Dogs’ Stride Length Linked to Cognitive Decline

Shorter stride length in a dog’s front limbs is associated with cognitive decline, according to research from North Carolina State University published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science. The study found that thoracic limb movement may serve as an early indicator of dementia in aging dogs, providing a potential new method for earlier detection and health monitoring.

The research identifies a specific correlation between a dog’s gait and its cognitive status. Researchers found that as cognitive function declines, the distance a dog covers in a single step with its front limbs decreases.

How was the canine cognitive study conducted?

The study enrolled 88 geriatric dogs with an average age of approximately 12 years. Researchers evaluated the animals every six months using a battery of tests, including blood work, hearing tests, and physical, orthopedic, and neurologic examinations.

To measure cognitive health, the team used a standardized cognitive test and required owners to complete two specific questionnaires at each six-month interval:

• The Canine Dementia Scale (CADES)
• The Canine Brief Pain Inventory (CBPI)

To assess movement, two trained observers watched the dogs walk a straight, five-meter indoor walkway. The team measured stride length for both the thoracic (front) and pelvic (back) limbs, adjusting the data for the height of the dog.

What is the link between stride length and dementia?

The researchers found that owner-reported cognitive decline correlated with shorter, height-adjusted stride lengths in the thoracic limbs. This relationship remained evident even after the researchers adjusted for the dog’s age and CBPI pain scores.

The data showed a specific numerical trend: a 10-point increase in a dog’s CADES score corresponded to an approximate 1.2% reduction in thoracic limb stride length.

Notably, the study found no such correlation with the pelvic limbs. The stride length of a dog’s back legs did not change in relation to cognitive decline.

Why are front limbs more sensitive to cognitive changes?

Natasha Olby, professor of neurology and a chair in gerontology at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, explained that the two sets of limbs serve different primary functions.

“While thoracic limbs play a key role in braking and postural stabilization, pelvic limbs mainly act as a propulsion motor,” Olby says. “Thoracic limb movement is likely under more cortical influence than pelvic limbs and may be more sensitive to alterations in visual or spatial awareness than pelvic limb movement.”

Natasha Olby

This suggests that because front-limb movement relies more heavily on the brain’s cortex and the dog’s ability to perceive its environment, it is more susceptible to the effects of dementia than the propulsion-based movement of the rear limbs.

Can stride length be used to diagnose dog dementia?

The researchers stated that stride length alone is not sufficient to serve as a standalone diagnostic tool. However, it provides a critical piece of a larger clinical picture regarding a dog’s cognitive health.

“Our results show that cognitive decline does have a small effect on stride length and this could serve as an early indicator of functional decline in aging dogs,” Olby says. “It could also serve as a useful marker of an individual dog’s overall health trajectory when it is monitored over time.”

Natasha Olby

The study was supported by the Dr. Kady M. Gjessing and Rhanna M. Davidson Distinguished Chair of Gerontology at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine.