Shearwave Elastography for the Noninvasive Assessment of Pelvic Limb Muscle Contracture in German Shepherds

The University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine is currently recruiting German Shepherd dogs diagnosed with and without fibrotic myopathy.

Enrollment Status: Enrolling

Inclusion criteria: German Shepherd dogs which are healthy (without orthopedic or neurological disease) and can tolerate sedation. Or German Shepherd dogs diagnosed with fibrotic myopathy, who can also tolerate sedation.

Study Procedures: Dogs will be given sedation intravenously (IV) and positioned on their backs for the ultrasound. The fur on the  inner thigh will be shaved. Ultrasound and SWE will
be used to evaluate the hamstring muscles (gracilis, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus muscles). Hamstring stretch angles will also be measured by flexing the hip and extending the knee.

Cost: The study will cover the costs of sedation and the SWE ultrasound. No other costs will be covered.

Background:  The purpose of this study is to evaluate the use of shear wave elastography (SWE) to measure muscle stiffness in German Shepherd Dogs (GSDs) with and without fibrotic myopathy. Fibrotic myopathy is a condition commonly seen in GSDs where normal muscle is replaced by scar tissue, leading to decreased mobility. SWE uses ultrasound to measure the stiffness of different tissues. This technique may help in the early diagnosis of fibrotic myopathy, grading of disease, and monitoring treatment response.

Contact: You can contact the Clinical Studies Team at 352-294-4389 or by email: VM-ClinicalStudies@ufl.edu, or complete the Study Interest Form to see if your dog qualifies.