Carpal Extension Angles in Agility Dogs Exiting the A-Frame and Hurdle Jumps

The aim of this study was to determine the mean carpal extension angles in dogs participating in the A-frame and hurdle jumps, and to determine if the use of a carpal brace changed the carpal extension angle.

Data from 13 healthy agility dogs were included. Approximately 1 cm square adhesive tape markers placed on both forelimbs served as anatomic landmarks for carpal angle measurement. Each dog was filmed landing after jumping over a bar and exiting the A-frame. Five valid trials on each obstacle were collected. The carpal braces were then applied and the dogs were allowed to navigate obstacles for 10 minutes. Once acclimated to the brace, an additional five valid trials were collected. Carpal extension was measured from the videos collected using a video analysis software.

Without the carpal brace, the mean carpal extension angles ± standard deviations in dogs participating in the A-frame and hurdle jumps were 124.7 ± 11.9 degrees and 123.3 ± 6.3 degrees, respectively. With the carpal brace, the mean carpal extension angles ± standard deviations were 129.1 ± 11.4 degrees and 125.3 ± 7.3 for the A-frame and hurdle jumps, respectively. There was no clinically significant reduction as defined (>10 degrees) in carpal extension measurements with and without the brace.

The brace used in this study did not show a clinically significant reduction in carpal extension. However, multiple avenues for future research have been identified using these data.