It’s been a busy summer at Wheeling with some ground-breaking off-track developments.

Wheeling Island Racetrack and The Ohio State University have formed a joint venture targeting the wellness of greyhounds.

The partnership is two-fold – first to improve the health status of racing greyhounds through an investigative study, and secondly to significantly decrease or eliminate euthanasia due to catastrophic the program from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Lori L. Bohenko, West Virginia Racing Commission state veterinarian, played a major role in launching the undertaking at the Wheeling racetrack.

With support of the West Virginia Racing Commission and Wheeling Island, the investigative study was conducted in July at Wheeling by Dr. Couto, Dr. Bohenko and a group of veterinarians and students from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Bohenko said the study had three goals – provide health screens for 120 greyhounds, test for tick borne and heartworm diseases and the effects of exercise (racing) on blood work.

“Through this joint effort, we are trying to learn more about these greyhounds and what makes them tick,” Dr. Bohenko said. “This is the first time a study of this magnitude using actively racing dogs has ever been conducted. Mostly retired greyhounds have been used in the past.”

The greyhounds in the study had blood drawn on three occasions – the day before they were scheduled to race, immediately after their race and one to two hours after the completion of their race.

“We completed health screens (blood work) to generate reference points because greyhounds have odd blood values. This can be useful to practitioners,” Dr. Bohenko said. “I believe there are more greyhounds in the private sector now so it’s a valuable piece of information for veterinarians.”

In addition to tests for heartworm and tick borne diseases, Dr. Couto and his staff did complete blood counts (CBCs), serum chemistry profiles (liver, kidney function, etc.) and blood gas analysis (BGs). The heartworm and tick borne disease tests all were negative.

“It’s a good reflection on the care these greyhounds receive,” Dr. Bohenko said. “It also points out to people who want to adopt them that there are no problems.”

The study found a huge change in a greyhound’s blood makeup after racing.

“The percentage of circulating red blood cells increased up to 75 percent when tested after running. Their blood was like sludge,” Dr. Bohenko said. “But within one hour after racing, it was back to normal. We are studying why and how greyhounds are able to do this.”

Idexx Laboratories, Inc., a global market leader in diagnostics and information technology solutions for animal health, provided the state-ofthe- art equipment for the study as well as the supplies needed to run the tests. They are headquartered in Maine and have more than 60 locations around the world.

“Dr. Couto and I are very pleased with the results so far – some very interesting information came out of the study. When funding permits, we’d like to expand the study and go more indepth,” Dr. Bohenko said. “We are excited about future collaborations with the track. The cooperation from the dog men was outstanding.”

The second part of the partnership, dubbed “4 Legs 4 Hounds” by Dr. Couto, is a rehabilitation program funded in part by Wheeling Island Racetrack, Wheeling kennel operators and The Ohio State University Greyhound Health and Wellness Program.

Any greyhound with a career-ending injury will be taken to Ohio State for surgery if the owner relinquishes rights to the racer. After surgery, the greyhound is placed in the adoption program at the school.

“We are now sending the more severely injured greyhounds to Ohio State University to be repaired by board certified surgeons,” Dr. Bohenko said. “These are dogs that would have been euthanized due to the severity of their injuries. Now all dogs we’ve sent to Ohio State are happily living in homes with new families.”

In exchange for the surgical repairs, the greyhounds “give back” by donating blood at the Ohio State University blood bank several times a year.

“Greyhounds are universal donors and are able to provide blood to dogs in all walks of life,” Dr. Bohenko said. “They are life savers.”

Since the program was implemented this year, no greyhounds have been euthanized due to racing injuries at Wheeling.

“It is very exciting to have options for these dogs that had no options before. It’s good for the industry and the sport,” Dr. Bohenko said. “Less severe musculo-skeletal injuries are being treated by local veterinarians under the same program.”

Assisting with the programs was Mary Lou Metz, director of the Wheeling Greyhound Pets of America.

Track manager Gene Magliaro also is a huge supporter of the rehabilitation program.

“These two projects have happened due to the outstanding cooperation between Dr. Couto, Dr. Bohenko, Mary Lou Metz, the kennel operators and Wheeling Island management,” Magliaro said. “These projects serve as a model for any racing venue in the world.”

Dr. Couto’s energy and passion for the greyhounds and the programs is unmatched. His commitment grows stronger each day.

“These programs are an incredible development for my team and the greyhound industry. We are on the cutting edge,” Dr. Couto said.

“Everyone was so helpful. We could not have done this without everybody’s help.”

Dr. Bohenko echoed Dr. Couto’s sentiments.

“It was a huge effort on the part of many, many people to make it happen and it went off like clockwork. A big thank goes to all the kennel operators and their staffs for their cooperation,” Dr. Bohenko said. “It’s exciting because it’s the first time academia and racing have joined forces.”

In addition to Dr. Couto, assisting in the study from Ohio State were Kirt Yant, Dawn Hudson, Aimee Brooks, Kelly Kontur, Steve Horvath and Alice Tamborini.

Anyone wishing to make a donation to the 4 Legs 4 Hounds program are asked to visit the website http:// greyhound.osu.edu/ and click on the “Giving” tab.

(Permission to reprint from Gary Guccione.)

http://www.sitstayandplayallday.com/