Dogs’ legs can be harmed by jumping from cars, vets warn

LETTING dogs jump out of the boot of a car risks damaging their legs, a Veterinary College study has warned.

When dogs leap out of high-backed vehicles, excessive strain is put on their front legs which can make them more vulnerable to injury, according to new research.

Dr Alison Wills, a senior lecturer in animal science, said: “In allowing dogs to jump unaided out of vehicles, owners may be inadvertently predisposing their dogs to the development of musculoskeletal pathologies.”

In the first study of its kind, published in Vet Record, a British team found that jumping from cars increased the pressure on dogs’ legs by a quarter.

Researchers at Hartpury University Centre in Gloucester got 15 healthy dogs to each leap three times from a platform. The dogs were at least two years old, to ensure their bodies had fully matured, and consisted of pedigree breeds such as Belgian shepherds and border collies and a crossbreed.

The platform was adjusted to 55cm, 65cm and 75cm (1ft 10in, 2ft 2in and 2ft 6in) to simulate common car boot heights, while the dogs landed on a board that measured the biomechanical forces. The results showed that the stress on the dogs’ front legs differed considerably between the three levels, rising by around 13per cent between 55cm and 65cm and by about 11 per cent with the additional 10cm rise.

Dr Wills said: “Dogs are routinely transported in vehicles to participate in sports and complete their daily exercise routines, yet the effect of jumping out of a car boot is unknown.”

The study said there are about 8.5million dogs in the UK, and a quarter of all households own one.