Comparative kinematic gait analysis in young and old Beagle dogs

Abstract

Age-related involution in dogs involves loss of muscle mass and changes in connective tissue and articular cartilage. The aim of this study was to examine whether an age-related influence on joint mobility can be detected in the absence of disease. Five young (mean age 2.0 years) and five old (mean age 10.4 years) healthy and sound Beagle dogs underwent computer-assisted gait analysis during locomotion on a treadmill. Shoulder, elbow, carpal, hip, stifle, and tarsal joint angles including joint angle progression curves, minimum and maximum joint angles, and range of motion (ROM) in degrees were analyzed. The old group had a smaller maximum joint angle (p = 0.037) and ROM (p = 0.037) of the carpal joint; there were similar tendencies in the shoulder, elbow, and carpal joints. Descriptive analysis of the progression curves revealed less flexion and extension of the forelimb joints. The results indicate restricted joint mobility of the forelimb in old dogs, primarily of the carpal joint. Results in the joints of the hindlimb were inconsistent, and the contrasting alterations may be due to a compensatory mechanism. As most alterations were found in the distal joints, these should receive particular attention when examining elderly dogs.

Functional assessment of the gluteus medius, cranial part of the biceps femoris, and vastus lateralis in Beagle dogs based on a novel gait phase classification

“…First, the three-dimensional motion analysis system using markers attached to the skin might to contain noises of skin movement [ 6 , 22 , 47 ]. Fluoroscopic analysis should be performed to obtain more strict information [ 22 , 40 ]. Second, sEMG is a non-invasive method of attaching electrodes on the surface of the body to reduce the stress of recording, but there is a possibility of “crosstalk” among the target muscle and other nearby muscles [ 6 , 8 , 12 , 28 , 43 ].…”

Micromorphology and topography of tarsal joint capsule's vascular elements in cats and dogs

“…Researches of the pelvic limb kinematic activity in cats and dogs (Brown et al, 2018) claim that there is a difference in the dynamics, range, nature of movement and pressure load, which is carried out on different parts of the limb (Lorke et al, 2017). The results of our studies confirm that the tarsal joint, as a part of the pelvic limb, undergoes different pressure on different anatomical surfaces.…”

“…These animals' movement nature presents significant differences. Studies in the field of biomechanics of cat (Brown, Bertocci, Cheffer, & Howland, 2018) and dog (Lorke et al., 2017) movement prove that these animals have a different nature of movement and the load on the joint components is distributed in a different way as well. We observe on daily basis how cats masterfully move on unstable surfaces, which is quite problematic for dogs.…”

Species-Specific Features of Intraorganic Vascularization of the Tarsal Joint Capsule in Cattle and Canines

“…In the case of the bull, the joint capsule's synovial mem- With age, the structural components of the joints wear out and the nature of the limbs' movement changes [11]. shown that there are other types of motion in the joint as well.…”

“…Thus, high-yield cattle [2,18] often have arthrosis or arthritis of different aetiologies [21]; in the case of a canine [11], especially large breeds [6], mechanical joint injuries often occur, ankylosis or arthrosis develops [1,7]. Such feline breed as Scottish fold have a genetic predisposition for the occurrence of osteochondrodisplasticity of the tarsus and metatarsus [3,10].…”