What are the signs of musculoskeletal injury in a MWD and what steps should you take?

• A. Increased appetite and energy.
• B. Limping, reluctance to bear weight, swelling, or pain on palpation; rest the dog, reduce workload, consult a veterinarian, and perform a slow, supervised return-to-work plan.
• C. Always fine; ignore signs.
• D. Immediately retire the dog from service.

Answer: (B)

Recognizing musculoskeletal injury in a MWD comes from noticing how the dog moves and reacts to touch. Real signs to watch for are limping, reluctance to bear weight on a leg, swelling in a limb or joint, and pain when you palpate or manipulate the area. These indicate tissue damage such as a strain, sprain, fracture, or joint problem, and continuing strenuous activity can make things worse.

When those signs appear, the appropriate response is to stop intensive work, rest the dog, and reduce workload immediately. Seek veterinary evaluation promptly to determine the exact injury and appropriate treatment. A veterinarian will guide you on pain management, diagnostics, and a rehabilitation plan. Once healing begins, follow a slow, supervised return-to-work plan that gradually increases exercise and workload, with careful monitoring for pain, lameness, or swelling.

In contrast, signs like increased appetite and energy don’t point to an injury; ignoring signs is dangerous and can worsen problems; and retirement from service isn’t the first step—proper assessment and a tailored recovery plan are needed to decide if and when a dog can safely return to work.