Inter-Observer Reliability When Comparing Three Different Circumference Measurement Devices in the Canine Upper Hindquarter, Upper Thigh, and Mid-Femur

Background: This study aimed to determine which of three devices and canine hindlimb muscle circumference measurement (MCM) displayed the highest inter-observer reliability. In addition, determine whether the measuring devices (MD) and MCMs would be reliable objective outcome measures to accurately measure muscle mass in canines.

Materials and Methods: Five canine cadavers were placed in left lateral recumbency, for three observers to measure the right hindlimb muscle circumference in triplicate using three measuring devices and anatomical landmarks (ALs). The hindlimb MCMs used were upper hindquarter (UH), upper thigh (UT), and mid-femur (MF) muscle circumference taken from three ALs and the measuring devices (MDs) used were the Gulick tape II (GT), standard tape (ST), and circumferential tape (CIRCT). Triplicate measurements were recorded for each AL and MD in which the average of the three measurements was used for statistical analysis using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results: High inter-observer reliability was found with each of the three MDs at each of the three ALs on the canine cadavers. The results show that there was a significant level of agreement and reliability among observers for each MD and AL combination.

Conclusion: People with a similar level of experience could use three MDs and ALs interchangeably within a similar setting with a low risk for large discrepancies. This study suggests that when performing canine MCMs the importance of the clinicians’ experience, standardization of the limb position, and anatomical location of measurement is more significant than the MD used.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 September 2025