Learning Confounds Algometric Assessment of Mechanical Thresholds in Normal Dogs

Objective To perform algometric readings in normal dogs in a design that would assess possible confounding factors. Study Design Prospective study. Animals Skeletally mature spayed female, intact male and castrated male retriever or retriever mix dogs without orthopedic or neurologic disease (n = 19). Methods Twelve common surgical sites were selected for algometric pressure testing. Threshold response was defined as a conscious recognition of the stimulus, and recorded in Newtons. Sites were tested in the same order, and the testing sequence repeated 3 times on each side of the dog. Dogs were tested in the morning and evening of the same day and was repeated 10–14 days later, allowing 4 separate data collections for each dog. Results Data were analyzed using ANOVA or ANCOVA. When all the data were included in the analysis, dog (P