Front Matter

Chapter 21 Conditions and Rehabilitation of the Working Dog 535

setting, the three leading causes of death for
police dogs are: being struck by a vehicle,
heat stroke, and gunshot trauma. While exer-
tional hyperthermia is certainly an issue with
working police dogs, sadly the highest inci-
dence of fatal hyperthermia comes from ani-
mals being left unattended in vehicles
(Stojsih et al., 2014).

Protection (miscellaneous)

These are dogs used for protection, law enforce-

ment, and MWD-like work in many other civil-

ian and personal protection situations.

Specific tasks

● Secret Service (Goodavage, 2017)

● FBI Hostage Rescue Team

● Prisons

● Personal protection

● Ring sports: used as training for personal

protection dogs and breeding stock

(Schutzhund, Mondio Ring, French Ring)

● Private security.

Potential issues

● Repetitive stress injuries: often unaddressed

or unrecognized until significant sympto-

matic threshold is crossed; by then multiple

areas of trauma are often involved

● Conditioning: physical fitness

● Cervical spinal trauma: cervical whiplash,

IVDD (from repetitive bite work training)

● Lumbar spinal trauma: iliopsoas and other

hypaxial muscles, ventral longitudinal

ligament (from rotational hyperextension of

spine during repetitive apprehension and

bite training)

● Fatigue: nasal and musculoskeletal

● Trauma: musculoskeletal.

Figure 21.11 Police and law enforcement agencies
throughout the United States are dramatically increasing
the use of working canines for patrol, apprehension, and
detection. Shortly before going to publication, this Salt
Lake Unified Police dog, Dingo, was killed in the line of
duty while apprehending a wanted Federal fugitive.
Source: Photo courtesy of Lt. Chad Reyes and Salt Lake
Unified Police.

Case Study 21.1 Supraspinatus insertionopathy

Signalment: 2-y/o M/I Border Collie, working sheep-

ranch dog, presented twice for post-trauma

evaluations.

First presentation: Patient worked sheep at ranches

throughout the United States and Canada as client

traveled presenting clinics and competing. Four months

before first presentation patient became distracted and

fell into a small ditch while working sheep, hitting the

opposite side with his chest. Patient cried out, was NWB

on left thoracic limb for 5-10 minutes then seemed to

move and work normally. Because of patient’s talent and

athletic ability, client wanted a thorough examination to

rule out residual issues.

Physical examination: No obvious gait abnormali-

ties. Physical and musculoskeletal examination unre-

markable except for a small palpable defect in left

supraspinatus at level of acromion process, and slight

sensitivity to palpation.

Thermal imaging: Thermal images taken from cranial

chest and left and right laterals demonstrate a signifi-

cant asymmetrical pattern between right and left

shoulders with a focus of heat in the area of left

supraspinatus tendon (Figure 21.12).

Ultrasonography: Ultrasonographic exam of

supraspinatus muscles demonstrated mild hypere-

chogenicity in the left distal supraspinatus (possibly

displaying bruising or muscle trauma) with repeata-

ble muscle hypoechoic core lesion just distal to this

(Figure 21.13).

Treatment: As patient was traveling for the next

month with other dogs competing in sheepdog trials,

client was advised not to train or work the patient,

allowing only strict leash walking for 3–4 weeks.

(Continued)