Summary
Objectives: Little is known about the risks of injury to dogs participating in the relatively
new sport of canine agility. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors
that put the participating dog at risk as well as determine the anatomical sites that
were most commonly injured.
Methods: A retrospective survey using a paper and web-based data collection instrument was
used to evaluate dogs participating in the sport of canine agility.
Results: Of the 1627 dogs included in the study, 33% were injured, and of those 58% were injured
in competition. Most injuries occurred on dry outdoor surfaces. Border Collies were
the most commonly injured, and injuries were in excess of what would be expected from
their exposure. For all dogs, soft tissue injuries were most common. The shoulders
and backs of dogs were most commonly injured. Dogs were most commonly injured by contact
with an obstacle. The A-frame, dogwalk and bar jump obstacles were responsible for
nearly two-thirds of injuries that resulted from contact with the obstacle.
Conclusions: Border Collies are at higher risk for injury than would be expected from their exposure.
The A-frame, dogwalk and bar jump obstacles put the shoulders and backs of dogs at
risk.
Clinical Relevance: For the first time, this study gives us insight into injuries occurring in dogs participating
in canine agility. This will help direct prospective studies that evaluate the safety
of individual obstacles, direct rule changes and enable practitioners to understand
the risks of the sport.
Keywords
Sports medicine - general - Sports medicine -small animal - Epidemiology - general
