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CC BY 4.0 · VCOT Open 2021; 04(01): e51-e57
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731436
Original Article

Impact of Digit Amputation on Dogs Competing in Agility

Debra C. Sellon
1   Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States
,
Denis J. Marcellin-Little 
2   Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States
,
Michelle Powers
3   Boston Mobile Veterinary Specialists, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
,
Sarah Fernandezlopez
4   Bad Dog Agility, Pearland, Texas, United States
,
Kimberley L. Cullen
5   School of Human Kinetics and Recreation, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada
› Author Affiliations Funding This research was supported in part by funds from Washington State University.
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Abstract

Objectives This work sought to determine the prognosis for dogs for return to athletic function in canine agility competitions after digit amputation.

Materials and Methods Data were collected using an Internet-based survey of owners of agility dogs with digit disorders that required amputation. Signalment and physical characteristics were compared between dogs with traumatic and nontraumatic disorders. Athletic performance before and after amputation was assessed subjectively by owner opinion and objectively for eight dogs using competition performance records.

Results Problems leading to digit amputation in 46 dogs included acute or chronic traumatic lesions (30 dogs), infection (7 dogs), neoplasia (7 dogs), and cystic lesions (2 dogs). There were no differences in signalment or physical characteristics between dogs with traumatic and nontraumatic disorders. Of the 46 dogs, 39 (84.7%) had returned to agility at the time of the survey and 94.6% of the owners (37/39) were satisfied with performance after amputation. No dog failed to return to agility as a result of the digit disorder or amputation. There was no difference in mean competition speed before and after amputation.

Clinical Significance Most agility dogs undergoing digit amputation perform satisfactorily after surgery, although modifications to performance criteria may be appropriate for some.

Keywords

dogs - digit amputation - canine agility - digit injury

Author Contributions

We certify that all authors meet the qualifications for authorship as listed below: DS, DM-L, MP, and SF substantially contributed to the conception or design of the work. DS acquired data. DS, DM-L, and SF analysed data. DS, DM-L, SF, MP, and KC interpreted data for the work. DS and DM-L did initial drafting of the work and revised it critically for important intellectual content. All authors agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.




Publication History

Received: 21 December 2020

Accepted: 23 February 2021

Article published online:
29 June 2021

© 2021. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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