Intraobserver and interobserver agreement of 8 segmental reflexes in healthy dogs

Abstract Background No available literature supports the claim that the patellar and withdrawal (flexor) reflexes are the only reliable segmental reflexes in dogs. Objective Measure intra‐ and interobserver agreement of 8 segmental reflexes in dogs without clinical evidence of orthopedic or neurologic disease. Animals One‐hundred and one client‐ or staff‐owned dogs between 1 and 10 years of age with no clinical evidence of orthopedic disease, myelopathy, or neuromuscular disease. Methods Descriptive study. The intraobserver proportion of agreement (%) of responses to selected segmental reflexes in right versus left limbs by 3 observers was calculated and reported. The interobserver agreement of 2 observers of responses to selected reflexes was estimated by calculating proportions of agreement, kappa values, and 95% confidence intervals. A segmental reflex with an acceptable agreement was defined as that with a proportion of agreement ≥90% and a Kappa value ≥0.61 in both limbs. Results The intraobserver proportion of agreement for all 3 observers was high (≥95%) for the extensor carpi radialis, withdrawal, patellar, and cranial tibial reflexes. Between observers 1 and 3 and observers 2 and 3, the interobserver proportion of agreement was high (≥ 92%) for the extensor carpi radialis (κ 0.66, not determined [ND]), withdrawal (both limbs, κ ND), patellar (κ ND), and cranial tibial reflexes (κ ND). Conclusions and Clinical Importance The extensor carpi radialis, withdrawal, patellar, and cranial tibial reflexes had a higher proportion of agreement and kappa values between 2 observers.