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Abstract
Kinetic gait analysis is used extensively in both human and veterinary medicine, both to detect pathological gait abnormalities and to quantify the efficacy of surgical and pharmacological protocols. This study evaluates the effect of three different staring distances from the kinetic data collection device (2m, 4m, and 6m) on the peak vertical and associated impulse ground reaction forces generated by the test subjects at a trot. Five dogs weighing between 20 and 30kg were trotted over two force plates at between 1.6 and 2.1 m/s until 5 right first contacts and 5 left first contacts were collected. Data collection was repeated approximately a week apart for a total of 5 collections. Vertical impulse values were found to be significantly different (p<0.05) between 2m and 6m, but neither were different from 4m. Peak vertical force was not found to be significantly effected by distance.