Evaluation of the lame patient

Competence in evaluating lameness is vital for the veterinary practitioner. This skill is becoming even more important with the increasing popularity of large-breed dogs and the corresponding increase in the number of develop mental orthopedic problems seen on a day-to-day basis. A proper physical ex amination of the lame patient is essential to the management of the case. T his article reviews the initial evaluation of the lame veterinary patient w ithout dwelling on the specific differential diagnoses and corresponding tr eatments.