Once a muscle injury is located, then depending on the type of injury, it is important that prompt and specific first aid is applied to reduce further damage and aid recovery.  Unfortunately, in many cases, failure to provide appropriate first aid as quickly as possible can lead to delay in healing of injured muscles.  This may result in longer downtime from training, as well as add extra costs and treatment time under veterinary supervision.
Certainly, the more serious forms of injury, particularly haemorrhage within a torn muscle, require quick and expert first aid to stem the seepage of blood and increase the chances of rapid repair and strong healing.

PROMPT FIRST AID
In most cases, simple first aid is often effective to help start the healing process following minor bruising and muscle tears at track side.
As a rule of thumb, cold therapy applied as an icepack, held in place by the hand or by a strapping, is the most beneficial therapy that can be applied.
Cold therapy helps confine the injury to the site, prevent further bleeding, reduce swelling and inflammation, as well as numb the pain from the injury.  The benefit of cold therapy as initial first aid for muscle injuries cannot be over-emphasised.
A suitable method is to apply a cold pack over the area of muscle injury.
Cold packs can range in various forms from ice blocks in a bag, an ice confectionary in a paper wrapper, a cold can of soft drink or beer, to a specially made gel cold pack for the purpose.

COLD PACKS
It is a good idea to take a frozen gel pack, an insulated cooler box, to the track even to a trial.
The cold pack can be surrounded by a bag of ice, or cans of drink, and packed in an insulated foam box.
This can be a valuable “insurance” as a form of prompt first aid in case a greyhound sustains an injury.
Immediate application of cold therapy is beneficial to reduce the risk of bleeding and inflammation in the damaged muscle area.  Instant freezing packs for human sports injuries, which are activated by pressing a “shock” button to begin the ice formation are also a convenient ice-pack at the track.
Other forms consist of powder in one part, with a separate section of activating fluid.  When ruptured by squeezing and mixed, the two parts form crystals and freeze.
Once activated, these cold packs can then be put into the freezer and thereafter used as a simple frozen gel pack.

INITIAL COLD THERAPY
Cold therapy is absolutely the best form of initial first aid in cases of torn muscles.  Bruising and haemorrhage take a couple of hours to develop.
Application of an ice pack held in place over the injury for only a few minutes can limit the damage to the muscle.
Also remember, that although the pain and swelling may have reduced after cold therapy, the injury has not healed.
Treatment should be referred to your vet, once the initial first aid has been applied.

TIME OF APPLICATION
Applications of cold therapy should be spaced out over the first 24-48 hours following a more severe muscle injury.
It is best to apply cold therapy for 2-3 minutes to the lower limb, and from 5-7 minutes for a larger muscle area in the shoulder or hind leg area.
It is most important not to apply a ring of cold therapy, such as by wrapping a cold pack right around a lower limb of a greyhound, as this can interfere with the circulation in the limb below the cold “clamp”.
It is best to apply the cold therapy only to the site of injury.  Apply the cold therapy a number of times per day in the more serious injuries to reduce bleeding and swelling.
Don’t leave a cold pack in place for too long.  The initial reaction to cold therapy will be constriction and confinement to reduce blood flow, haemorrhage and swelling.
However, after a certain period of time if cold therapy is kept in place, the body reacts by increasing blood flow to avoid a “frost bite” situation.
This is a normal process that can increase the risk of ongoing haemorrhage in muscle injuries.
It is best to apply cold therapy to restrict bleeding for 3-5 minutes at a time on a more frequent basis, rather than leave the cold pack strapped in place for more than 10 minutes at a time.
Obviously, when applied to a “hot” greyhound after racing, the benefit of cold therapy will be quickly dissipated.
Therefore, it can be left in place for up to twice the time, or repeated more often.  In a greyhound that has cooled down, the cold therapy will have more long lasting direct effect on the site of injury and thus care to limit the maximum times of 3-5 minutes is essential.

WARMING THERAPY
After the initial period of cold therapy over the first 24-48 hours, depending on the severity of the injury, warming therapy such as massage and hot packs can then be used.
In the case of muscle injuries where haemorrhage is involved, it is important not to massage the area or apply other treatments such as ultrasonic therapy within 3-4 days after the injury has occurred.
This is because the blood clot formation will be broken down and bleeding into the damaged area may recur.
If this occurs over an area being treated by microwave vibration or direct warming effect, then obviously the risk of recurring haemorrhage will delay reorganisation and healing.
Warming therapy should not be applied until the inflammation and general soreness around the muscle area has been reduced.
It is a good idea to obtain advice from your vet before applying warming therapy to a severely torn muscle area.

DROPPED MUSCLES
In the case of torn away or “dropped” muscles, these should be strapped back in place as soon as possible after the injury has occurred.  If possible, gently push the muscle back into its normal position.
This is particularly important in the case of ruptured “back”, “groin” or “gracilis” muscles high up between the back legs.
Check the muscle on the other side to compare its size and position, which helps ensure that the “dropped” muscle is pushed back to its normal location.
If there is a lot of haemorrhage and swelling, then bandage on a cold pack for 10-15 minutes.
Male dogs don’t often relish a cold pack in this area!  Locate the cold pack in front of the testicles.
Place the cold pack flat against the leg, and hold it on with layers of elastic rubberised or stretch bandage.
One round of an elastic bandage can be applied to help keep the ice-pack in place, particularly between the back legs.
Do not force the greyhound to walk long distances, carry the animal if possible so that the muscle will be less likely to drop back out of its place.
It is best to get the grey-hound to a veterinary surgeon as soon as possible for thorough assessment of the damage.

ALTERNATIVE INITIAL THERAPY (PMFT)
In recent times, pulsed magnetic field therapy has been advocated for treating muscle injuries.
Low power settings tend to have an effect of reducing blood flow to an area in a similar action to a cold pack.
PMFT can be quite useful to constrict an area of haemorrhage in muscles.
However, a problem arises in the upper limb, in trying to focus the effect to a certain area.
Some machines have pads that can be applied over the defined area of treatment for muscle injuries.
Higher settings on magnetic field therapy machines can be used for warming and healing treatment for muscle injuries after the first 48 hours.
Rest is also an important factor in the first aid of muscle injuries.
If you detect torn muscle fibres or a tear in the muscle sheath or haemorrhage (“squelchy” feeling), then the animal should be confined to a kennel.
The greyhound should only be allowed out for a short walk to empty out.
If you find a dropped muscle, then the animal must be strictly confined to a kennel, and carefully carried out and stood-up to empty out.
Book in a consultation with your vet as soon as possible.