and what did you do to cure it?if you could.

i had a bitch with thumps about a year ago, and i fixed it.

i told the recorder, the greyhound form, and they didnt listen to me or acknowledge me. probably because im only young they thought i was telling stories.

so they can waste millions on research and i spent 2 hours on research and putting 2 and 2 together :)

it is caused by a thing called hypocalcemia, which is poor levels of calcium in the blood flow.(my bitch developed it after a season).

so i simply googled how to cure hypocalcemia. i found a site that give me a list of all these different calcium items.

the most effective was "calcium glubionate" which we could not find anywhere. the next best was "calcium carbonate" so we went to petbarn and bought a bag of it in powdered form, i forget the price i think it was $15??.

so we put a teaspoon in her breakfast, then same in some milk at lunch and again at dinner. we trialled her 1 week later. the thumps lasted no more then 1 minute and it wasnt even bad at all.

the previous week, after a trial the vet told us to not race her at all.

but then we raced her, and he looked at us strangly and i said to him, she wont do it today i fixed it. and she didnt do it. mind you she was no good what-so-ever. before she had thumps she would run 18.50 at canberra. when she had the thumps she would run 18.70.

first start back all cured, she got beat a nose on the line in 18.21.

so after about a month we took her off it, to see if she can cope without it. but she had a minor thumps and that was it. so we put her back on it again.

so if anyone uses this let me know how you get on.

Greyhounds Australasia (GA) members in conjunction with the Australian Greyhound Veterinary
Association (AGVA) have been investigating a condition in the racing greyhound which has been labeled
"Post Race Distress Syndrome", commonly referred to in the industry as "thumps".

The AGVA have become increasingly concerned regarding the occurrence of this condition which refers
to a breathing difficulty with the greyhound, and is characterized by a rapid irregular breathing almost
resembling a "hiccup". The affected greyhound will be distressed, stagger, and sometimes collapse with
general body muscle spasms. The heart rate is very rapid and a "jugular pulse" will often be seen in the
neck between the ear and chest on each side. The cause of the condition is not fully understood but
factors such as hot weather, dehydration, dogs racing too often or over distances they are not used to,
and excited prior to racing or trialing are considered potential issues.

AGVA President, Dr Chris Doyle has been investigating this condition for some time and through the
auspices of the AGVA recommended that GA commission research into the condition.

The GA Board did request statistical data on occurrence of this condition from the GA membership base
and it was discovered that "Post Race Distress Syndrome" does exist in all States and Territories, and in
New Zealand.

The AGVA have provided GA with a research proposal in regard to this matter which was proposed to
be undertaken by Murdoch University as part of a PhD for a veterinarian student interested in greyhound
medicine.

The GA Board after considering all of the information before them RESOLVED that it would fund the
research by Murdoch University under the guidance of the AGVA in an attempt to understand what is
causing "Post Race Distress Syndrome" in the greyhound and identify how it can be managed.

The GA Chairman, Mr Russell Ware, stated that:

"As it is now clear that this syndrome is occurring in all GA covered jurisdictions, a national (including
New Zealand) approach is desirable and appropriate."

Dr Chris Doyle, AGVA President, said:

"After several years of investigation it is time that this condition is fully understood so we as practising
veterinarians can manage the condition."

"The decision of GA is to finally find out what is causing this condition and indeed what is physically
going on instead of regarding it as a simple synchronous diaphragmatic spasm."

"Unfortunately in some circles it is being dismissed as a normal greyhound condition and treated as such
routinely at the track."

"In reference to the equine situation, greyhounds have different metabolism to horses and this post race
distress may not necessarily be treated the same as for horses."

"On behalf of the AGVA membership base we thank Greyhounds Australasia for their financial
contribution towards this project."

The project is expected to begin officially in late 2010 and is forecast to take between 12 to 18 months to
finalize.

I spoke to Chris 2 days ago as a newly acquired bitch trialled over 500m no probs, then had a shorts trial and did it, so i rang him straight away. The study was supposed to take place in Perth and now its being done in Vic. There's many theories on its causes. There's a race rug being made with a monitor in it for dogs trialling that have it or have had it. Talking to the former of said bitch she had done it on occasions with them too. She's pulled up a treat and had been racing over more than the 500m. Must admit though shes a super keen and super excited little girl at the track.