The problem: Lameness from joint and ligament damage

“My working lurcher is on/off lame on her right foreleg and there appears to be swelling around the wrist. Any suggestions?” TOM HORTON, HERTFORDSHIRE Vet’s advice Neil McIntosh SG’s gundog health expert

- TOM HORTON

Lots. Most importantly, I would immediately confine her to barracks until the problem has been diagnosed. Continuing to exercise her now may jeopardise her future considerably and is just not worth the risk. The wrist or carpus joint in dogs is every bit as complicated as the wrist in humans and many things can go wrong with it, some of which can be disastrous. Any lameness associated with the carpus should therefore be taken seriously.

Carpal strains

These are common in working dogs (and the left carpus in racing greyhounds who put pressure on this joint as they run anticlockwise around a track). As a result of trauma, such as falling or jumping from a height, mild hyperextension of the carpus occurs, which damages the ligaments at the back of the joint. Affected dogs are acutely lame, usually have soft swelling around the carpus and exhibit pain on careful flexion of the joint. X-rays are useful to rule out bony damage, and cage rest for around eight weeks, with a slow return to normal exercise over another two months, is generally successful. Recurrence, however, is common especially in dogs that are overweight or lack a degree of self-protection.

Carpal hyperextension