Dynamic and Postural Changes in Forelimb Amputee Dogs: A Pilot Study

The amputation of a limb in quadrupeds can overload the remaining limbs, especially the contralateral one. The compensatory effort is especially high if it is a forelimb. It is, therefore, important to objectively know the changes in weight redistribution that occur in the animal while walking and standing still. With this objective, static (postural) and dynamic kinetic examinations were carried out on five French bulldogs with an amputated forelimb and five intact French bulldogs. For this examination, force and pressure platforms were used. The results were statistically compared using the student t-test. The parameters derived from the ground reaction forces were significantly higher in the amputee group. Surprisingly, postural examination showed that amputated dogs reached the same stability as healthy ones. Tripedal support in dogs does not objectively imply a loss of balance in quantitative terms; although the increase in force used by the remaining limb, as well as its altered cranial disposition during the support phase, may potentially predispose the animal to additional injuries in the future due to an overuse of different musculoskeletal units.