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LAMENESS

What is lameness?

Your dog is described as being lame if he is incapable of normal movement.  The commonest causes are pain in the joint, its supporting structure or instability in the joint.  However deformities involving the bones and shortness of limbs are also causes.  Lameness can affect dogs of any age from growing puppies to old dogs. 

Common causes are age related as follows:

Puppies - growth defects or  injury

Adult Dogs – Limb injuries sometimes without any history of accident

Old Dogs - Degenerative joint disease (DJD)

My dog suddenly develops lameness and no obvious cause can be found on veterinary examinations or x-ray etc.  Can anything be done?

Lameness of unknown origin is very common in dogs of all types and sizes.  If only they could talk!  Sometimes the lameness is persistent and other types are intermittent.  Today we have a whole range of very effective pain killing drugs and these are usually used as the first line in treatment if a specific cause cannot be diagnosed.  However, as with people some drugs suit some dogs better than others so treatment may involve several changes in medication before we arrive at suitable medication.  It is important when any particular pain killer is prescribed that you do check the effects carefully and report any side effects or lack of improvement.

If my dog has an ongoing lameness, does this mean that he will be on medication for ever?

Not necessarily, even with non specific lameness controlled exercise is just as important as any pain killer.  Dogs do not understand and therefore their exercise has to be controlled.  We will advise according to the type of lameness presented.  Once improvement occurs with treatment, medication will gradually be reduced and either finally terminated or kept to the minimum consistent with a good quality of life.