Musculoskeletal Analysis Focusing on the Gait of Small Dogs Walking on Slippery Wooden Floors

The objective of this study is to analyze the load on the musculoskeletal system of the lower limbs of small dogs walking on slippery flooring, focusing on differences in the walking patterns of small dogs. In Japan, small dogs such as Poodles, Corgis and Chihuahuas are often kept indoors on slippery flooring. Based on veterinary experience, these small dogs often suffering from lower limb joint diseases, and it is thought that this is caused by stress on the musculoskeletal system of the lower limbs when walking on slippery floors. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the gait of small dogs walking on slippery floors and estimated which muscles are stressed. Furthermore, we measured the gait of small dogs using motion capture and force plate system, and entered the measurement results into a musculoskeletal simulation model of small dogs that we developed. The simulation results identified that the muscles involved in adjusting balance during walking are heavily stressed in the gait of small dogs walking on slippery floors.