Temporospatial and kinetic gait analysis in Aksaray Malaklı Shepherd dogs

Authors: İSMAİL DEMİRCİOĞLU, OZAN GÜNDEMİR, YASİN DEMİRASLAN, GÜLŞAH GÜNGÖREN, NAZAN GEZER İNCE, BESTAMİ YILMAZ

Abstract: The present study aimed to determine the gait parameters of Aksaray Malaklı Shepherd dogs in order to identify the breedspecific gait characteristics and obtain the reference values for early diagnosis of the diseases. The force data were classified and analyzed based on plantar areas. For this purpose, 20 Aksaray Malaklı Shepherd dogs (10 females and 10 males) that were 18?36 months old were used. The dogs to be included in the study underwent a preliminary examination for lameness and the healthy ones were detected. Pressure-sensitive gait analysis system was used to obtain gait data. The dogs walked on the pressure platform for two rounds including an average of 20 steps in each at normal walking speed and temporospatial analysis, kinetic gait analysis, and postural static analysis were conducted. The plantar pressure distribution parameters, maximum pressure (N/cm$^{2}$), maximum force (N), and time maximum of contact phase (%) were analyzed. It was found that the dog carried 66.55% of its total weight on its forelimbs and 33.45% of its total weight on its hindlimbs at postural stance and the difference between them was statistically significant. The maximum force was applied in the third and fourth digital pads in the forelimb and hindlimb. The force values on metapodial pads were lower than those of the other plantar areas. While the mean stance and swing phases were respectively 63.79% and 36.21% for forelimb, they were 56.38% and 43.62%, respectively, for hindlimb. Both static and all kinetic data revealed that a higher force was generated on the forelimb compared to the hindlimb during walking. Anatomically specific walking characteristics of the animals can be revealed using gait analysis systems. It is also a quite beneficial method for veterinary orthopedics that is based on visual examination.

Keywords: Kinetic gait analysis, Malaklı Shepherd dog, stance phase, swing phase temporospatial analysis

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