Greyhound gracilis injury: How long until he can race again?

Hello, Greyhounds are predisposed to cancers of the leg bones, which is why we always like to take x-rays whenever a senior greyhound starts limping. I am concerned with your description of being able to feel bone and unsure whether that is normal for him or not. Another muscle strain could be treated with Previcox just the same as the last one. Your veterinarian could best guide you on whether an x-ray is necessary after a physical exam. I hope this is helpful. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. Unfortunately, x-rays do not show every kind of injury that can happen, especially when it may involve soft tissues like muscles, ligaments & tendons. A torn or partially torn tendon can take twice as long to heal as a broken bone & you can not tell Bane to take it easy or use crutches. I would give him at least another 4-6 weeks to see if this will heal, especially if he is showing some improvement. Rest & gently exercise are important, so working with a canine rehabilitation medicine specialist, especially if they offer water therapy can be very helpful. If you really want to diagnose the problem, the best solution would be an MRI, as this is how most sports injuries are diagnosed. It may be something to consider & talk to your vet about. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

The dog should be kept as quiet as possible for 6-12 weeks to ensure that the bone sets and heals properly. This means no running, jumping, or playing, and the dog should be taken out to toilet on a lead only. Once x-rays are done to confirm that the bone has fully healed, the dog will be allowed to exercise and activity levels must be built back up slowly. Physical therapy and hydrotherapy may be done to help the dog regain it's muscle mass and activity levels.

Hello, sorry to hear about Bubba. Most soft tissue injuries, like in humans, will resolve on their own with rest. That is, no running, jumping, or rough housing for the next 10-14 days. Allow only leash walks as often as he needs to for elimination purposes. However, if his lameness is not improving, if he seems painful, then he should be seen by a veterinarian as he may need further evaluation to include a physical/orthopedic exam and x-rays. If these are pursued, than its likely that Bubba may then be prescribed anti-inflammatories and other pain medications to make him more comfortable. Common injuries to back legs of dogs are isolated to their knees and include ACL tear and luxation of their knee caps. Bubba will likely not improve with rest if he did injure these. If you think his injury is more significant than a muscle strain, then have him seen sooner. Hope this helps and best of luck.

If there is a rehab veterinarian in your area they can give you specific exercises after seeing exactly how he stands and walks. Spending time walking and free in a yard should help his legs and muscles get stronger. This could be due to a neurological issue so if he’s not improving a veterinary exam is recommended. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for your rescue dog.

Wow, I'm so sorry he has hit by a car! How horrible for him and you. Dogs can recover from nerve damage, but it can take months for full function to be restored. I'd give it a couple of months to see if things improve.

It really depends on the cause of the muscle weakness. If it was related to illness, then it could gradually start to recover. If the muscle loss is due to another underlying conditioning or age, it may require additional treatment such as pain meds, joint meds etc, or even assistance with walking/doggy wheelchairs. Since it hasn't improved in several weeks, i would schedule a recheck with your veterinarian to see if there are any additional treatments needed.