Lameness in dogs can be sudden or have a gradual onset. If you spot your dog limping slightly or hopping on one foot, it may just be due to a small object stuck in their footpad. Possibly even a slight strain or sprain. But it could be down to something more serious, and an early sign of lameness.

As a responsible dog owner, it's good to pay attention to how they walk. Sudden canine lameness could be something serious like a broken bone. While developing over time could be something like hip dysplasia. So to keep you in the know, here's what you need to know about lameness in dogs.

When Should I Take My Limping Dog to the Vet?

If the lameness persists and your dog is still not weight-bearing on a particular leg after 24 hours, they’ll need to see your vet. Your vet will probably carry out a full lameness assessment to find out whether the lameness is a result of orthopaedic or neurological disease and to pinpoint the exact source of the problem.

Your vet will then decide which tests need to be carried out before they can diagnose the cause and plan treatment and management options.

Dog Lameness Assessment Breakdown

At the initial appointment, the lameness assessment will involve:

• History taking – this can give valuable clues to the likely cause of the lameness (if acute or gradual onset, after a fall, exercise, etc)
• Gait (movement) evaluation
• General clinical examination – your dog may be suffering from another condition which may or may not be related to the lameness
• Detailed orthopaedic examination
• Neurological examination (if needed)

Gait Assessment

When dogs are lame there is an abnormal gait pattern so your vet will want to evaluate your dog’s gait. They will observe the way your dog walks, sits, lies down, and moves around. They'll also note if your dog doesn’t fully weight bear on one leg, if they hold the leg at an abnormal angle or unusual position, frequently shift weight away or re-distribute weight from the affected leg.

Gait observation will give further clues as to which leg is affected and how severely. Your vet may ask you to encourage your dog to walk slowly, at normal speed and fast walking. You may also be asked to lead your dog in trotting and running.

If a front leg is affected, your dog may head nod when walking. Head down is good, head up can occur when the affected leg hits the ground. It may be obvious if your dog can’t weight bear on one leg, but a subtle indication is that the toes/webbing on one foot may not spread as much as that on the normal leg.

Orthopaedic Examination of the Front Leg

Once the correct leg has been established, an orthopaedic examination will determine which joints, bone, tendons or muscles are affected. Most dogs won’t need sedation or anaesthesia for this to be carried out but if the dog is too nervous, aggressive or in too much pain, your vet may decide it’s necessary.

When examining front leg pain, your vet will probably examine the hind legs first, then the unaffected front leg, and the affected leg last just so they don’t miss anything. They’ll carefully examine all parts of the leg from the feet to the elbow and shoulder.

Orthopaedic Examination of the Hind Leg

With the dog in a standing position, your vet will palpate (examine by touch) and assess their back leg. They’ll feel the muscles, looking for any atrophy (muscle wastage), and identify which hindleg has been affected. Your dog’s feet, hock, tibia and fibula, stifle, femur, hip and pelvis will all be examined.

By examining the stifle (the knee), your vet can determine whether there is a problem with the cruciate ligament or patella (kneecap).

Neurological Examination

If basic neurological tests such as examining the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral spine are normal, your vet will likely decide that further neurological examination isn’t necessary.

Lameness Scales

Vets often use a lameness scale to grade how severe the lameness is. On a scale of 0-5, dogs with a scale of 4 or 5 (holding their leg up for most or all of the time) will need immediate attention. There are also scales that grade dogs on a scale of 1-10 where 1/10 is barely lame and 10/10 indicates non-weight bearing lameness.

Further Diagnostic Tests

After the lameness assessment and orthopaedic examinations, your vet may decide that further tests are required. These commonly involve X-rays and computed tomography (CT) scans. Other tests like arthrocentesis, arthrotomy, arthroscopy, MRI and electromyography may also be included.

Causes of Lameness in Dogs

The most common causes of lameness in dogs are strains or sprains, footpad foreign bodies, and injuries to joints, bone fractures or dislocations. Hip or elbow luxation or dysplasia, patellar luxation, cancer, cruciate ligament disease, interdigital dermatitis, tendon or ligament problems may also be seen.

Some conditions occur more often in certain breeds, in active dogs and growing puppies. Large breed puppies are more prone than smaller breeds to be affected by painful bone conditions. Older dogs are more likely to suffer from arthritis.

If the lameness is due to a neurological problem, your vet may diagnose spinal problems such as lumbosacral disease, intervertebral disc disease, cancer, or a fracture. Treatment for lameness will depend on the diagnosis and can range from rest and avoiding any vigorous exercise to medication, physiotherapy and surgery.

What to Do If You Spot Your Dog is Limping

If the lameness is mild, and you have noticed a foot problem such as a small cut or torn claw, ask your vet for advice – your dog may just need to have a few days' rest. If there’s a thorn or other foreign body in their foot, you may be able to remove this carefully with tweezers.

But remember, your dog may be in pain, so could lash out at you. A small cut can be cleaned with lukewarm water and gentle soap. Never give your dog any painkillers that haven’t been prescribed by your vet.

Lameness that continues longer than 24 hours, is due to an obvious injury (fracture, bite mark, profuse bleeding or excessive swelling), extreme pain or is accompanied by other signs of illness such as vomiting and/or fever, may require veterinary attention as soon as possible. Dragging one or more of their legs can indicate a spinal problem that can deteriorate rapidly. This will also require immediate treatment.

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis - www.vetstream.com/treat/canis 

Vetlexicon is the world’s largest peer-reviewed online clinical reference source. All our content is written and peer-reviewed by over 1,000 of the world’s leading veterinarians, ensuring relevance, accuracy and quality.