A prime concern of the gait analysis in a heterogeneous group of dogs is the potential influence of factors such as individual body size, body mass, type of gait, and velocity. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate in a heterogeneous group of dogs a possible correlation of the stride frequency with kinetic and temporospatial variables, as well as the percentage of body weight distribution (%BWD), and compare symmetry index (SI) between trotting and walking dogs. Twenty-nine clinically healthy dogs moving in a controlled velocity were used. The dogs were organized into two groups based on duty factor. Group 1 comprised 15 walking dogs, aged from 9 months to 8 years and weighing about 22.3 kg. Group 2 had 14 trotting dogs, aged from 1 to 6 years and weighing about 6.5 kg. The kinetic data and temporospatial parameters were obtained using a pressure-sensing walkway. The velocity was 0.9–1.1 m/s. The peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse (VI), gait cycle time, stance time, swing time, stride length, and percentages of body weight distribution among the four limbs were determined. For each variable, the SIs were calculated. Pearson’s coefficient was used to evaluate correlation between stride frequency and other variables, initially in each group and after including all animals. Except for the %BWD (approximately 60 % for the forelimbs and 40 % for the hind limbs), all other parameters differed between groups. Considering each Group individually a strong correlation was observed for most of the temporospatial parameters, but no significant correlation occurred between stride frequency and PVF, and stride frequency and %BWD. However, including all dogs a strong correlation was observed in all temporospatial parameters, and moderate correlation between stride frequency and VI, and weak correlation between stride frequency and PVF. There was no correlation between stride frequency and %BWD. Groups 1 and 2 did not differ statistically in SIs. In a heterogeneous group of dogs conducted at a controlled velocity, the %BWD and most of SIs presented low variability. However, %BWD seems to be the most accurate, since factors such as the magnitude of the variables may influence the SIs inducing wrong interpretation. Based on results obtained from correlations, the standardization of stride frequency could be an alternative to minimize the variability of temporospatial parameters.

Background The clinical applicability of sonography and sonoelastography (SOE) in the detection of lymph node malignancy in dogs has not been established. Objectives To compare sonographic and sonoelastographic findings between malignant and benign superficial lymph nodes and to evaluate the diagnostic performance of those methods. Animals One‐hundred sixteen lymph nodes of 54 dogs. Methods A prospective observational study was used to investigate sonographic features and elasticity scores of malignant and benign superficial lymph nodes. Lymph nodes were categorized as malignant or benign according to cytology or histopathology. Quantitative variables were compared using Student's unpaired t test. Prevalence of categorical variables was compared using nonparametric Mann‐Whitney U test. Diagnostic performance was calculated by receiver‐operating characteristic analysis. Results Forty‐nine malignant and 67 benign lymph nodes were included. Malignant nodes had larger long axis (LA; P = .0002), short axis (SA; P < .0001) and short‐to‐long axis ratio (P < .0001) in comparison with benign nodes. Malignant nodes had a higher prevalence of mixed vascular distribution on Doppler color flow mapping (P < .005) and on power Doppler (P < .0001) and higher resistivity index (RI; P < .0001), pulsatility index (P < .0001), and elasticity score (P < .0001) in comparison with benign nodes. Short axis, elasticity score, and RI offered the best accuracies, 80.2%, 78.1%, and 77.7% (P < .05), respectively, for malignancy detection. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Results support the use of Doppler sonography and SOE as auxiliary methods to brightness mode sonography to detect nodal malignancy.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate dogs with pelvic fractures and treated conservatively during locomotion on a pressure-sensing walkway. The hypothesis was that dogs may present changes in kinetic and temporospatial parameters because of the fractures, which may interfere with the symmetry index. Thirty dogs were selected and divided into two groups: Group 1—healthy group (n = 15) and Group 2—conservatively treated group (n = 15). The dogs were of similar body size. The body weight distribution percentages and symmetry indices of the peak vertical force, vertical impulse, stance time, swing time, percentage of stance time, and percentage of swing time of the hind limbs were evaluated. Results: In Group 2, the time interval between fracture occurrence and patient evaluation was between 4 and 87 months (mean of 20 months). Four dogs had lower percentage of body weight distribution on one of the hind limbs while three dogs had greater weight distributed toward both hind limbs. Four of these dogs had alterations in the temporospatial and/or kinetic symmetry indices. Conclusions: Dogs with pelvic fractures treated conservatively may present changes in percentage of body weight distribution and symmetry indices of the kinetic and temporospatial parameters. The conservative treatment can cause persistent abnormal gait.

Key words: Acupuncture; Sedation; Anxiolytic Agents; Xylazine; Dogs

Effect of obesity on ecocardiographic parameters and vertebral heart size (VHS) in cats