Facts:

1.  6 year old FS Black Labrador Retriever - Large breed pure bred dog which could be 
more susceptible to skeletal malformations and dysfunctions.
2.  Owner complains: she is not using left back leg properly - Helps localize the area of 
concern to the hind limbs.
3.  Dog does not get up when vet enters exam room - Infers the dog has difficulty getting 
up, or the dog is not feeling well.
4.  HasnŐt been walking normally since Wednesday - Indicates this is not a chronic 
problem, it is recent and given that the owner takes such good care of her dog she is 
more reliable as she would notice problems if they had occurred earlier.
5.  Difficulty rising and managing stairs - Suggests that the dog has decreased ability to 
use back legs, decreased range of motion, possible osteoarthritis associated with the 
hind limbs, etc. 
6.  Dog adopted when 8 mo from pound - DogŐs parental history unknown as dog was 
found abandoned - Large breed dogs are predisposed to skeletal malformations (such 
as hip dysplasia) which may be genetically inherited.  It is difficult to assess if there 
are inherited difficulties if parental information is unknown.
7.  Fed HillŐs Adult Maintenance dry food twice daily totaling 4 cups/ day - Fed a very 
high quality diet.  This could rule out any problems due to nutritional deficiencies.
8.  Indoor dog - Decreases the likelihood that the dog would run into trouble such as 
HBC, dog fights, other traumatic injuries caused from free roaming.
9.  Up to date on vaccinations and deworming - Owner takes excellent care of animal and 
dog should have no underlying problems such as parasitic infections or other diseases. 
Excellent health otherwise - Suggests that the dog is not systemically ill, or possessing 
other problems that may affect the prognosis of this dogŐs problem.
10.  Giving heartworm preventative once a month - Not likely to be a heartworm problem.
11.  On no other medications - Healthy dog that has no other diseases, problems, etc.
12.  Very high activity level - The dog gets adequate regular exercise.
13.  Goes for 30-60 minute walks 2x/day and  3mile jogs 3x/week - Proving that the dog 
receives regular exercise that includes low impact and high impact which could affect 
the joints.
14.  Partial weight bearing lameness on left hind limb - Partial weight bearing is not a very 
severe problem- this helps rule out severe trauma such as fractures.
15.  Walks fine once dog is up - Could be suggestive of minor arthritic changes within the 
dogŐs hind limb that are only apparent while the dog is attempting to stand after 
periods of rest.
16.  Barely toe touching on left hind leg - Supportive of the partial weight bearing 
lameness.
17.  Effusion of left stifle joint - Suggests that there is inflammation within the joint 
capsule or soft tissue swelling around the joint.  This could be due to trauma within 
the joint, around the joint, or infection within the joint.
18.  Distention of joint capsule on either side of straight patellar ligament - Localizes the 
problem to around the patella.  There could be involvement of the cranial cruciate 
ligament.
19.  Pain on manipulation of stifle - There could be an injury within the stifle joint such as 
cranial cruciate rupture, strain on the patellar ligaments, or inflammation within the 
joint capsule.
20.  Overweight - This would suggest that the dog has extra weight bearing on the limbs 
which could lead to problems in the face of injury.  This could interfere with the 
proper healing process, further damage the joint, etc.
21.  Joint tap performed - We will get the results later to rule out possible infectionsÉ
22.  No cranial drawer can be palpated in stifle joint while awake - The animal is aware 
that the joint is being manipulated and can resist this movement so we would not see 
any cranial drawer.
23.  Under sedation 4-5 mm cranial drawer in left stifle - Suggestive of damage to the 
cranial cruciate ligament.
24.  Under sedation <2 mm cranial drawer in right stifle - This is minimal movement and 
could be an incidental finding or the right hind limb stifle joint could be somewhat 
involved as well.
25.  Both patellas appear correctly positioned and normally mobile - Suggests that the 
patellar ligaments are intact and holding the patella in place normally.
26.  Collateral ligament intact - Suggests that the patellar ligaments are intact and holding 
the patella in place normally.
27.  No palpable laxity in hips and no pain during full range of motion - Demonstrates the 
hips are normal and properly functioning.  This dog probably is not having these 
problems due to hip dysplasia or other problems with the hips.