Limping in cats and dogs, its causes and treatment

Small human pets, dogs and cats, are like children. They are always interested in everything and never stand still. They run around the yard at incredible speeds and in unpredictable directions. Living at this pace all the time increases the chances of suffering various injuries, which can lead to lameness in one or the other leg.

Limping is more common in the back leg. There are three main causes of this condition:

• Dislocation of the kneecap (more common in small breeds);
• rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament (partial or complete);
• hip dysplasia, degeneration and inflammation.

Lameness of the front leg is less common than that of the back leg, but it is also a significant impairment in the health of the animal. The most common cause of lameness in the foreleg is dysplasia of the elbow joint, which can develop due to various deformities of the forearm bones or circulatory problems. Learn more about the different causes of lameness, their diagnosis, treatment and prevention in this educational video.