Plus-Hex CLINICAL
Introduction
The analysis of locomotion and gait in therapy and service dogs is crucial for understanding normal movement patterns and identifying abnormalities, and aids in diagnosing various musculoskeletal and neurological conditions [ 1 ]. Gait analysis can be divided into static and dynamic assessments, each providing unique insights into an animal ' s movement patterns.
Static assessment involves the evaluation of an animal ' s conformation, muscle development, asymmetry or weakness, range of motion( ROM) and alignment at rest, without considering movement. Static parameters such as joint angles and limb length can provide valuable information about weight distribution and potential compensatory mechanisms [ 2 ]. In contrast, dynamic assessment focuses on the animal ' s gait while in motion, to analyse parameters such as the step cycle, which is the sequence of movements from the initial contact of one limb with the ground to the subsequent contact of the same limb [ 3 ]. This allows a more comprehensive understanding of limb function and movement patterns and any compensatory alterations. Technologies for objective gait analysis, such as force plates, have changed the field of veterinary physiotherapy by offering more precise and quantitative data on gait characteristics [ 2 ]. Gait analysis plays a crucial role in the overall health, performance and wellbeing of therapy dogs, so they can perform their important duties effectively and comfortably.
Millis and Levine [ 3 ] state that there should be a weight distribution of 30 % on each forelimb and 20 % on each hindlimb. In Ugo ' s case, static assessment revealed that he exhibited a balanced stance with the weight evenly distributed between all four limbs, straight alignment of the limbs with no deviations, a level pelvis, and his spine was in a neutral position; this reflects no compensatory issues as all parameters were within their normal range. Ugo had a square stance with equal movement and defined symmetrical muscle definition( Figure 1), which reflects his good health and activity. Muscle atrophy can indicate a lack of activity on the affected limb, nerve damage to the area, orthopaedic problems, arthritis or systemic disease [ 3 ].
The subject of this case study is Ugo, a 5-year-old male neutered labrador retriever. Ugo was originally trained for guide dog services but found his calling in offering companionship and emotional support as a buddy dog. Ugo came from the guide dogs breeding programme, which focuses on breeding out conditions with genetic predispositions such as hip dysplasia and other musculoskeletal diseases.
Guide dogs play a crucial role in assisting individuals with visual impairments, and gait analysis of these dogs is critical to ensure they are not presenting with any problems with locomotion. The case study will focus on a static and dynamic assessment of Ugo and will discuss the findings in relation to the importance of gait analyses in guide dogs and therapy dogs.
Static and dynamic evaluation
The key components of a static assessment were conducted by observing Ugo from various angles to assess his overall body alignment, posture and any signs of discomfort or weakness. Observing a dog from various angles provides information about issues such as limb length discrepancies, joint abnormalities or muscle imbalances [ 2 ]. These parameters can also be measured with a stance analyser to give quantitative data( numbers) to corroborate the observational findings [ 4 ].
Figure 1. Static assessment.
Dynamic gait analysis can consider four main gaits( Table 1, page 44) and looks at the step cycle, stride length and timing, considering the entire sequence of movements, which helps in understanding the flow and coordination of each step within the step cycle of each gait. Kinetic analyses such as force plate analysis or kinematic gait analysis, which quantify the position, velocity and acceleration along with the angles of the joints, help highlight any abnormalities in service dogs that may not be noticed by an observer [ 5 ].
Volume 41( 4) • August 2026
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