title: Noninvasive Assessment of Neuromuscular Disease in Dogs: Use of the 6-minute Walk Test to Assess Submaximal Exercise Tolerance in Dogs with Centronuclear Myopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Noninvasive methods of quantitating exercise tolerance in dogs with neuromuscular disease are needed both for clinical and research use. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) has been validated as a reliable test of exercise tolerance in dogs with pulmonary and cardiac disease, but not in dogs with neuromuscular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Distance walked and number of steps taken during 6MWT will differ between Labrador retriever dogs with centronuclear myopathy (CNM) and control (ie, healthy) littermates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight purebred Labrador retrievers were drawn from a purpose-bred research colony (status: 3 clear, 2 carrier, and 3 homozygous mutants for the protein tyrosine phosphatase-like A (PTPLA) gene mutation associated with CNM).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pilot, prospective, Case-controlled study. Researchers were blinded to disease status. Each dog was leash-trained and acclimatized to the testing area (length, 12.8 m). At the start of testing, each animal was fitted with a pedometer, a timer was started, and dogs were allowed to walk at their own pace for 6 minutes. Distance walked and pedometer readings were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Degree of paresis varied among affected dogs, and was reflected by significant differences in distance walked between CNM-affected dogs and those with clear and carrier genotypes (P = .048). Pedometer readings did not vary according to genotype (P = .86).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 6MWT appears to differentiate between the ambulatory capacity of normal and CNM-affected dogs. Additional studies are needed to confirm this relationship in a larger number of dogs, and to evaluate the ability of the 6MWT to differentiate between dogs with variable severity of neuromuscular disease-associated exercise intolerance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences (College of Veterinary Medicine), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cerda-Gonzalez
authors.affiliation: SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Center, Fairfax, VA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Talarico
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences (College of Veterinary Medicine), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Todhunter
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000662:veterinary*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D020914:Myopathies, Structural, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D010291:Paresis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016138:Walking / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Ambulatory capacity; Exercise intolerance; Labrador retriever; Myopathy; Paresis; Weakness