greyhound sports information
and medicine

All training programs rely on an exercise regime with progressive increments of overstress.

 

The athlete is supplied with optimal nutrition in a stress free environment and allowed enough time in between exercise bouts to strengthen and adapt to the new load.

 
 

Greyhound Inclusions
  • Chiropractic Manipulation
  • IVAS Accrued. Acupuncture
  • Physiotherapy
  • Greyhound Training Information
  • Laser Therapy
  • DNA testing greyhound GRA
 

Planning Program
All programs will have to be modified depending on the responses of each individual.
Bones, joint structures, ligaments, tendons and muscular connective tissue are slow to respond to training. (Approximately 3 months)
Muscles respond to training much faster, 3-4 weeks to near peak power and strength.
Planning must allow for these factors so that muscular power and strength does not outstrip other tissues resulting in continual injury problems.
 
Period Activity Program
Week 1 Watch the galloping action and assess the recovery after each bout of exercise to do individual program modifications or seek professional help
Week 2 Walking and exercise in a small yard. During this time adjust diet to get near optimum weight, worm for parasites and address any health problems. Blood, urine and faecal tests if necessary.
Weeks
3 & 4		 Continue walking exercise 30-60 minutes/day. (Don't overdo or exceed 20 minutes on a walking machine; they are not endurance animals.) Start galloping. Slip over 250 to 300 metres or free gallop every day or every other day. Swimming may be introduced 3-5 minutes twice a week. (Don't overdo as they do not use their back legs and the shoulders become too toned up; muscular imbalance.)
Weeks
5 & 6		 Continue walking exercise 30-60 minutes/day. Occasional swimming for variety. Continue slipping or free gallops every second day.
Introduce straight gallops behind a lure, 250-300 metres every 4th day. At this stage it would be wise to have the greyhound physically checked by and experienced greyhound veterinarian for injuries and assessment of muscle tone, fitness and health
Weeks
7 & 8

 

 Continue walking exercise 30-60 minutes/day. Occasional swimming for variety. Continue slipping or free gallops every second day. Introduce galloping on the bend behind a lure (300 metres). Keep lure chasing intervals to 4 days but Only on the bend every 2nd run. Initially slipping 40 metres back from the bend so the greyhound learns to change stride entering the bend
Weeks
8 & 9		 Continue walking exercise 30-60 minutes/day. Occasional swimming for variety. Continue slipping or free gallops every second day. Out of boxes on the bend behind a lure (400 metres). Keep lure chasing intervals to 4 days but only on the bend every 2nd run. Have the greyhound checked to detect muscle or shin soreness
Weeks
10 & 11		 Continue walking exercise 30-60 minutes/day. Occasional swimming for variety. Continue slipping or free gallops every second day. Introduce galloping with other greyhounds on the straight and circle. Gradually increase the distance of trials after assessing performance and recovery. Have the greyhound checked to detect muscle or shin soreness
Week 12 Nominate to Race. This program is and example only and would have to be modified at each stage depending on the individual animals responses. This is the art of training
 

Sports Medicine
Symptoms and illnesses could be suffered by racing greyhounds.

Lack of Stamina
SYMPTOMS ILLNESS TREATMENT
Respiratory Distress - post exercise cough Pneumonia Veterinary Inspection with X-ray and or endoscopic examination
Swollen tonsils Tonsillitis
Long or paralyzed soft palate Tonsillitis
Cough with pressure on lead Trachetis
Post exercise cough Tonsillitis
Persistent cough with slapping chest
(possibly productive)		 Bronchitis
Very blue gums after run

Cynosis - Indicating low oxygen
Anaemia - low red cell count
Heat problems
Lack of fitness

 Veterinary Inspection, full blood profile, ECG, to assess hear size and function
Greyhound NOT chasing Lack of fitness
Electrolyte imbalance (calcium, potassium, magnesium)
Vitamin or Selenium deficiency
Muscle parasites (Neosporosis, Toxoplasmosis.)
Dehydration		 Veterinary Inspection, full blood profile
Greyhound starts well, but tires after 250-300 metres. Fast twitch in type B fibres - not an illness. Cannot utilise oxygen due to lactic acid accumulation. Veterinary Inspection, full blood profile
Cramping and tying up
Overstressed
SYMPTOMS ILLNESS TREATMENT
Weight loss Overwork (walking, swimming or galloping)
Overexcited (raveling, kenneling, Trials etc.
Nutritional imbalance.
Pain (injuries).		 Veterinary Inspection and full blood profile.
Drinking excess water
Passing watery urine
Dehydration
Difficulty passing urine