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A recent study published in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2022) introduces a novel 50-step walking test as a practical method to evaluate ambulation recovery in dogs post-decompressive surgery.

This Study

Conducted at Texas A&M University’s Small Animal Hospital, the researchers focused on dogs under 20 kg with acute thoracolumbar disc herniations. They came up with this 50-step walking test to define when a dog is truly “walking” again, inspired by human tests like the 50-foot walk. Basically, it evaluated the ability of a dog to take 50 steps without tripping or falling, with the distance customized to each dog’s size using a novel formula (y = 1.384x + 2.773, where y is the distance in meters and x is the dog’s ulnar length in cm).

The study had two parts:

Control Dogs: 120 dogs (without spinal issues) walked 50 steps.  The distance was calculated and tied it to their ulnar length to create the formula.

Test Dogs: 104 dogs undergoing decompressive surgery for nonambulatory paraparesis or paraplegia were assessed.  Owners were given a piece of string matching their dog’s 50-step distance and were asked to let the team know when their pup could walk that far without dragging their legs. The team checked in regularly to track progress, grouping dogs by their neurologic status: paraparetic (PPR), paraplegic with pain sensation (PPL), or deep pain-negative (DPN).

Findings

Recovery Rates:  Out of 104 dogs, 83 (80%) were walking 50 steps within four months. The breakdown?  92% of paraparetic dogs, 100% of paraplegic dogs, and just 41% of deep pain-negative dogs made it.

Timing:  Paraparetic and paraplegic dogs were back to walking in about 14 days, but deep pain-negative dogs took much longer —around 91 days. 

What Affects Recovery?:  Deep pain status and presurgical anesthetic time were key predictors of recovery. Notably, longer presurgical anesthetic time (often linked to MRI vs. CT imaging) correlated with slower recovery, likely due to selection bias for more severe cases requiring MRI.

Implications for Veterinary Practice

The 50-step walking test offers a simple, owner-implemented method under veterinary guidance, making it ideal for large-scale, multicenter pragmatic trials. Its alignment with human outcome measures enhances translational potential, facilitating cross-species research. The test’s focus on a functional, real-world outcome—walking a distance relevant to daily activities like elimination—resonates with owners and clinicians alike.

What’s Next?

Right now, the test is for smaller dogs (<20kg) with thoracolumbar injuries, but it could be tweaked for larger dogs or other spinal issues. 

Conclusion

The 50-step walking test provides a reliable, practical tool for assessing ambulation recovery in dogs with thoracolumbar disc herniation. By clearly distinguishing outcomes based on neurologic severity and enabling large-scale data collection, it paves the way for advancing treatment strategies in veterinary neurology.

Check it out: Rosen S, Grzegorzewski JL, Heath S, Schacke C, Jeffery N. A 50-step walking test for analysis of recovery after decompressive surgery for thoracolumbar disc herniation in dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 2022;36(5):1733-1741. doi:10.1111/jvim.16516