Evaluation of a method to measure the ratio of pelvic limb to thoracic limb girth in dogs
Objective: To determine if a landmark-incorporated limb girth measurement in sound dogs, utilising the greater trochanter and the acromion process, would be both reliable and have a consistent ratio between pelvic limb (PL) and thoracic limb (TL) muscle measurements. Background: To establish a rel...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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RCVS Knowledge
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Evidence |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/667 |
| _version_ | 1827383686096486400 |
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| author | Elisabeth A. Fox Kirsty E. Oliver Matthew W. Brunke |
| author_facet | Elisabeth A. Fox Kirsty E. Oliver Matthew W. Brunke |
| author_sort | Elisabeth A. Fox |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective: To determine if a landmark-incorporated limb girth measurement in sound dogs, utilising the greater trochanter and the acromion process, would be both reliable and have a consistent ratio between pelvic limb (PL) and thoracic limb (TL) muscle measurements.
Background: To establish a reliable and reproducible reference range for sound dogs. This reference range may help clinicians further evaluate dogs during lameness and musculoskeletal examinations.
Evidentiary value: Prospective study of 115 sound dogs measured by a single observer.
Methods:Examinations were performed by one observer, using a Gullick II tape measure for PL to TL ratio (PL:TL) measurements for 115 dogs. Bodyweight, breed, body condition score (BCS), and sex were recorded. Each limb was measured three times. The average PL:TL per dog was calculated. Further statistical analysis was used to calculate intra-observer variance and the correlation of limb girth to body weight, BCS, and sex, with significance set at P < 0.05.
Results: The average PL:TL of the sample was 1.515 ± 0.049. Fifty-two dogs of the 115 cases (45%) had a PL:TL ratio of 1.500. PL:TL measurements were not related to dog weight, BCS, or sex. The intra-class correlation was reported to be 0.99.
Conclusion: Our study suggests that a landmark-incorporated measurement in a weight-bearing position can be reproducible. Further investigation is required to determine if this measurement can be reproducible between multiple observers.
Application: A landmark-incorporated limb girth measurement may guide clinicians in case progression and help pinpoint subclinical musculoskeletal disease in dogs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:44:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45ff770c746f48719e44b5239f8f90a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2396-9776 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:44:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | RCVS Knowledge |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Evidence |
| spelling | doaj.art-45ff770c746f48719e44b5239f8f90a32024-01-11T11:58:07ZengRCVS KnowledgeVeterinary Evidence2396-97762023-10-018410.18849/ve.v8i4.667519Evaluation of a method to measure the ratio of pelvic limb to thoracic limb girth in dogsElisabeth A. Foxhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1401-1072Kirsty E. Oliverhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-8611-4524Matthew W. Brunkehttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-5923-0001Objective: To determine if a landmark-incorporated limb girth measurement in sound dogs, utilising the greater trochanter and the acromion process, would be both reliable and have a consistent ratio between pelvic limb (PL) and thoracic limb (TL) muscle measurements. Background: To establish a reliable and reproducible reference range for sound dogs. This reference range may help clinicians further evaluate dogs during lameness and musculoskeletal examinations. Evidentiary value: Prospective study of 115 sound dogs measured by a single observer. Methods:Examinations were performed by one observer, using a Gullick II tape measure for PL to TL ratio (PL:TL) measurements for 115 dogs. Bodyweight, breed, body condition score (BCS), and sex were recorded. Each limb was measured three times. The average PL:TL per dog was calculated. Further statistical analysis was used to calculate intra-observer variance and the correlation of limb girth to body weight, BCS, and sex, with significance set at P < 0.05. Results: The average PL:TL of the sample was 1.515 ± 0.049. Fifty-two dogs of the 115 cases (45%) had a PL:TL ratio of 1.500. PL:TL measurements were not related to dog weight, BCS, or sex. The intra-class correlation was reported to be 0.99. Conclusion: Our study suggests that a landmark-incorporated measurement in a weight-bearing position can be reproducible. Further investigation is required to determine if this measurement can be reproducible between multiple observers. Application: A landmark-incorporated limb girth measurement may guide clinicians in case progression and help pinpoint subclinical musculoskeletal disease in dogs.https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/667limb girthlimb measurementsthoracicpelviclimb ratiogullickmuscle massdogs |
| spellingShingle | Elisabeth A. Fox Kirsty E. Oliver Matthew W. Brunke Evaluation of a method to measure the ratio of pelvic limb to thoracic limb girth in dogs Veterinary Evidence limb girth limb measurements thoracic pelvic limb ratio gullick muscle mass dogs |
| title | Evaluation of a method to measure the ratio of pelvic limb to thoracic limb girth in dogs |
| title_full | Evaluation of a method to measure the ratio of pelvic limb to thoracic limb girth in dogs |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of a method to measure the ratio of pelvic limb to thoracic limb girth in dogs |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of a method to measure the ratio of pelvic limb to thoracic limb girth in dogs |
| title_short | Evaluation of a method to measure the ratio of pelvic limb to thoracic limb girth in dogs |
| title_sort | evaluation of a method to measure the ratio of pelvic limb to thoracic limb girth in dogs |
| topic | limb girth limb measurements thoracic pelvic limb ratio gullick muscle mass dogs |
| url | https://veterinaryevidence.org/index.php/ve/article/view/667 |
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