An Internet survey of risk factors for injury in North American dogs competing in flyball.

A survey was used to investigate injuries in dogs competing in flyball. Complete surveys were obtained from 272 respondents with 589 dogs. In the past year, 23.3% of dogs were injured, with 34.1% injured during their career to date. Common injury sites were paws/digits, back, shoulder, and iliopsoas muscle/groin. Injury in previous years, modified by weight:height ratio, was a significant risk factor for injury. Dogs > 2 y of age had increased risk of injury, as did dogs with best times < 4.0 s. Canadian dogs had increased risk of injury (30.7% injured) compared to United States dogs (20.1% injured). This relationship was modified by participation in other sports, which generally reduced risk of injury in Canadian dogs. Further investigation of risk factors should include differences in training and competition between the United States and Canada, as well as injury prevention strategies.

Un sondage Internet sur les facteurs de risque de blessure chez les chiens nord-américains participant au flyball. Un sondage a été utilisé pour enquêter sur les blessures chez les chiens participant au flyball. Des enquêtes complètes ont été obtenues auprès de 272 répondants avec 589 chiens. Au cours de la dernière année, 23,3 % des chiens ont été blessés, et 34,1 % au cours de leur carrière à ce jour. Les sites de blessure les plus courants étaient les pattes/doigts, le dos, l'épaule et l'aine/muscle psoas iliaque. Les blessures des années précédentes, modifiées par le rapport poids/taille, étaient un facteur de risque important de blessures. Les chiens de plus de 2 ans présentaient un risque accru de blessures, tout comme les chiens avec les meilleurs temps < 4,0 s. Les chiens canadiens présentaient un risque accru de blessures (30,7 % de blessés) par rapport aux chiens américains (20,1 % de blessés). Cette relation était modifiée par la participation à d'autres sports, ce qui réduisait généralement le risque de blessure chez les chiens canadiens. Une enquête plus approfondie sur les facteurs de risque devrait inclure les différences d'entraînement et de compétition entre les États-Unis et le Canada, ainsi que des stratégies de prévention des blessures.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).

Pharmacokinetic and Safety Evaluation of Various Oral Doses of a Novel 1:20 THC:CBD Cannabis Herbal Extract in Dogs.

Objective: To determine the pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of various oral doses of a Cannabis herbal extract (CHE) containing a 1:20 ratio of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC):cannabidiol (CBD) in 13 healthy Beagle-cross dogs. Methods: Single-dose PK was assessed after oral administration of CHE at low, medium, or high doses [2, 5, or 10 mg CBD and 0.1, 0.25, or 0.5 mg THC per kg of body weight (bw), respectively; n = 6 per group]. Dogs were monitored for adverse events for up to 48 h post-dose. Evaluations of neurological signs, clinical laboratory abnormalities, and other adverse events were performed in two separate study phases: a multiple-dose phase with 12 dogs receiving five medium doses (5 mg CBD/kg bw) at 12 h intervals, and a single low-dose (2 mg CBD/kg bw), randomized, blinded, negative controlled study with 13 dogs. Results: Cannabinoids CBD, THC, CBC, and metabolites 6-OH-CBD, 7-OH-CBD, 11-OH-THC, and THC-COOH were quantified in plasma. CBD and THC were rapidly absorbed (mean T max of 1.9-2.3 h) and initially depleted rapidly (mean CBD T 1/2ß of 2.3-2.6 h). A prolonged elimination phase (mean CBD T 1/2λ of 13.3-24.4 h) was observed. CBD and THC concentrations increased in a dose-dependent (non-linear) manner, with disproportionally greater cannabinoid exposure relative to the dose increase. Neurological signs (hyperesthesia or proprioceptive deficits) were noted in five of six dogs in the high-dose group, but only occasionally or rarely in the medium- and low-dose groups, respectively. Presence and severity of clinical signs correlated with plasma cannabinoid concentrations. Dogs appeared to develop a tolerance to cannabinoid effects after multiple CHE doses, with fewer neurological signs noted after the final (fifth) vs. first dose. No clinically meaningful changes in blood count or chemistry values occurred after multiple CHE doses. Clinical Significance: Dogs tolerated the 1:20 THC:CBD formulation well at low and medium doses, but clinically meaningful neurological signs were observed at high doses. Because of non-proportional increases in plasma cannabinoid concentrations with increasing doses, as well as potential differences in CHE product composition and bioavailability, the possibility of adverse events and dose regimen consistency should be discussed with dog owners.