Analysis of gait: update on the Surrey University research project

Post date: Jul 06, 2016 6:50:53 PM

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is the Number One health priority for the UK Dachshund Breed Council. All our health survey data confirms it is the most prevalent and serious condition affecting Dachshunds and therefore it is the prime focus of our health research.

We have participated in a range of research studies to look at how genetics, conformation and lifestyle factors influence the risk of a dog suffering from back problems.

During 2014 there were two research programmes that we supported. The University of Surrey carried out a 'gait study' to examine the way healthy Dachshunds move. We helped recruit a group of Dachshunds and they plan to use the data to compare with dogs recovering from IVDD surgery.

The goal of this study was to gather data of healthy miniature Dachshunds to help establish a quantitative method to study their core stability while standing and the way their back and limbs move during walking. This data will serve as a reference to compare with patients suffering from diseases causing decrease of stability and motor abilities like intervertebral disc disease. It will also be used to investigate new forms of rehabilitation to improve recovery time in these patients.

During the study the dogs were examined by a veterinary surgeon to check for lameness, and to establish the body condition score. Dog owners completed a questionnaire about the dog’s clinical history and daily physical activity. The gait study itself involved dogs standing on a flat surface (force plate) for about 30 seconds duration, 3 times, and walking in a straight line for about 4 metres, again 3 times. Some dogs were randomly selected for the second part of the study in which the dogs wore tiny reflective markers: 4 on their backs and 5 on each leg. Dogs were then walked again while motion cameras captured their movement.

43 miniature Dachshunds took part in the gait analysis between March and July 2014. The study defined normative ranges of postural stability measures in healthy miniature Dachshunds. The results have shown no differences between males and females, or between the different coat types. Some of the measures were different for older and overweight dogs, suggesting that the approach is appropriate for measuring subtle differences in postural stability and may be an effective tool for rehabilitation monitoring. Dogs with slightly higher weight for their size showed more varied core strength but, just like with humans, less fit individuals have less core muscle strength. Future studies will focus on obtaining measurements of dogs at various stages of rehabilitation to assess the usefulness of these measures in evaluating functional improvement.

We also helped recruit dogs for a gait study carried out by the Royal Veterinary College. This study looked at how fit, healthy Dachshunds with no neurological or orthopaedic problems move over a series of natural obstacles they encounter in day to day life, and on a treadmill. Again, these results can be used as a baseline for what would be expected from a normal, fit and healthy Dachshund.

We are enormously grateful to all the owners and their dogs who kindly volunteered for this study. This will hopefully help many other Dachshunds during recovery and rehabilitation treatments.

Our Breed Council and Clubs welcome these sorts of research project as they present us with new opportunities to gather data about our breed. Some of the studies are quite speculative and may not lead directly to benefits for the dogs. Nevertheless, Dachshund owners are invariably keen to participate as they feel strongly about contributing to the long-term health of the breed. As Einstein said “if we knew the answers, it wouldn’t be called research, would it?”.