[Kinematic gait analysis in dogs: Is modern gait analysis finding its way into veterinary practice?]

Computerized gait analysis enables objective assessment and quantification of gait disorders in dogs, aiding lameness diagnosis and treatment monitoring. Kinetic analysis examines the forces exerted during movement, whereas kinematic analysis focuses on the movement of body segments without considering forces. Kinetic gait analysis provides insights into overall limb function, whereas kinematic gait analysis allows examination of individual joint movements, enhancing the understanding of normal and altered joint motion. Kinematic gait analysis can be marker-based or markerless, though marker-based systems dominate clinical use. In human medicine, artificial intelligence (AI) is already integrated with markerless systems for kinematic gait analysis, while veterinary research is still emerging. Kinematic gait analysis can be two- and three-dimensional. Three-dimensional (3D) systems offer the highest accuracy, analyzing joint motion in six degrees of freedom, however their high cost and technical complexity currently limit their use to research. Two-dimensional (2D) systems, benefiting from video technology advances, are more affordable and user-friendly. However, these systems capture motion in a single plane only. To date, no ideal computerized gait analysis system exists for dogs that can visualize and analyze kinematic data in real time - such systems are currently available only for kinetic analysis. With AI-driven advances in human motion analysis, canine kinematic gait analysis, regardless of technology (e. g., optical or sensor-based), is expected to become significantly more accessible for veterinary practice. This review outlines the fundamentals of kinematic data acquisition in dogs, summarizes current research, and compares optical gait analysis systems.