Abstract

Pododermatitis, degenerative arthritis, and other musculoskeletal diseases are common causes of lameness and discomfort in penguins under professional care.^1,2 Multiple treatment modalities have been utilized and advocated, but at this time, there is little objective documentation of response to therapy. In domestic mammals and humans, force plates and pressure-sensitive walkways (PSW) have been used to characterize normal and abnormal gait variables and allow for objective assessment of analgesic treatment.^3-7 We evaluated the use of a Tekscan PSW (Walkway 7 System; Tekscan, South Boston, Massachusetts, USA) to obtain quantitative data about normal gait kinematics in Humboldt penguins (Spheniscus humboldti). Eight clinically normal adult penguins (mean±SD weight: 4.51±0.34 kg ) were allowed to walk along a 10 foot long walkway platform four times. Stance time (AT), stride time (ST), stride length (SL), stride velocity (SV), maximum force (MF), and maximum peak pressure (MPP) were calculated for each foot in each animal. Pairwise comparisons were made between right and left leg in each animal and were not found to be significantly different. Mean values for gait variables were AT: 0.25 s, ST: 0.42 s, SL: 27.14 cm, SV: 67.79 cm/s, MF: 127.14% BW, and MPP: 107.94 kPa. In addition, we characterized normal static weight distribution across the plantar surface of the feet. Normal values reported here will be used in future studies to assess the use of PSW to detect lameness and gait alterations in clinically abnormal penguins, with the ultimate goal of using this technology to objectively quantify and assess response to analgesic therapy.

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Brookfield Zoo Bird Department and Veterinary Staff for their assistance. We further thank the Grainger Foundation for their financial support of this project.

* Presenting author

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