Understanding Canine Gait and Its Importance

Understanding canine gait is crucial for any dog owner, as it can indicate potential health issues. A dog's gait is the way it moves its legs in a coordinated manner to walk, run, or play.

A normal canine gait typically involves a symmetrical movement of the legs, with each paw striking the ground in a specific pattern. This pattern is influenced by the dog's skeletal structure, muscle mass, and overall physical condition.

A dog's gait can be affected by its breed, with some breeds naturally having a more pronounced or unusual gait due to their physical characteristics. For example, a Greyhound's long legs allow it to move with a distinctive gait that's well-suited for speed.

A dog's gait can also be influenced by its age, with puppies and senior dogs often exhibiting a different gait due to their developing or declining physical abilities.

Dogs have four main gaits: walk, trot, canter, and gallop. Each gait has a unique rhythm and sequence of footfalls.

The walk is a 4-beat gait, where each foot contacts the ground at a separate time. It's the slowest gait and the only one with three paws on the ground simultaneously.

Dogs have two different ways of cantering and two different ways of galloping, which are distinct from those used by horses. This is a key difference between canine and equine locomotion.

Here are the four main gaits in dogs:

Dogs also have a transitional gait called the amble, which is between the walk and the trot. There's also a relatively common, but abnormal, gait called the pace, which is a normal gait for some breeds of horses.

To observe a dog's gait, it's essential to choose a surface that is even and flat. This allows you to accurately assess their movement without any distractions or obstacles.

A good starting point is to observe the dog's walk and trot, as these gaits provide valuable information about their overall health and mobility. Watching the dog from multiple vantage points, including going away, coming toward, from both sides, and while circling, can also help you identify any signs of lameness or neurologic abnormalities.

If you're evaluating a performance or working dog, it's crucial to observe them performing their specific tasks, such as jumping over obstacles or running. This will give you a better understanding of their overall athleticism and ability.

Some key signs to look out for when observing a dog's gait include ataxia, paw scuffing, or stumbling. By paying close attention to these signs, you can quickly identify any potential health issues and take steps to address them.

Here are some tips for handling a dog during a gait exam:

By following these tips and paying close attention to the dog's gait, you can gain valuable insights into their overall health and mobility.

Observing canine gait is a crucial aspect of determining a dog's overall health and well-being. A systematic and disciplined approach must be used to clinically evaluate a patient's gait.

To document this clinical evaluation in the medical record, findings are often semiquantified using a numerical rating scale or visual analog scale. The visual analog scale, for example, grades the animal on a 10-cm line, with one end representing "sound" and the other end representing "non–weight-bearing."

A good gait examination requires the dog to calmly walk or trot next to the handler while looking straight ahead, not turning to look toward or away from the handler. To help keep the dog focused, it's good practice for the handler to keep their eyes forward and not look down at the dog.

The dog should not pull or lunge while on leash, as this will throw off both subjective and objective analysis. For best results, the handler should place little to no pressure on the leash.

Here are some important factors to consider when observing a dog's gait:

Analyzing a dog's stance—that is, watching how the dog stands when it stops moving—can also lead to important information about weight bearing and lameness. A dog standing still may weight shift, toe touch, or even hold a limb completely off the ground.

Video annotation was a crucial step in the experiment, where two observers manually annotated videos taken during the experiment using the Elan software.

The Elan software allowed the observers to mark the swing phase for each step, which was chosen because it's an easy feature to visually pick out and enables the extraction of FC and IC events as start and end points of the annotation.

Each leg was considered separately, and swing events that were obscured, out of shot, or unclear were ignored.

For the control walks, 11 consecutive walking strides were annotated for each dog to enable the extraction of 10 consecutive step start and end points for each leg.

This quantity of steps was chosen because all dogs in the test cohort were able to complete without accelerating or decelerating towards the track limits.

Videos of the instrumented walking bouts were annotated fully, with every step included.

The initial and final synchronization taps were also annotated to allow synchronization of the annotation with the data provided by the sensors.

Gait type was noted as either walk or trot, as per the ethogram in Appendix A.

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Dogs exhibit a range of gaits that reflect their speed, agility, and purpose of movement.

The six primary gaits are each unique and serve a specific function in canine locomotion.

Dogs move in a four-beat gait, often referred to as a trot, which is a comfortable pace for long distances.

In a pace, dogs move in a two-beat gait, where the right and left legs on the same side move together.

The amble, a three-beat gait, is often used by dogs for short distances or when they need to conserve energy.

In a walk, dogs move in a four-beat gait, but with a slower pace and more relaxed tempo.

A run is a four-beat gait, but with a faster pace and more energy expended.

The six primary gaits in canine locomotion are a range of movements that serve unique functions in a dog's movement.

Each of these gaits reflects a dog's speed, agility, and purpose of movement.

The amble is a transitional gait from a walk to a trot, appearing like a faster walk but still with the same pattern as a walk.

A relaxed, four-beat gait, the amble is a comfortable, energy-saving gait for moderate distances.

The canter is an asymmetrical, 3-beat gait in which the dog propels itself forward with the rear limbs while the front limbs steer and stabilize.

Dogs perform a rotary canter, in which one rear paw hits the ground followed by the opposite rear paw and opposite front paw simultaneously.

The trot is a symmetrical, two-beat gait, but it's not mentioned in this section, however we can infer it's a faster gait than the amble.

The gallop is not mentioned in this section, but we can infer it's a faster gait than the trot.

Gait analysis systems, such as pressure-sensing mats, can aid veterinarians in detecting subtle lameness and objectively monitoring lameness.

These systems can be helpful in diagnosing gait abnormalities by calculating stance and swing phase durations, weight distribution, paw strike, stride length, peak vertical force, and velocity.

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The pace is a two-beat gait where legs on the same side of the body move together. This means that the rear and front paw of one same side contact the ground together while the opposite side remains in the air.

In a pace, 2 paws hit the ground at the same time, making it a smooth and lateral movement. This can provide stability, which is why it's commonly seen in larger breeds.

The pace is not typically used by dogs that are comfortable, as it's an inefficient gait due to the constantly shifting center of gravity.

The trot is a 2-beat symmetrical gait that's an animal's most efficient gait pattern to cover distance.

It's also the gait that can make subtle lameness more recognizable because it's the only gait in which the front limbs and the hindlimbs never receive help from their counterpart on the opposite side while weight bearing.

In the trot, the diagonal front and rear paws contact the ground together, there is a very brief period of suspension, and then the opposite diagonal front and rear paws contact the ground.

The trot is a moderate-speed, two-beat gait where diagonally opposite legs move together, making it a more energy-efficient option for covering longer distances.

This gait is often seen in working dogs herding or patrolling, as it allows them to move efficiently and effectively.

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The gallop is a fast, four-beat gait where all four feet leave the ground simultaneously at one point in its cycle.

It's the fastest gait used for high-speed pursuits or escapes, showcasing a dog's maximum speed and power.

The gallop is an asymmetrical gait, meaning it's not symmetrical in its movement pattern.

As the dog runs, it uses its legs for power, driving its forelimbs back and rear limbs forward by flexing its spine and abdomen.

By extending its spine and abdomen, the dog brings its rear limbs back and forelimbs forward, creating a smooth and efficient movement.

This gait provides two moments of suspension, each followed by either the front paws or the hind paws hitting the ground in quick succession.

Kinematic gait analysis is a powerful tool for understanding canine movement. It involves attaching reflective markers to specific anatomic locations on the animal, which are then tracked by cameras as the dog walks.

These markers are typically attached by shaving and cleaning the skin with alcohol, and then pressing the marker's adhesive back directly to the skin. The marker can be further secured with tape, if needed.

The movement of the markers is used to create a 2- or 3-D model of the dog's gait, with calculations of bone and joint excursions. This information can be used to assess various kinematic parameters, including displacements, angular velocities, and range of motion.

Displacement, for example, is the distance recorded when a marker changes position. Angular velocity is the speed at which this change occurs. Range of motion is calculated from the displacement at a specific joint.

Here are some common locations for markers on a dog undergoing kinematic gait analysis:

Gait measurement methods are crucial for accurately assessing a dog's gait. Objective analysis is especially important when developing treatment plans and monitoring patient progress.

There are several methods for gait analysis, including kinetic and temporospatial analysis. Kinetic gait analysis measures the ground reaction forces that result from an individual's step, while temporospatial gait analysis uses a pressure sensing mat to calculate velocity, stance time, swing time, stride length, step length, and total pressure index.

The most commonly used method for kinetic gait analysis is force plate analysis, which involves metal plates mounted on the floor or walkway to measure ground reaction forces. These forces are often presented graphically, with the peak forces as the maximum forces generated in the described phase of gait.

Here are the common indices used in kinetic gait analysis:

These indices are useful for detecting lameness, but force plate analysis has its limitations, including an inability to measure stride or step length and a need for consistent velocity and multiple trials.

Kinetic gait analysis measures the ground reaction forces that result from an individual's step. These forces are measured in 3 dimensions: vertical, craniocaudal, and mediolateral.

The most commonly used method for kinetic gait analysis is force plate analysis. This involves mounting metal plates on the floor or walkway to measure ground reaction forces.

A force plate walkway consists of a gray square in the center of the mat, which is the force plate that the dog must step on during the analysis. This setup is crucial for accurate measurements.

Force plate analysis measures forces in the Z direction, which are generated by vertical compression. This results in larger forces than those in the X or Y direction.

Peak vertical force (PVF) is the single largest force during the stance phase and represents only a single data point on the force-time curve. Vertical impulse (VI) can be derived by calculating the area under the vertical force curve using time.

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PVF and VI are the two most commonly used indices to detect lameness. A dog with lameness typically has a lower PVF and VI in that limb.

Here are some key differences between PVF and VI:

Force plate measurements have been widely used and validated in veterinary medicine. However, they do have some limitations, including the inability to measure stride or step length.

Pressure sensing walkways have been validated to analyze normal and abnormal gaits in dogs. They provide novel information about temporal and spatial gait characteristics.

These walkways use a pressure sensing mat and computer software system to calculate velocity, stance time, swing time, stride length, step length, and total pressure index. The sensors on the mat record each foot strike to calculate these values.

To obtain an acceptable recording, it's essential to walk or trot the dog down the mat at a consistent velocity or steady state gait. The dog should be on a loose leash, with their heads looking forward in the direction of travel, and moving down the center of the mat.

A recent study has shown that the side the handler is on may affect gait analysis, particularly when evaluating the forelimbs. It's recommended to perform multiple passes with the handler switching sides between passes.

Pressure sensing walkways have several advantages, including no size restrictions, multiple readings from a single pass, and determination of stride and step length.

A convenience sample of 19 healthy adult dogs was recruited from the local area using posters and local advertising. The sample contained breeds and crossbreeds of various dogs.

Each dog was given the opportunity to familiarise itself with the room used for experiments before data capture commenced. The dog was judged to be familiar with the surroundings and ready to proceed when investigation of the environment had ceased and their demeanor was judged to be both calm and comfortable by the researchers.

A 15 m long linear track was marked out using tape on a hard, non-slip parquet wooden surface. The height of the dogs, measured in cm from the floor to the withers, was taken at this point.

The dogs were first walked un-instrumented with a standardised lead for six laps, three clockwise and three anti-clockwise. This was done as a control to ensure the dogs' natural gait was not affected by the instrumentation.

The IMU sensors were attached to the lateral limb aspect using a second layer of cohesive bandage. This was done to ensure the sensors were securely in place and would not affect the dogs' gait.

The IMU data was time-synchronized based on alignment of the taps inserted into the accelerometer signal. This was done to ensure accurate analysis of the data.

The IMU data was re-labeled out of Cartesian space and into a dog-centric coordinate system consisting of; dorsal-ventral (DV), medial-lateral (ML), and anterior-posterior (AP) axes.

The aligned and reoriented data was then analyzed on a leg-by-leg basis through a number of operations that automatically labelled signal features pertaining to the point the foot left the floor (final contact, FC) and the point the foot hit the floor (initial contact, IC).

The total number of steps used for performance evaluation was 5041 (FL = 1312, FR = 1310, HR = 1217, HL = 1202).

Certain breeds have more pronounced or preferred gaits due to their physical structure, such as greyhounds' efficient and powerful gallop. This is a result of their body structure.

Age and health can significantly impact a dog's gait, with younger dogs having more energy and moving differently than older dogs. Health issues can also affect a dog's gait, making it crucial to identify any changes early on.

Training and conditioning can also influence a dog's gait, with dogs trained for specific tasks developing stronger or more pronounced gaits. For example, agility dogs are often trained to optimize their trot and canter.

Factors such as breed, age, health, and training can all contribute to a dog's gait, making it essential to consider these factors when evaluating a dog's gait.

Here are some common signs of orthopedic lameness:

These signs can help pet owners and veterinarians identify potential health issues early on, allowing for prompt treatment and care.

Objective data is essential to compare lameness in dogs, and that's where lameness scores come in. They allow team members to speak the same language when discussing lameness.

A visual analog scale is used to measure lameness severity, where an X is placed on a line to indicate the level of lameness.

Numerical lameness scales are also available, similar to the one in TABLE 3, but no further details are given.

To compare annotations and predictions, a total of 15,671 steps were predicted to have occurred across all dogs and legs.

Of these, 80.9% were accepted as true positives (TP), while 19.1% were rejected as false positives (FP).

Scoring is a crucial part of evaluating lameness in dogs. Objective data is essential for comparison.

Lameness scores allow all team members to speak the same language when discussing lameness. This consistency is vital for effective communication.

A visual analog scale is used in objective lameness measurements, consisting of a line with an X placed to indicate the severity of lameness. It's a simple yet effective way to gauge lameness.

Numerical canine lameness scales are similar to the one in TABLE 3. They provide a standardized way to measure lameness, making it easier to compare between dogs.

Comparing Annotations and Predictions can be a complex task, but let's break it down. A total of 15,671 steps were predicted to have occurred across all dogs and legs.

The results show that 80.9% of these predictions were accepted as true positives (TPs), while 19.1% were rejected as false positives (FPs). 2680 of the 15,660 annotated steps were not matched with a prediction and were therefore labelled as false negatives (FN).

Of the steps accepted as TPs, 7249 were annotated as walking, with 1965 recorded from the front left (FL) leg, 1790 from the front right (FR), 1726 from the hind left (HL), and 1768 from the hind right (HR).

4977 TP steps were annotated as trotting, with 1361 from the FL, 1250 from the FR, 1176 from the HL, and 1190 from the HR.

The precision for all dogs and legs was 0.81, and sensitivity was 0.83. This resulted in an F-Score of 0.82. Three dogs had poor sensitivity scores, and two of these dogs had the lowest height to wither (HTW) measurements.

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