lameness in companion animals

Question 1

what are the signs of forelimb lameness

Answer 1

The head nods downward as the SOUND limb is placed
* The head nods upward when the LAME limb is placed

Question 2

What is the purpose of the orthopaedic exam?

Answer 2

• Anatomical deformity or displacement
• Pain / crepitus
• The range of movement of each joint
• The integrity of supporting structures of each join

Question 3

What is cranial cruciate disease?

Answer 3

Acute CCLD: sudden onset of non-weight bearing
or partial weight bearing lameness
* Partial tear: mild weight bearing lameness
associated with exercise, improves with rest. With
time OA worsens, and lameness does not respond
to rest
* Chronic: weight bearing lameness associated with
OA

Question 4

What is the signalment for cranial cruciate disease

Answer 4

Small and large breeds
Young and old
Male and female
Cats can also be affected

Question 5

What is conservative treatment

Answer 5

6-8 weeks of strict rest
more effective in small dogs

Question 6

What is surgical treatment?

Answer 6

occurs in medium/ large size dogs
e.g TPLO
TWO
TTA

Question 7

What is the patella luxation?

Answer 7

Young dogs
* Small breed&raquo_space;> large breed
* MPL&raquo_space;> LPL
* LPL more common in large breed
* Cats can be affected. Less common than dogs.
Can be traumatic or developmental.

Question 8

What is the history of patella luxation?

Answer 8

• Intermittent weight bearing lameness
• Severity of lameness is related to grade of
  luxation
• The patient holds the leg in a flexed position for
  few steps
• Skipping
• Lameness- 25% have concurrent CCLD

Question 9

What is the signalment for bone tumours in dogs?

Answer 9

Middle age/old patients. Age > 7 year
* Large breeds

Question 10

What is the history for bone tumours in dogs?

Answer 10

• Severe lameness
• Poor response to analgesia
• Bony swelling
• Pathological fracture

Question 11

What is the most common bone cancer?

Answer 11

Osteosarcoma

Question 12

What is the incidence of bone cancer in cats?

Answer 12

• Rare in comparison to dogs
• Osteosarcoma most common npl
• Signalment: mature cats
• Presentation: lameness, limb deformities, pathological fractures
• Diagnostic work-up: local radiographs and thoracic radiographs
• Treatment options: amputation
• Prognosis: reasonable with amputation. 10% risk of metastasis

Question 13

What is panosteitis signalment?

Answer 13

Young dogs < 2-year-old
* Male > female
* Large breeds

Question 14

What is the signalment for degenerative joint disease?

Answer 14

• Middle age, old patients
• Small and large breeds
• Cats are affected as well!

Question 15

What is the history of degenerative joint disease?

Answer 15

Lameness/ stiffness
* Chronic presentation, insidious onset
* Worse in the morning and after rest that has followed a period of exercise
* Improves as the dog/cat warms up
* Difficulty in raising, jumping, climbing stairs
* Altered behaviour (aggression, lethargy).
* More time spent sleeping and less interaction with the owner (cats)
* Urination and defecation outside the litter tray (cats)

Question 16

What is the signalment for avascular necrosis of the femoral head?

Answer 16

• Small breed dogs (miniature poodles, WHWT)
• Young 4-11 months of age
• Cats are affected by similar issue (young castrated male)