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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.

Dr. Barker's practical knowledge of racing greyhounds is extraordinary, since she typically tended to upwards of 100 dogs in a race day, regularly giving first aid to dogs with traumatic track injuries. In addition to her current work as a veterinarian for the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, she continues as a dedicated volunteer veterinary consultant to greyhound adoption programs in Wisconsin and Illinois. A loving owner of her own pet greyhounds, she has an online health consulting service for greyhound owners and also conducts popular greyhound health and wellness seminars.

Dr. Jen has given invaluable advice on health issues involving two of the three greyhounds that my wife and I have adopted over the years - for which we are forever grateful. It is a blessing to have her as our dear friend. Here is what she had to say about Micki's current problem:

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"Micki actually experienced what is called exertional rhabdomyolysis. What this is ... it's actually a full-blown body cramp (Charley Horse). Without treatment these dogs are in such severe pain that the temperature can rise to over 107 (Fahrenheit) and they will die within a few hours of the event. Essentially, the muscles are on overload and the muscle cells burst. Myoglobin leaks out from the muscle cells and is toxic to the kidneys. So acute kidney failure is also a possibility without proper fluid therapy.

"Greyhounds will experience this after running, and I see this very frequently on retired dogs that have come here for adoption from Florida after being on a trailer for 20 hours. During the trip their muscles are constantly tensed as they try to keep their balance against the continual motion over the road.

"The best course of treatment is IV ringers or saline as Dr. Buchanan did. And methocarbamol as Dr. Buchanan did. I would leave out the prednisone in the future unless her body temperature reaches 107; prednisone decreases the body's immune system to fight infection.

"Micki is obviously a dog that should not be doing any more running in the park. She may end up having some scar tissue in her back muscles. Walking will be good for her. Very short walks to start and then you can increase them later. This will help the muscle tissue maintain elasticity."