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Understanding race comments
Ms Sally Adams United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 4 Dogs 0 / Races 0 07 Sep 2013 10:37
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Hi,
I am curious about my rescue greyhound's former life. He has a disability due to an injury in his final race & I am curious how exactly it happened. I was hoping someone could interpret the comments for me, please? This is the race & my dog is Babbling Brook (Bruno) CLICK HERE Many thanks in advance!
Glad to hear Bruno has found a happy home with you. The comments mean that he showed early pace to the first bend where he took up the lead until the halfway point and then got crowded at the third bend. It doesn't tell us any more on how he sustained his injury. He might have got injured when in front without interference from other dogs or he may have got it when crowded at the third bend.
Anyway....carry on the good work!
Wayne Larson USA (Verified User) Posts 2666 Dogs 0 / Races 0 08 Sep 2013 02:54
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Sally, although the abbreviated race commentary for a dog's last race (if injured) will usually indicate that the dog pulled up or otherwise may have finished last, it rarely would be possible for the comment to diagnose exactly what happened and when.
If you check out the Videos tab on this page for Sittingbourne, you'll see that only one race - a championship - is saved for 2006. Bruno's last race was in 2006, and most tracks don't keep routine race videos going that far back.
Even so, it's hard in most cases for anyone to look at a video replay to determine what exactly happened unless some ghastly trauma happened before spectators' eyes. Usually the dog drops back - slows down or stops and limps. Then it's up to the track vet after the race to examine the dog and diagnose the problem. Whether slight or severe, fractures in the area of the right hock are frequently responsible for a dog's sudden retirement from an active racing career. Front leg injuries are not uncommon.
Generally, leg fractures can be successfully repaired. The injured leg is splinted to stabilize the bones and orthopedic surgery is performed with stainless steel screws and plates to knit the bone fragments together. Following surgery, the leg is re-splinted for healing over the next six weeks or so. Obviously, the dog is no longer suitable for all-out racing, but the odds are very good that it will regain full mobility as a pet, with little or no long-lasting pain or discomfort.
Did the adoption group where you got Bruno provide you with a paperwork containing historical data on Bruno? There may be vet records indicating the kind of injury treatment he received and when.
Two of the three greyhounds we've adopted over the years sustained right rear leg fractures on their last races. For the next eight years, our first dog walked around with a four-inch plate with six screws, while our current dog has one screw in place. Six months after surgery, to look at them run you would never know they had been injured.
Looking at the dates his last NGRC race was May 2006. He was only just turned 2 then, you did not adopt him until November 2012 - when he was 8 years old. There is nothing saying that the May 2006 WAS his final race, there is a lot of 'in-between' time to account for. Regards
Ms Sally Adams United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 4 Dogs 0 / Races 0 10 Sep 2013 12:36
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Hi, Very many thanks everyone for your helpful answers! I got no info at all, health-wise, other than that he was neutered & had dental surgery in the shelter - their vet (a greyhound vet) didn't even provide any records, which surprised me. The previous owner provided no info at all to the shelter, other than his racing name & his birth-date - possibly because it's very obvious that Bru hadn't seen a vet for years. 11 other dogs were handed over at the same time, from the same household. I only know that Bru's front left leg was damaged, & his face scarred, in his final race, which I assume is the Sittingbourne one, given what the comments seem to mean, and that he seems to have not finished the race as he has no 'posts'? His foot is steel-plated but there is also a scar at his ankle & serious stiffness up to the knee. It's riddled with arthritis now in that leg & all 4 hips. I have always assumed he was kept to breed from, because of his pedigree (Top Savings was his dad, Top Honcho his grandfather)& because he was kept with 11 other dogs. I don't think he was kept for love as it's obvious he wasn't well looked after. Would that assumption make sense? According to the database, Bru didn't have any offspring however. I would be less curious about his past, I think, if it weren't that Bru has 'issues'! He is incredibly nervous of certain men, or of groups of men together, & he also flinches if anyone raises a hand near him - I would never allow anyone to hit him, so I assume this comes from experiences in his previous home. This is why I would be reluctant to contact his previous owners. He also has major separation anxiety - it's not a huge problem as I'm disabled myself so don't go out much, but I hate that he finds it so distressing to be apart from me. He is walked by my carers but is always happier if I go with him. Many thanks again, Sally
I doubt that he would have been kept to breed from as it is mainly only the very good dogs that make it to stud. If he has steel plates in his foot that to me shows that his racing owner must have cared something for him (otherwise why pay for the operation) His separation anxiety may be because he was so used to having other dogs around him all the time and to suddenly 'lose' them all was distressing to him. It is all guess work and maybe's of his past. I have one with terrible issues and nerves (so bad that it hindered his racing career) but he has never been badly treated or hit, if anything he was wrapped in cotton wool his whole life and had the best of the best!! - if you met him though you would think he had been beaten daily and when people say to me 'oh poor poor boy' I do have to tell them that he was actually born with these issues, it is NOT through bad treatment (although I do realise that with some it is). I would personally not torture yourself with his past (as you say we will never know what truly happened) and go on with enjoying his future. He seems to love and trust you totally and he hopefully has many happy years ahead. Good luck to you both.
Ms Sally Adams United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 4 Dogs 0 / Races 0 11 Sep 2013 18:29
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Hi Ruth, thank you for that. Bru seems to have had a lot of potential before his injury & has a very good pedigree - I always assumed he'd been kept to stud cos of that. To me, it seems unlikely he was kept out of love as no loving owner would let their dog's teeth get in the state Bru's was in, or let a dog get as thin as he was. He also stank, had a serious worm problem, had clearly not been groomed for a long long time & his claws were massively overgrown - all suggesting to me that he wasn't loved. Like you say, the surgery will have cost a fortune so they had to have had a reason to do that, rather than kill him - I always assumed it was to breed. I guess you're right - I'll never know. I suppose I just thought I might understand his fears better if I knew more but nothing I find out will change who he is or how he feels about things. No matter what, he has his forever home with me & is very much loved & valued, even with his numerous 'issues'! Many thanks again!
To me, it seems unlikely he was kept out of love as no loving owner would let their dog's teeth get in the state Bru's was in, or let a dog get as thin as he was. He also stank, had a serious worm problem, had clearly not been groomed for a long long time & his claws were massively overgrown - all suggesting to me that he wasn't loved.
Hi Sally I help out at a retired greyhound re-homing centre and help to cut nails and scrape/clean teeth for the dogs that require attention. You would be AMAZED at the number of 'pet' greyhounds I see (or have brought to me) that have rancid breath and teeth and nails that are like talons!! Sadly a lot of owners think that giving them a nice bed, good food and a walk is enough, the 'maintenance' is so often overlooked. The answer I normally get when I ask why the teeth haven't been cleaned is 'oooh Freddie doesn't like you to touch his mouth' or 'I don't like to clean them as they bleed' and then the classic 'greyhounds have long nails' These owners do love their dogs but are blind to the harm and discomfort that they are putting them through - try as you might you cannot make them understand as they think that people like me 'forcing' them to have teeth cleaned and maybe making their nails bleed when cutting them are'cruel', not them!!! I am so pleased that you have the best balance for Bru which is love them AND maintain them. I hope you both have many happy years together. Kindest Regards
Ms Sally Adams United Kingdom (Verified User) Posts 4 Dogs 0 / Races 0 14 Sep 2013 11:36
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Hi Ruth,
Firstly thank you, on Bruno's behalf, for doing what you do. It makes me so angry that people do so little research before owning a dog. When I was looking for Bru, it was frightening how many people had returned dogs to the shelter because they'd hit unexpected problems! I did a lot of research before getting a rescue & looked into greyhound ownership before taking Bru. People seem to put as much thought into it as they would a pair of shoes - and probably take more care of the shoes! Bruno hates having his teeth cleaned too but I've tried various methods until I found what was right for him. They bleed often, but that is an even greater reason to clean them - I wouldn't dream of just not cleaning them! He's been through 2 major dental surgeries - one tooth was not only broken in half but was rotten to the core. To be honest, I don't know how anyone could tolerate the smell anyway, lol! Again, many thanks for what you do - ot must be heartbreaking at times but so rewarding too!
If you need help or advice about a dog you are retiring then this is the place for you.
