Lindsey Savage

Explanation of Facts

6 years old: developmental abnormalities should have become evident by this age.  
Also, 
with middle-aged dogs, neoplasia should be considered.  Osteoarthritis is 
commonly seen 
in older dogs.
Labrador Retriever:  this is a large breed dog-large breeds are more prone to 
hip 
dysplasia, lateral collateral ligament rupture of the stifle, etc. than 
toy/small breed dogs.  
Also, nutritional influences should be considered with these breeds.
"won't get up in the exam room":  she is in pain
"trouble with stairs":  she is in pain.  Moving up and down stairs places 
different stress 
and pressure on joints than walking.
4 cups Hill's Adult Dry Maintenance:  this dog is overweight and the diet may be 
inappropriate.  Obesity places abnormal stress on joints and bones.  
Heavy exercise:  this dog, despite its obesity, gets a lot of strenuous 
exercise.  She goes 
on walks twice a day, running for 3 miles several times a week and goes on 
hikes.  This 
heavy exercise, in addition to obesity, places stress on her joints and provides 
an 
opportunity for trauma.
Partial weight-bearing left hind limb lameness:  there are conditions which 
affect the 
hind limb more than the forelimb (obviously hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament 
ruptures are 
examples).  Also, the fact that it is partially weight-bearing indicates it is 
painful.
Difficulty getting up but walks well when up:  again, indicates that her 
condition is 
painful since the act of standing up requires that a lot of pressure be placed 
on all four 
limbs
Barely toe-touching on left hind limb:  supports the presumption that she is in 
pain
Effusion of left stifle joint:  localizes problem to left stifle, indicates 
inflammation
Bilateral distension of left stifle joint capsule:  localizes problem to left 
stifle, indicates 
inflammation
Pain on manipulation of left stifle:  localizes problem to left stifle, confirms 
that she is 
painful
Overweight:  obesity can exacerbate any orthopedic problem and can contribute, 
through 
the excess stress on the bones and ligaments, to the pathophysiology of bone 
disease
Awake, no cranial drawer:  not sure what this indicates, possibly the dog was 
too tense 
to relax her leg muscles and that kept the stifle in position (learning issue)
Sedated, 4-5 mm cranial drawer in left stifle:  there is a cranial cruciate 
ligament 
rupture in the left stifle joint
Sedated, <2 mm cranial drawer in right stifle:  presuming this is a normal 
finding 
(learning issue), if so, the problem is localized to the left stifle 
(unilateral)
Patellas correctly positioned and normally mobile:  rule-out patellar luxation 
as a 
cause of stifle pain/effusion
Collateral ligaments intact:  rule-out collateral lig. rupture as a cause of 
stifle 
pain/effusion
Hip joints, no palpable laxity/pain in full ROM:  rule-out hip dysplasia, OA of 
hip