This week we welcome special guest writer and MYOS Veterinary Advisor, Dr. Jennifer Shults. Dr. Shults owns and manages the Animal Emergency Clinic of Cary and the Veterinary Rehabilitation & Pain Management Hospital in Cary, NC.
As a full-time canine sports medicine and rehabilitation veterinarian, I see working dogs every day. There are many jobs out there for our canine companions – service, herding, livestock protection, detection, apprehension – but none are as demanding as search and rescue (SAR). These exceptional dogs need a variety of skills and a very high drive to complete their task. They often search for hours, over a variety of terrain, in high-stress environments, and need to be able to move quickly while also finding and tracking a scent, often with a large number of distractions.
For the SAR dogs in my practice, we focus on keeping them healthy and strong. Our SAR owners & handlers are exceptional people – committed to the health of their dogs and service to the community, whether they serve locally or deploy with state or federal response teams through FEMA and other organizations. Interacting with these owners & handlers is truly a joy – they are tuned into subtle changes in their dogs and want to be proactive in maintaining the health of the dogs.
Because of the physical demands these dogs face, musculoskeletal health is especially important. SAR dogs are often bred selectively, with an understanding of the health and genetics of the parents. Sometimes SAR dogs are found through rescue, and their genetics are unknown. During the selection process for SAR work, these dogs should undergo screening for hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia, which may preclude them from the physical requirements of the job. Training should include a fitness plan to develop balance, agility, endurance, and muscular strength. This type of training is supplemented by scent work and often specific work to the type of terrain they search (urban, mountains, etc)
As part of our plans to support musculoskeletal health in SAR and other working dogs, we try to maximize each dog’s health potential. As part of this goal, we recommend supplements to decrease inflammation and support healthy muscular development. These ingredients are important to consider:
- High levels of Omega-3 fatty acids: These, typically from marine sources, reduce inflammation in joints and muscle. Research has shown that daily supplementation at 150 mg/kg or higher can reduce inflammation similar to administration of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID).
- Fortetropin: This helps to build muscles, rather than allowing muscular breakdown, and has been shown to be beneficial in recovery and decreasing joint discomfort in daily life. Muscular strength is essential to stabilize and protect joints – a stable joint helps to slow progression of joint disease.
- Other anti-inflammatories: Ingredients like green lipped mussel, egg shell membrane, MSM, curcumin, and Boswellia have been shown to reduce inflammation as well.
As our SAR dogs age, they gain valuable experience in tracking scents and ignoring distractions. However, as they age, they can become more prone to musculoskeletal disease. This increases the need for a multi-modal program to manage osteoarthritis. In multi-modal osteoarthritis programs, some of our musculoskeletal support program components above become more important.
We need to emphasize development of muscular strength and health in our SAR patients to help them complete tracking more easily and keep them working longer into their lives. I believe that supplements designed to improve strength (like Fortetropin) and reduce inflammation (Omega-2, green lipped muscle, others) are an important part of these plans.
Jennifer Jones Shults, DVM, CCRT, CVSMT, FCoAC
