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From: Mike Murphy
Date: 8/21/00
Time: 12:42:15 PM
Remote Name: 208.16.241.174
We just put sweats on the front legs during a layover at a checkpoint. I have seen articles in Mushing Magazine about the proper placement, but couldn't tell you which issue. We put ours on so that at least 3 toes are sticking out, and not real tight. It's best initially to keep an eye on the feet for awhile, if they start to swell,,,they're too tight. We leave them on for however long we will be there,,,3-6 hours. We use them more as a "preventive". They just help the dogs from stiffening up. There are several ways you can use them however. If a dog definitely has an injured wrist, you can put snow in a plastic ziplock bag and place the wrap over that as kind of an ice pack. We mostly use algyval under ours, but have used absorbine type linamints also, as well as a few "home remedy" type concoctions. The basic idea of the wrap is to keep the joint from stiffening up during rest. There are also a number of other things you can do to help stiffness, including massage, warming up, and stretching, before getting back on the trail. The only time we use the wraps in the yard or after a training run is if a dog has a difinite injury,,,or we're training the dogs to checkpoint routines. Personally, I like the longer wraps, 7-9". Most of ours we purchased from Robin Jacobson at Husky Express, but also have been very happy with those from Mountain Ridge in Maine. Theirs are not a neoprene but a stretch nylon/polar fleece type. I think the dogs have a little more flexibility with those than the neoprenes.
As I said in a previous post, I think the addition of Glucosamine Sulfate to the diet of my race dogs last year acted as a better preventive than anything else I've done over the years. Zero wrist or shoulder injuries on some very tough trail.