The racing industry has an infinite variety of ways of inflicting pain on greyhounds.
Take these two.
At Geelong on 22 June 2021, Aston Elliot was found to have “paresis” after he failed to finish the race. Two days shy of his second birthday, he was given a 14-day stand-down.
At Bendigo on 23 June 2021, four-year old Solar Charge was found to have split webbing to the hind paw and “pannus” in both eyes. He was given a 10-day recovery period.
Let’s look at those two hindrances.
Paresis is the dysfunction of the nervous or muscular systems. Examination is required to determine either a spinal cord disorder or neuromuscular disorder. Paresis can lead to paralysis.
Pannus is a disorder that affects the eye of the greyhound, and eventually leads to blindness if not managed.
Pannus is thought to be an auto-immune disease. The other factor thought to contribute is exposure to UV light, so affected dogs need to be kept out of bright light. Once the disease has started, there is no ‘cure’; all treatments are directed at slowing the progression.
What will be the future of these two greyhounds? But we don’t need to worry, because “they love their dogs”.
Image shows Aston Elliot cutting across other dogs at the turn, as he loses control of his legs.
Sources:
http://www.vetneuro.com/index.php/neurological-signs-diseases/limb-paresis-weakness