Characterization of spatiotemporal gait characteristics in clinically normal dogs and dogs with spinal cord disease

Objective - To determine the spatiotemporal gait characteristics and associated covariates of clinically normal dogs and dogs with spinal cord disease. Animals - 42 clinically normal dogs and 24 dogs with myelopathy at spinal cord segment T3-L3. Procedures - Gait was analyzed for velocity, stride length, stride time, stance time, and swing time and compared between groups with consideration of covariates, including height, weight, velocity, sex, and age. Results - By use of multivariate regression, dogs with neurologic signs, compared with clinically normal dogs, had decreased stride time, stance time, and stride length in the forelimbs and increased swing time in the hind limbs. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - Use of spatiotemporal gait characteristics appears to have potential for use as an outcome measure for dogs with neurologic disease.