Establishing Operational Descriptive Definitions for Neurologic Abnormalities Identified During Gaiting in Dogs

Accurate identification of gait abnormalities is fundamental to clinical evaluation in both veterinary medicine and translational research. Commonly used descriptors such as ataxia, paresis, hypermetria, and lameness are frequently applied as single-word summaries of complex movement disorders, yet these terms lack precise, universally accepted operational definitions. Dictionary definitions are often generic or ambiguous, leading to variability in interpretation among clinicians, students, and researchers. This review evaluates commonly used neurologic and gait-related terminology in dogs, examining historical origins, denotation and connotation, as well as the limitations of current usage in a clinical setting. For each term, clinically observable features are delineated to establish functional, operational definitions grounded in movement analysis and neurophysiologic processes. The goal of this reappraisal is to enhance clarity, consistency, and diagnostic accuracy in veterinary neurology by establishing standardized descriptors for gait abnormalities in clinical practice, teaching, and research.