DALMATIAN CARRIAGE DOG TRIALS WORKSHOP VETTING

Rachel MowbrayVale Vets

The Animal Hospital, Stinchcombe, Dursley 01453 542092

VETTING - WHAT IS NEEDED• Area of shade / shelter.• One vet and one assistant who can take

heart rates and temperatures.• Concrete area for gait analysis.• Close to finish and roped so that dogs

crossing the finishing line go straight to vetting area.

• Stethoscope, thermometer, first aid kit. Ear thermometers and “biotherm” microchips not as reliable for core temperature

PURPOSE OF VETTING• To ascertain that the dogs are fit to

compete.• To assess fitness and award a score. • To assess dogs for best condition award

VETTING – WHAT IS ASSESSED?• Pulse – Checking for any signs of

heart or circulation problems and using heart rate and recovery as a way of measuring fitness.

• Temperature – Check for evidence of ill health (pyrexia) or hyperthermia due to exercise or weather

VETTING – WHAT IS ASSESSED?• Respiration – change in respiratory rate or

effort is a sign of ill health. Dogs will frequently be panting.

• Pads- check for injuries or signs of wear.• Capillary refill time ( C.R.T.) and mucous

membrane colour - changes can indicate anaemia, toxicity, congestion, dehydration.

VETTING – WHAT IS ASSESSED?• Gait – ideally at walk and trot.

Evidence of lameness/ injury. Assessment of gait for suitability to work and possibility of developing future injuries.

• Musculature – Body condition – amount of musculature, any pain etc.

PREPARING YOUR DOG FOR THE VETTING

• Get your dog used to standing to be examined.

• Practice taking pulse and using a stethoscope.

• Practice taking temperature• Practice walking and trotting up

THE VETTING SCORING SYSTEM• Each dog starts the competition with 100 points• Points are detracted based on the temperature change over

the endurance course, heart rate and recovery rate.• Points are detracted for any problem with gait, pads,

respiratory rate, c.r.t., musculature• The resting heart rate is taken at the initial vet check, heart

rates are taken at the mid point and end check, a recovery heart rate is taken 5minutes after completion.

• Gold dogs trotted up thirty minutes after completion as this is when stiffness and lameness may start to show due to lactic acid build up.

• Dogs who have to rest for a full thirty minutes can only receive the minimum score of 51.

VETTING PROCEDURE• Vet decides length of midpoint check based on predicted

weather conditions. This will be between 15 minutes to 30minutes ( if very hot)

• The time spent checking the dog is part of the rest period. • Competitors must not cool their dogs until the

temperatures have been checked. • If two dogs arrive at the same time then both heart rates

should be taken, then both temperatures, then remaining checks carried out.

• If a number of dogs arrive at the same time then finishing dogs are checked first according to start time then mid point dogs.

ELEMENTS OF FITNESS• Body composition – how much lean muscle, how much fat –

influenced by diet, training, health.• Flexibility – range of motion at joints, can be improved with

exercising and stretches. • Anaerobic efficiency – ability of body to produce energy without

the presence of oxygen. This is used in short bursts e.g.recall to heel in obedience.

• Aerobic efficiency – ability of body to use oxygen to gain energy, used in the endurance course.

• Speed – performing a movement of a part or the whole body quickly.

• Strength – generation of force by the muscles can be static, maximal or endurance based.

• Power – speed at which force can be applied ( speed x strength)

ENERGY PATHWAYS• ATP is broken down to give energy, ATP

needs to be reformed.• ATP ADP + P + ENERGY• Alactic anaerobic pathway – this uses the

muscle stores of creatinine phosphate to provide phosphate.

• ADP + P ATP + Creatinine• This gives a short interval of maximal effort

– 5 – 10 seconds

ENERGY PATHWAYS• Lactic anaerobic – this involves the breakdown

of glycogen in the absence of oxygen, with the formation of ATP plus lactic acid.

• Glycogen +P+ADP ATP+lactate• I unit of glycogen yields 3 units of lactate• After 60 seconds lactic acid will build up, lactic

acid removal requires oxygen – this causes an oxygen debt.

• Training can improve use of this pathway and tolerance of lactic acid.

ENERGY PATHWAYS• Aerobic energy pathway – This involves the oxygen

transporting system (heart, lungs and blood) to provide oxygen to the muscle for the oxidation of glycogen or fatty acids.

• This is used for prolonged work of relatively low intensity ( endurance)

• I unit of glycogen P+ADP+o2=37 units ATP + CO2 + H2O

• I unit free fatty acids P+ADP+O2= 140 units ATP + CO2 + H2O ( but 8% more O2 needed)

• This pathway may be developed by specific training

FEEDING• Obedience and endurance course is an ‘intermediate’

activity between sprinting (e.g. Greyhounds) and endurance (sled dogs)

• Activity lasts for either a few minutes ( obedience ) to several hours ( endurance)

• Not much research into nutrition for these dogs. • High intensity exercise relies on fast anaerobic

Carbohydrate metabolism. • Endurance of low to medium intensity rely more on aerobic

carbohydrate and fatty acid oxidation.• Intermediate exercise both fats and some carbohydrate

needed for fuel source. • Omega 3 fatty acids (fish oil) may enhance oxygen uptake

and decrease inflammation.

VO2 MAX• VO2 max = the body’s maximum aerobic

power. It is defined as “the highest oxygen uptake the individual can attain during physical work breathing air at sea level.

• Measuring VO2 max is the best way to assess aerobic efficiency. It can be improved by training up to a maximum of 15 to 20 %.

• This is difficult to measure in dogs.

HEART RATES IN WORKING DOGS• One study was done to measure heart rates and

temperature in working Labradors. • The mean heart rate at rest was 95.7, rising to 216 in

the first 20 seconds of intense exercise and falling to 178 in the last 20 seconds of exercise.

• Mean temp at rest was 38.6 rising to 40.8 in the last 20 seconds of intense exercise

• In non-athletic Labradors the mean heart rate at rest was 109, rising to 186 in the first 20 seconds of intense exercise and 182 in the last.

• Mean temperature in the non-athletic dogs was 38.6, rising to 40.1 in the last 20 seconds.

MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT• Exercises to develop muscle include weight

shifting exercises, core stability exercises and physio ball work.

• Hydrotherapy such as water treadmill or pool help to build muscle and aerobic fitness.

• Physiotherapy and chiropractic treatments help keep muscles and joints healthy.

• Ice any injuries for three days.

TRAINING• Training is an organised process – the body is exposed to

stressors of varied volume and intensity. • Increasing the stimulus causes adaption and then performance

improvement. • Adaptation is highly specific to the type of training undertaken

so training must be based on the energy systems dominant in the sport.

• Training can improve efficiency of movement and coordination, the muscle stores of ATP and phospcreatine, increase the capacity of the muscle to store glycogen, increase muscle tolerance to lactic acid, increase the use of fat for long duration activity, increase lung volume and the amount of blood pumped by the heart so increasing the supply of oxygenated blood to working muscles.

ENDURANCE TRAINING• Continuous training involves working at a steady pace

starting at 30 minutes and building up to 120 minutes. Improvements in VO2 max occur through long term loading under aerobic conditions.

• Alternating pace – long duration running with the speed of successive stretches altered. E.g. Slow for 1kg, fast for 0.5kg, forces anaerobic respiration which creates an oxygen debt to be repaid in the next km. This is a strong stimulus for VO2 max development. This is used frequently by middle and long distance athletes.

• Adequate rest periods are required between training sessions.

• Taper training before competition to avoid fatigue.

COOLING YOUR DOG• Dogs with a temperature of over

40degrees C (104F) will have to be rested until temperature 39.7

• Temperatures over 43.5 degreesC (110F) are fatal. Tissues are damaged at sustained temperatures over 41.6C (107)

• Use cool or tepid water ( too cold water or ice can cause vasoconstriction, keeping hot blood in core.)

COOLING YOUR DOG• If hot get dog into shade as soon as possible.• Use wet towels or cooling vest to cool, in

particular cool the belly, groin and the pads. Encourage dog to lie on wet towel.

• Offer cool or tepid water to drink. Encourage dog to drink - treats in water etc.

• Cooling vests contain gels which wet with water or freeze at temperature just above that which causes vasoconstriction.

• Consider using a portable fan.

WARMING UP• Warming up should aim for a slow progression from slow

walk up to fast run. • Pre-event massage is useful to warm muscles and prepare

them for work. • Stretching – must only be done with warm muscles. • If a cold day it is important to keep dog warm at midpoint

checks, vet checks etc, can use a “warm-up” coat. • Warming up when it is very hot is still important but care

not to overheat. • Cooling down also important at the end, a warm down

massage can also be used.