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Abstract
Little is currently known about the pacing gait in dogs and it has been speculated that pacing may be utilized by dogs with musculoskeletal pathology. The goals of the present study were to determine if pacing in dogs is associated with musculoskeletal disease and to establish if controlled speed impacts pacing. Dogs underwent orthopedic and lameness assessments. Musculoskeletal pathology, when identified, was further defined with radiography of the affected area. Dogs were considered musculoskeletally normal (MSN) if no pathology was detected and they had no history of musculoskeletal disease. All others were considered musculoskeletally abnormal (MSA). Animals were then evaluated for pacing using digital-video-imaging under three conditions: Off-lead, lead-controlled, and on a treadmill. Thirty-nine dogs were enrolled (MSN: n = 20; MSA: n = 19). Overall, pacing was observed more frequently in dogs under lead-controlled than off-lead conditions (P < 0.001). Lead-controlled MSN dogs were observed to pace significantly more frequently (n = 17/20) than lead-controlled MSA dogs (n = 10/19; P = 0.029). There was no significant difference within each group for the frequency of pacing under treadmill or off-lead conditions. Pacing always occurred at speeds between a walk and a trot, speeds ranged from 0.98 to 2.84 m/s, (mean 1.8 m/s). Pacing was demonstrated in MSN and MSA dogs under all study conditions. Pacing should be considered a gait variation that can be observed in clinically normal dogs. Relative speed and leash walking was determined to be a factor in the use of the pacing gait. Key words: Pacing, gait analysis, lameness, canine locomotion, symmetrical gait, lateral gait, amble.
Highlights
Gait and lameness assessments are major aspects of the orthopedic examination; knowledge of gait patterns is essential for recognition of pathologic conditions (Zink and Van Dyke, 2013)
Pacing has been correlated with a short-coupled body and long legs since pacing eliminates interference of diagonal pair feet that may occur during trotting (Brown and Dalzell,1986)
The dogs that were observed to pace were all long legged breeds and none of the short-legged breeds were observed to pace (Hildebrand, 1968)
Summary
Gait and lameness assessments are major aspects of the orthopedic examination; knowledge of gait patterns is essential for recognition of pathologic conditions (Zink and Van Dyke, 2013). The walk, trot, and gallop are considered normal gait patterns; it is unclear whether pacing is normal or pathologic in dogs (Hildebrand, 1968; Blaszczyk and Dobrzecka, 1989; Zink and Van Dyke, 2013). The pace (Figure 1) is a ‘lateral-couplet’ symmetrical gait in which ipsilateral limb pairs move in synchrony (Hildebrand, 1968; Leach et al, 1977; Biknevicius and Reilly, 2006).
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