Plan of Action


1. Repeat orthopedic exam while dog is under anesthesia – this will allow for repeat of the cranial 
drawer sign on the right stifle (negative result in awake patient does not rule out diagnosis of a cranial 
cruciate rupture – a possible traumatic etiology of stifle laxity); this will also allow for a more 
comprehensive evaluation of the left hind limb including the cranial drawer sign and luxation of the 
patella

2. Radiographic evaluation of the stifle joints – evaluate for presense of patellar luxation; check for 
musculo-skeletal abnormalities associated with medial patellar luxation in the dog (coxa vara, lateral 
torsion of distal femur, lateral bowing of the distal one-third of the femur, shallow trochlear groove, 
dysplasia of femoral epiphysis, tibial deformities, and dengenerative joint disease); evaluate signs of 
osteoarthritis possibly associated with cruciate ligament rupture; look for joint effusion, placement of 
intra-articular fat pad ; joint erosion and degeneration; or lack of bony changes

3. Stifle joint taps – evaluate turbidity, color, and viscosity; nucleated cell count, inflammation; culture 
to evaluate possible sepsis; evaluate volume of joint fluid

4. Immunology testing – Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test; Lupus Erythematous cell test; Rheumatoid 
factor detection; Coombs test all to evaluate the possibility of immune-mediated inflammation of the 
stifle causing lameness