Diagnosis of Lameness in Dogs provides general practice vets with a practical, step-by-step guide to performing the orthopedic diagnostic exam, including basic diagnostic imaging and advanced techniques such as CT, MRI, ultrasound, and arthroscopy, and arriving at a correct diagnosis. Treatment options are briefly summarized with the focus of the book being on diagnostics – because general practitioners will generally refer lameness cases. This book therefore provides guidance on possible causes of lameness and when to refer, and perhaps more critically, when not to refer.

Overall, the text enables general practice veterinarians and veterinary students to develop confidence in accurately diagnosing causes of lameness. More than 600 color images depicting the procedures are included throughout the text. A companion website provides video clips of specific lameness conditions to aid in reader comprehension and information retention.

Written by well-known orthopedic surgeons working in the area of lameness, Diagnosis of Lameness in Dogs also includes information on:

The first book to cover lameness diagnosis in detail, Diagnosis of Lameness in Dogs is a highly useful resource for veterinarians and students interested in improving their orthopedic diagnostic skills through gaining a foundation of relevant knowledge and an understanding of how to apply this knowledge in a field setting.

List of Contributors xi

Preface xiii

Acknowledgments xv

About the Companion Website xvii

 

1.1 General Strategy 3

1.2 Chief Complaint and History 6

1.3 Rule-Outs: Systemic (Medical) Conditions and Neurologic Disorders 7

1.4 Differential Diagnosis 8

1.5 Orthopedic Examination Form 11

2.1 Distant Observation 17

2.2 Sit Observation 31

2.3 Gait Observation 34

3.1 General and Neurologic Examination 38

3.2 Thoracic Limb 40

3.3 Pelvic Limb 43

4.1 Thoracic Limb 47

4.2 Pelvic Limb 54

 

5.1 Common General Conditions 65

5.2 Shoulder Region: Growing Dogs 69

5.3 Shoulder Region: Mature Dogs 72

5.4 Elbow Region and Antebrachium: Growing Dogs 78

5.5 Elbow Region: Mature Dogs 89

5.6 Carpal Region and Distal Limb: Growing Dogs 92

5.7 Carpal Region and Distal Limb: Mature Dogs 95

6.1 Common General Conditions 101

6.2 Hip Region: Growing Dogs 102

6.3 Hip (and Pelvic) Region: Mature Dogs 107

6.4 Stifle Region: Growing Dogs 111

6.5 Stifle Region: Mature Dogs 117

6.6 Tarsal Region and Distal Limb: Growing Dogs 122

6.7 Tarsal Region and Distal Limb: Mature Dogs 124

 

7.1 Congenital Elbow (Radial) Luxation 129

7.2 Congenital Elbow (Ulnar) Luxation 134

7.3 Angular Limb Deformity/Elbow Subluxation 138

7.4 Carpal Laxity Syndrome 148

7.5 Genu Recurvatum (Congenital Stifle Hyperextension) 150

7.6 Tibial Deformity (Pes Varus) 152

7.7 Hypertrophic Osteodystrophy 153

8.1 Elbow Dysplasia (Medial Coronoid Disease) 155

8.2 Shoulder Osteochondrosis Dissecans 160

8.3 Physeal Fractures, Avulsion Fractures 162

9.1 Elbow Osteoarthritis 164

9.2 Shoulder Tendinopathy 166

9.3 Shoulder Luxation in Small Dogs 168

9.4 Carpal Hyperextension 171

9.5 Neoplasia 173

9.6 Immune-Mediated Poly-arthropathy 177

10.1 Medial Patellar Luxation 179

10.2 Lateral Patellar Luxation 189

10.3 Hip Dysplasia 191

10.4 Femoral Head Necrosis (Legg–Calve–Perthes Disease) and Related Conditions 193

10.5 Tarsal/Stifle Osteochondritis Dissecans 198

10.6 Physeal Fractures, Avulsion Fractures 202

11.1 Cruciate Disease 205

11.2 Cruciate Disease and Medial Patellar Luxation 213

11.3 Hip Osteoarthritis 216

11.4 Lumbosacral Disease 218

11.5 Hip Luxation 219

11.6 Calcaneal Tendon Pathology 221

11.7 Neoplasia 223

11.8 Immune-Mediated Poly-arthropathy, Septic Arthritis 225

12.1 Poly-arthropathy 229

12.2 Bilateral Stifle Osteochondritis Dissecans and Cruciate Disease 232

12.3 Bilateral Hip Luxation, Cruciate Disease, and Medial Patellar Luxation 235

12.4 Bilateral Hip Osteoarthritis and Cruciate Disease 237

 

Index 243