Understanding Hip Dysplasia in Dogs 🐾 Hip dysplasia is a common developmental condition in dogs, where the hip joints don’t form as they should. This can lead to looseness (laxity) in the joint, causing abnormal wear, discomfort, inflammation, and eventually arthritis.
In this video, we demonstrate two key tests used to assess joint laxity:
1️⃣ Barden’s Test – This involves gently lifting the top of the thigh bone (femoral head) to check for excessive movement. A positive result indicates the joint is looser than normal.
2️⃣ Ortolani Test – This involves pushing the thigh bone into the hip socket and then moving the leg to check for a noticeable ‘clunk’ as the joint slips back into place.
These tests are performed under anaesthesia or heavy sedation to ensure your dog is comfortable and the results are accurate.
If you have concerns about your dog’s hips, speak to your vet & enquire about getting referred to us – identifying hip dysplasia early can help manage the condition and improve quality of life. 🐶💙
#DogHealth #HipDysplasia #VetCare #Vet #Dogs #Dog #Petcare #Doglovers #Petlovers
Could this be one of the prettiest dogs we’ve had this year? This beautiful girl is Roo and she came in for a baseline gait analysis as she is a very active and enthusiastic participant in Flyball. Baseline analysis on dogs with no known musculoskeletal issues can be a fantastically useful tool for picking up early issues. Variations from ‘normal’ can lead to earlier investigations and interventions which might otherwise be missed. As there is no reference range for gait analysis we can only compare each dog to themselves and by repeating runs at exactly the same speed we can do this with a great degree of accuracy. Lovely to meet you Roo!
#vet #dogs #dog #petcare #doglovers #petlovers
At the clinic we have a particular interest in the use of novel orthobiologic therapies such as stem cells for the management of degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis. However, we are always very clear that joint injections are only a part of a multi-modal management strategy, and that lifestyle modification is equally, if not more, important. Harry here is a case in point! Harry was diagnosed with a Fragmented Coronoid Process via CT scan a little over 6 months ago. When he first arrived at the clinic he was 3/5 lame left fore most of the time and worse in trot. He received an injection of mesenchymal stem cells into the elbow and six months later he floats like a butterfly, is doing a good couple of hours of exercise a day with no lameness, and he is on no medication! BUT, he has also lost nearly 6kg, does warm up and cool down exercises, has his exercise moderated, has light therapy, and a host of supportive practices that are keeping him comfortable. Arthritis isn’t the end of the road, it’s just the start of a different road, and how you travel that road has to change. Harry and his family have and look how happy he looks!
Ultrasound: A Key Tool in Diagnosing Iliopsoas Muscle Lesions in Dogs 🦴
Recently, our team had the opportunity to work with Dr Fabrizio Tucciarone on an interesting case involving a dog with an iliopsoas muscle lesion. Using ultrasound, Fabrizio identified a hyperechoic tract, pointing to possible fibrotic changes in the muscle.
🔍 Why is ultrasound effective?
It’s cost-efficient, dynamic, and provides real-time insights into muscle structures, making it a reliable first step in diagnosing injuries in working and sporting dogs.
Want to learn more about how ultrasound could benefit your pet? Contact us at [email protected] or 01664 778187.
When it’s Friday morning and your gait analysis treadmill is being tested to its absolute weight tolerance at 95kg! Welcome back Thor!! Four months since therapy in to his elbow and hip and he is doing amazingly well, and still on no systemic medication! What a great start to the day!
Calling all vets 📣
Join Nupsala MSK's own Drew Tootal at Yorkshire Wildlife Park for the When Canine OA Goes Wild CPD. This exclusive event takes place on July 9th and includes a tour of the Wildlife Park and dinner.
Limited tickets remain for this event, so grab yours now at https://shorturl.at/UgP8Z
VOACON - Gait Analysis in Working Dogs Talk by Drew Tootal
Our vet, Drew Tootal, will be sharing his expertise on gait analysis in working dogs on day 2 of #VOACON!
📅 Date: 23rd May
🕘 Time: 11:15 AM - 11:40 AM
🌐 More Info & Tickets: vet-oa.com/voacon
Be sure to secure your spot and gain valuable insights from Drew. See you there!
VOACON - How we run our Mobility Service talk by Drew Tootal
Calling all veterinary professionals! Join us on Day 1 of #VOACON to hear our vet, Drew Tootal discuss our innovative mobility service! Learn about our approach to helping cats and dogs regain mobility with our advanced equipment and personalised care.
📅 Date: 22nd May
📍 More info & tickets: vet-oa.com/voacon
How can you look at a video like this and not smile?! This beautiful ball of fluff is Cleo, and she is a 12-year-old Papillon (though she acts like a 2 year old!). She suffered a fibular fracture two years ago and has been worked on tirelessly by her owners and physiotherapist and hydrotherapist to get her fully mobile. Today she came in for a baseline analysis to see if there was any residual lameness from the surgery. Happily everything was in good order, and we now have a baseline to monitor against in the future. Any animals having surgery, particularly if it involves joint cavities, are prone to developing arthritis later in life so routine monitoring and early intervention is key to trying to slow disease progression. Well done Cleo – you smashed it!
Well, we simply couldn’t resist capturing a video of this little chap! This adorable dog is called Wilf, and he is a Hungarian Pumi. A relatively little-known breed they were developed in the 17th and 18th centuries as a herding dog with Terrier traits. Wilf was presented for a baseline assessment as he adores agility training so by capturing his gait now we have something to compare to in future. Wilf was superb on the treadmill and we’re happy to say his gait was perfect (and look at that trot on the slow-motion)! Well done Wilf!
Our final video in this mini-series, Pacing is an extremely common gait that we get asked about a lot. Sometimes stated as a pathological gait in all circumstances, as we understand more about canine gait we know that it can be completely normal for some dogs and there is a suggestion that it is a learned gait to avoid interference of the feet, especially when on lead. As with all things gait analysis, the significant factor is change! If your dog has always paced and suddenly stopped or has never paced and suddenly started then it may be worth getting it checked. If your dog has always paced then it is likely to be normal!
This is the second video of common gaits and shows how a dog’s head position changes in order to try and reduce pressure through an uncomfortable limb.
Nupsala MSK Clinic is a state-of-the-art veterinary referral centre in Leicestershire
