Gait analysis in French bulldogs with and without vertebral kyphosis

•A portable pressure-sensitive walkway was used for objective evaluation of gait variables in a sample of French bulldogs.•Gait variables were compared between neurologically normal French bulldogs with and without vertebral kyphosis.•Kyphotic dogs distributed more weight on thoracic limbs compared to non-kyphotic dogs.•Further studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical relevance of altered gait variables in kyphotic dogs. The study objective was to compare temporal-spatial and kinetic gait variables in neurologically normal French bulldogs with and without vertebral kyphosis. French bulldogs presented to a dedicated brachycephalic clinic were prospectively enrolled. All dogs underwent general physical, orthopaedic, and neurological examination prior to study inclusion. The presence of vertebral kyphosis was evaluated by computed tomography and kyphosis was defined as a Cobb angle exceeding 10°. Gait variables were collected using a pressure-sensitive GAITRite walkway with GAITFour software and included measurement of total pressure index (TPI) defined as the sum of peak pressure values recorded from each activated sensor by a paw during mat contact. Fifteen French bulldogs with (n=8) and without kyphosis (n=7) were included. Cobb angle in kyphotic dogs ranged from 14.9° to 39.5°. Univariate analyses were initially performed to examine the association between kyphosis and 16 gait variables. When those variables found to be associated (P