Evaluation of vertical forces in the pads of German Shepherd dogs.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate vertical forces in the pads of German Shepherd dogs by relative percentage among total limb vertical forces using a pressure sensitive walkway. PROCEDURE A pressure sensitive walkway was used to collect vertical force data for each pad of the limbs of 16 healthy client-owned German Shepherd dogs used for kinetic gait analysis. The vertical force for each pad was evaluated as a percentage of total limb vertical force. Weight distribution among limbs was also recorded. Velocity and acceleration were within a range of 1.3 and 1.6 ± 0.1 m/s². The ANOVA test was used to compare data and the paired t-test was used to assess symmetry (p <0.05). RESULTS The peak vertical force was higher on the metacarpal pad than on the metatarsal pad. Peak vertical force was highest on the metacarpal pad and metatarsal pad followed by the digital pads 3, 4 and 5 of the forelimb, and on the hindlimb by digital pads 3 and 4. Vertical impulse was greatest in the metacarpal pad and digital pads 3 and 4 of the forelimb and hindlimb respectively, followed by digital pads 3, 4, and 5 of the forelimb and the metatarsal pad. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE A vertical force distribution pattern was observed on the pads of the German Shepherd dogs. These data are important for improving the understanding of vertical force distribution during gait and to assess orthopaedic conditions.