In animals with existing joint, tendon or muscle disorders, this could have a negative effect. "It is likely with the increasing speed during running or jumping, the forces acting on the joints and soft tissues will increase. The impact of this weight shift could result in strains and muscular injuries according to Dr. When asked to carry a 4kg (8.8lbs) object, equivalent to carrying a bird or large branch, they started to place 75% of their weight on their front legs. When the dogs were asked to carry a toy that weighed about half a kilogram (1.1lbs) the dogs started to carry 66% of their weight on their front legs. The test subjects were Labradors, known for their enthusiastic retrieving skills. The study used pressure plates that dogs walked over to determine how they were carrying their body weight. " is comparable to a human holding a weight in his hands, who slightly tilts backwards and therefore shifts his body weight to his heels.The additional weight is physically burdensome for them." Barbara Bockstahler, a veterinary surgeon involved in the study, explained how this impacts on the dog's body: When carrying a heavy object, the dog shifts more of its weight forward to compensate and begins to run in a 'seesaw' fashion with the burden being on their front quarters.ĭr. They found that when dogs are carrying something, they place more weight on their front legs and this could result in joint strains and injuries if the object is too heavy, if they are puppies, or if they run and jump with the item.ĭogs typically place 60% of their weight on their front legs and 40% on their hind legs. Scientists at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna conducted a study on the effects of dogs carrying objects in their mouths and released the results in 2017. Injuries from sticks may not be immediately apparent, Smooth Collie Maya did not show any signs of distress after a walk where she chased sticks, but some time later she became subdued and wouldn't eat. We often have to put dogs under anaesthetic to remove splinters, and sometimes have them in for repeat surgeries."Īccording to the UK veterinary charity PDSA, they see stick related injuries across their 51 UK practices every week. Vet Cameron Muir explained that typically the injuries are due to the dog impaling itself on the stick, or damaging their mouths: "It's a risky business throwing sticks. One vet practice in Sandbach, Cheshire, reported seeing about twenty stick related injuries a year. The BVA had good reason to be concerned information from individual vet practices has revealed how dangerous a thrown stick can be. In 2016, the British Veterinary Association warned owners that playing fetch with sticks could lead to horrific injuries. Public Domain Why Sticks Can Be Dangerous Vets see many dogs with stick related injuries and advise owners not to let their dogs play with sticks
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