Athletic events for dogs are on the rise and with that, so too are sports-related injuries in dogs. Understanding the proper conditioning, nutrition, training, and rehabilitation that are specific to the canine athlete is the focus of the Canine Athlete Initiative (CAI), a major fundraising and public awareness campaign launched this month by the AKC Canine Health Foundation.

Through the Initiative, CHF is establishing the Canine Athlete Fund to award grants to researchers working in this emerging veterinary field. We are also educating the public on the joys of participating in canine athletic events, as well as the value of preventive examinations and optimal nutrition to keep all dogs at the top of their game. 

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for information on treatment options, cutting-edge research and ways to support canine cancer research.  Also be watching for the realease of pocasts focused on the canine athlete all summer long.  Upcoming topics include an Intro to Sports Medicine, Conditioning, Rehabilitation, Cranial Cruciate Ligament, Osteoarthritis, Pain Management, and  Early Spay and Neuter.

Health Tracks: Understanding Transmission of Leishmaniasis in Foxhounds
There is now a better explanation of why so many Foxhounds are infected with zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis. Scientists from Iowa State University and the University of Iowa investigated whether it might be possible for a female Foxhound infected with leishmaniasis to spread the infection to her puppies. Learn more about this research.

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Featured Grant: Techniques for Ruptured CCL Repair
The cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) is one of the main stabilizing ligaments of the knee in dogs and equivalent to the ACL in humans. The most common surgical repairs for people replace the ACL with a donor ligament. The objective of this project is to test surgical techniques for ligament replacement in dogs that mimics all functions of the CCL in hopes of decreasing postoperative arthritis.  Learn more about this grant.  
Photo courtesy of Fur-Fetched Photography

Often called low-level laser therapy, cold laser therapy or Class IV laser therapy, by any name, is still a relatively new concept that is being used more recently to treat dogs with arthritis, tendon or soft tissue injuries and to promote wound healing. Read about laser therapy.