This may be a potentially life-threatening injury situation with which greyhound adopters may be less familiar, which is why I'm posting it in Adoption. It's important to recognize what it is, how it occurs and why immediate veterinary care is critical. CLICK HERE Micki is our six-year-old fawn female and third adopted greyhound. She was age four in the photo when we adopted her, following retirement after a small fracture in the right hock that was repaired with a single screw. Since her recovery she has always been a great runner at the dog park. This morning, however, she was dashing toward me at top speed in a straight line about 50 yards away, when suddenly both her hind legs collapsed and she screamed in pain. She managed to get back up and limped very slowly and unsteadily the rest of the way to me. I was afraid that she had again fractured a rear leg. She was able to walk back to the car slowly and in 20 minutes I drove her to our highly experienced greyhound veterinarian for emergency treatment. The vet gave Micki a morphine injection and took her for x-rays. He returned 20 minutes later with the news that apparently she had no fractures, but that her limbs were becoming extremely extended and rigid - a particularly common reaction among greyhounds in severe pain. He has seen this before and suspected she was going into hyperthermia - a traumatic rise in temperature. The tension and tautness in the muscles dramatically drives up the body temperature to possibly fatal levels. Dr. Buchanan immediately began administering intravenous saline solution and dexamethasone injectable. Dexamethasone is a powerful steroid antiinflammatory and muscle relaxant that's banned in greyhound racing, but effectively helps the dog's muscles to quit tensing and driving up the body temperature. Fortunately, Micki's temperature peaked only briefly at 105 degrees Fahrenheit and decreased quickly to 103. She remained under observation for the rest of the day and received a liter of saline in total. By early evening her temperature was back to normal, and she had recovered enough for me to bring her home. The root diagnosis of Micki's injury: The cause seems to be severe back strain just ahead of the hips. Time, rest, and minimal physical activity are the keys to Micki's recovery. For the week or two I will be giving her three oral medications - tramadol (an opioid for pain), prednisone (a corticosteroid to combat inflammation) and Robaxin V (generic name methocarbamol - a central muscle relaxant used to treat skeletal muscle spasms). But the critical lesson I learned is this: When a greyhound sustains a severe muscle injury, seek medical care immediately. Hyperthermia can ensue suddenly and be fatal within less than an hour. Dr. Buchanan said he could feel Micki getting hotter by the minute, and he's had the sad experience of dog owners who have not been able to get their pets from home to his office in time. If a similar crisis ever confronts your dog, I hope that Micki's and my experience today will help you to recognize the danger and fend it off in time.
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