 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4375
Abstract
Working dogs are at a high risk of canine non-pyrogenic hyperthermia, a life-threatening condition that can occur due to physical exertion or environmental factors that inhibit dogs’ ability to cool themselves. Two frequently recommended cooling methods to reduce body temperature are water immersion [...] Read more.
Working dogs are at a high risk of canine non-pyrogenic hyperthermia, a life-threatening condition that can occur due to physical exertion or environmental factors that inhibit dogs’ ability to cool themselves. Two frequently recommended cooling methods to reduce body temperature are water immersion and the application of isopropyl alcohol to paw pads. This cross-over study compared the relative efficacy of these methods in 12 working-dogs-in-training with post-exertional heat stress. On each study day, dogs had a physical exam and performed a warm-up exercise followed by sequential recalls in which dogs ran approximately 25 m between two designated handlers for 10 min until they showed multiple signs of heat stress or their core temperature reached 105 °F (40.6 °C). Dogs’ temperature and heart rate were collected after each recall. Dogs completed three study days, and each day, randomly received one of three interventions: passive cooling (no intervention), partial water immersion, or isopropyl alcohol. Post-intervention dogs rested for 20 min. Partial water immersion and isopropyl alcohol both cooled dogs more than no intervention, and water immersion cooled dogs more efficiently than isopropyl alcohol. Additionally, the application of isopropyl alcohol raised dogs’ heart rates more than water immersion or no intervention, suggesting that the process of applying isopropyl alcohol is potentially stressful to dogs. Thus, partial water immersion is preferred to cool dogs post-exertion due to its more efficient cooling and better tolerance of use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Companion Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

14 pages, 1195 KiB  
Review
Application of Infrared Thermography in the Rehabilitation of Patients in Veterinary Medicine
by Alejandro Casas-Alvarado, Asahi Ogi, Dina Villanueva-García, Julio Martínez-Burnes, Ismael Hernández-Avalos, Adriana Olmos-Hernández, Patricia Mora-Medina, Adriana Domínguez-Oliva and Daniel Mota-Rojas
Animals 2024, 14(5), 696; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14050696 - 23 Feb 2024
Viewed by 921
Abstract
Infrared Thermography (IRT) has become an assistance tool in medicine and is used to noninvasively evaluate heat elimination during and after inflammatory processes or during the recovery period. However, its application in veterinary patients undergoing physiotherapy is a field that requires deep research. [...] Read more.
Infrared Thermography (IRT) has become an assistance tool in medicine and is used to noninvasively evaluate heat elimination during and after inflammatory processes or during the recovery period. However, its application in veterinary patients undergoing physiotherapy is a field that requires deep research. This review aims to analyze the application of IRT in the monitoring of animal physiotherapy, using the thermal changes that are present in patients undergoing gait or lameness issues (e.g., inflammation, pain, increased local temperature) as a neurobiological basis. Rehabilitation techniques such as acupuncture, physical therapies, thermotherapy, photo-biomodulation, and electrostimulation have been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect that decreases the amount of local heat production, which is heat that can be recorded with IRT. Therefore, IRT could be used as a complementary tool to evaluate the effectiveness of the therapy, and it is suggested that further studies evaluate the accuracy, sensibility, and sensitivity of IRT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation in Companion Animals)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-6
Back to TopTop