JRT injuries while playing

Question
My 6 yr old Nash is an amazing athlete. It's hard for me to tell if he's injured
because pain has never seemed to be a deterrent for him... he loves to play
more than anything!

He's an incredible jumper and climber. Over the past couple of months he's
been jumping pretty high for tennis balls and he'll twist and turn in the air.
He usually lands on his feet, but sometimes he'll land on his side. Or his back
seems to hyper-extend while he's in mid-air arching for the ball.

I thought he would know his limits and I should just let him do what he loves,
but my friend told me about her older JRT who used to be a jumper. She now
has back problems and severe arthritis.

And of course, while I watch Nash nudge his tennis balls fervently across the
yard today, I think I'm seeing his back legs skipping steps and being favored
a bit. Probably paranoia, but still.

I'm terrified of the thought of Nash having so many problems because he
played hard through his middle years. What kind of precautions can I take?
Are there any common injuries that I should be aware of?

Many thanks,
Hailey

Answer
Hi Hailey,

There are some precautions you can take, like making sure when he jumps that he is landing on the grass and not concrete; but the most important factor in protecting those bones is his FOOD. You should be feeding him a high quality food, with emphasis on "active" dog! Supplementing him with treats of cheese is another great way to give  him the extra calcium he needs (don't go overboard with the treats though, a piece of cheese a day is enough, cut up into many pieces, he will be thrilled!) He doesn't sound like the type of dog that will be gaining any weight due to inactivity!!
Jacks are sometimes prone to patella luxation (knee cap problem) which can twist or fall out of place, causing pain and limping. It's a genetic trait that your dog may or may not be pre-disposed to (your breeder can tell you if this is in his line).
He is still young and healthy and has a very long and active life ahead of him. It's true that they sometimes don't know when to quit, but try not to worry too much and enjoy this fun time with him.
Good food, plenty of water, and a soft bed will go a very long way in insuring his bone health for a long time to come.
Here is a link that will provide you with top notch dog foods for the active dog.
http://www.petproductadvisor.com/categories/active-dog/51/page1.aspx

I use Propac for my own dogs which can be bought at local feed stores or online. They have a website that you type your zip code in and will give you the closest store to where you live.
http://www.propacpetfood.com/

Thank you for the INTELLIGENT question, and very best of luck with your Jack, you both sound terrific!