A mechanism synthesis and modeling for correction of hip dysplasia in medium and large dog breeds

Hip dysplasia is an incurable but treatable disease that affects medium and large dog breeds. It appears as a result of genetic disorders, overweight, and the care given to the dogs. Currently, there are no specialized mechanisms that provide comfort to the life of these pets, while adapting to the canine condition and promoting the use of their hind legs until mobility is completely lost. Therefore, in the present study, a versatile device was synthesized and modeled to help to improve the life quality of dogs, taking as a reference the "German Shepherd" breed. It was designed considering the health and welfare of these animals, taking into account the mobility and safety of their limbs. This device uses a linkage mechanism to provide structural support to the dogs, while allowing for mobility within an specified range of motion. It aims to incorporate a gear and spring system that controls the weight lifted by the device, so that dogs partially use their hind legs. The static and dynamic behavior of this mechanism were mathematically modeled, finding an optimal solution.