Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Jul 16;18(1):280.
doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03367-5.

Appendicular skeletal muscle mass assessment in dogs: a scoping literature review

Ah Young Kim  1 , Lindsay Hochman Elam  1 , Nicolaas Everhardus Lambrechts  1 , Mo D Salman  1 , Felix Michael Duerr  2
Affiliations

Appendicular skeletal muscle mass assessment in dogs: a scoping literature review

Ah Young Kim et al. BMC Vet Res. .

Abstract

Background: Monitoring changes in appendicular skeletal muscle mass is frequently used as a surrogate marker for limb function. The primary objective of this study was to review scientific information related to the assessment of appendicular skeletal muscle mass in dogs. The secondary objective was to develop practical recommendations for serial evaluation of muscle mass.

Methods: A scoping review was conducted with a systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, CAB abstract, and Cochrane from inception to June 2021. The following modalities were included in the search: limb circumference, diagnostic ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Results: A total of 62 articles that measured appendicular skeletal muscle mass in dogs were identified. Limb circumference (55 articles) was the most commonly used modality. Its reliability was investigated in five studies. Several factors, including measuring tape type, body position, joint angles, and the presence of hair coat, were reported as variables that can affect measurements. Diagnostic ultrasound (five articles) was validated in three articles, but there is scarce information about observer reliability and variables affecting the measurement. Computed tomography (four articles) and magnetic resonance imaging (one article) have been used to validate other modalities at a single time point rather than as a clinical tool for serial muscle mass monitoring. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (two articles) has been used to quantify specific skeletal muscle mass but was mainly used to evaluate body composition in dogs.

Conclusion: Limb circumference and ultrasound are likely the main modalities that will continue to be used for serial muscle mass measurement in the clinical setting unless a new technology is developed. The reliability of limb circumference is questionable. Several key factors, including measuring tape type, body position, joint angles, and coat clipping, need to be controlled to improve the reliability of limb circumference measurements. Ultrasound may provide a reasonable alternative, but further studies are required to evaluate the reliability of this modality and identify factors that influence ultrasound measurements.

Keywords: Appendicular skeletal mass; Dogs; Muscle mass assessment; Scoping review; Skeletal muscle mass.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow diagram of the selection and screening process
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Changes in the volume of literature measuring appendicular skeletal muscle mass over time in each modality. DEXA, Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging; CT, Computed tomography; US, Ultrasound; LC, Limb circumference
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Levine D, Millis DL, Marcellin-Little DJ. Introduction to veterinary physical rehabilitation. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2005;35:6. - PubMed
    1. Dutt V, Gupta S, Dabur R, Injeti E, Mittal A. Skeletal muscle atrophy: potential therapeutic agents and their mechanisms of action. Pharmacol Res. 2015;99:86. doi: 10.1016/j.phrs.2015.05.010. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hyytiäinen HK, Mölsä SH, Junnila JT, Laitinen-Vapaavuori OM, Hielm-Björkman AK. Ranking of physiotherapeutic evaluation methods as outcome measures of stifle functionality in dogs. Acta Vet Scand. 2013;55:29. doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-55-29. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Baltzer WI, Smith-Ostrin S, Warnock JJ, Ruaux CG. Evaluation of the clinical effects of diet and physical rehabilitation in dogs following tibial plateau leveling osteotomy. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2018;252:6. doi: 10.2460/javma.252.6.686. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Monk ML, Preston CA, McGowan CM. Effects of early intensive postoperative physiotherapy on limb function after tibial plateau leveling osteotomy in dogs with deficiency of the cranial cruciate ligament. Am J Vet Res. 2006;67:3. doi: 10.2460/ajvr.67.3.529. - DOI - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources