Lameness most often presents as a limp.  There are many conditions which cause dogs and cats to limp and diagnosing lameness is often quite challenging.  Diagnosing lameness begins with a thorough knowledge of the patient and the history of the lameness.  Some causes of lameness occur most commonly in very young dogs or in specific breeds of dogs.  Some types of lameness resolve after a few days and some types of lameness never resolve.  A complete physical and orthopedic exam complete the foundation of the lameness diagnosis.   X-rays, joint taps and blood tests are needed to diagnose many causes of lameness.  In a few cases, we are unable to make a diagnosis.  In the cases, we attempt a trial treatment or refer the pet to a specialist.

Treatment for lameness varies depending upon the cause.  These treatment options vary from surgery to medical therapy to benign neglect.  Below are some of the more common causes of lameness:

ยง               Foot pad problems including cactus spines, fox tails and lacerations usually result in lameness to some degree. Problems of this sort are found on physical exam.  Removal of the offending foreign body (or suturing lacerations) and treatment with antibiotics are most often sufficient to resolve the limp.

ยง               Soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, bruising and tears are common causes of lameness.  Diagnosis of soft tissue injury may be made with physical and orthopedic exam but sedation or anesthesia are often required.  Additionally, xrays and blood tests are at times necessary to rule out other causes of lameness.  Treatment for soft tissue injuries may be as simple as anti-inflammatory therapy and rest or may require surgery or other treatments.

ยง               Neurologic causes of lameness include disk disease, cauda equina syndrome, peripheral neuritis and many others.  Definitive diagnosis of neurological disease leading to lameness usually requires several xrays and may require referral to a neurologist.  Treatment varies with the specific disease present and ranges from rest and anti-inflammatory therapy to surgery.

ยง               Juvenile bone diseases often cause lameness.  Diagnosis is based upon history and physical exam and xrays.  Treatment varies with the specific condition present.

ยง               Hip dysplasia is a conformational abnormality with hereditary, nutritional and other  components.  Diagnosis is made through thorough orthopedic exam and xrays.  Because of the painful nature of the condition, sedation or anesthesia are most often necessary.  Treatment depends upon the stage of the disease.  There is no medical cure although medical therapy can slow the progression of the disease.  Several surgical procedures exist which correct the condition and may return the dog to full physical ability.  The use of these surgical procedures is limited by the stage of disease present and the age of the dog.

ยง               Arthritis, more properly called degenerative joint disease or DJD, is a common cause of lameness. There are several causes of arthritis, including trauma, poor conformation, infection and immune disease.  Diagnosis is made based upon history of the lameness, orthopedic exam, xrays and occasionally blood tests.  Occasionally, DJD in its early stages does not show up on xrays.  Treatment varies depending upon the cause of the arthritis and the stage of degeneration present. It is important to understand that once the cartilage within the joint (articular hyaline cartilage) is damaged, it will never heal to the point where it is as good as it was before DJD set in.

ยง               Fractures are much less common now that leash laws are in effect and widely respected.  Still, we do occasionally see fractures.  Diagnosis requires xrays.  Treatment may be as simple as extended rest or as complicated as surgical repair of the fracture.

ยง               Osteomyelitis, or infection of bone, is another common cause of lameness.  There are several bacteria and fungal which infect bone.  Coccidioides immitis, the fungus which causes valley fever is the most common cause of osteomyelitis in the south west.  Diagnosis requires x-rays and blood tests for antibodies specific to the infective organism.  Treatment for osteomyelitis is medical and in almost all cases must be continued for months.

ยง               Cancer, of several types, affects bone and joints leading to lameness.  Diagnosis requires xrays and biopsy on top of thorough physical and orthopedic exams.  Treatment varies depending on the type of cancer present.

Diagnosis of lameness is often a process of elimination.  We will often trial treat for a condition based upon the elimination of other conditions as possible causes of lameness.  If your pet does not respond favorably to treatment, it will be necessary to return to the hospital for further testing and /or adjustment of treatment protocol.