Summary

The effect of canine hip osteoarthritis (OA) on verticalforce distribution was studied using a serial forceplatform system. This system allows simultaneousmeasurement of vertical and horizontal force impulsesfrom each limb of a trotting dog. Using these measurementsand novel analysis techniques a completeand precise analysis of load distribution was performed.Load distribution was compared betweena group of normal dogs and a group of dogs withradiographic evidence of hip OA. Results of this studyindicate that trotting dogs with hip OA redistributevertical force primarily by shifting force betweentrotting pairs (side-to-side compensation) rather thanwithin trotting pairs (hind-to-fore compensation).