Clean Run - February 2020 - 50

Move a cookie to each hip to assess
cervical range of motion.

Paralumbar spine palpation assessment

The hock or ankle

Check the Spine
Begin by palpating the muscles on either side of your dog's spine. Active canines can have excessive tension and/or
muscle tension, similar to us. With your
dog standing squarely, place your fingers on each side of the spine and gently push down as you glide along. Start
at the base of your dog's head (cervical
area), work your way through the midback (thoracic-lumbar area), and finish
near the base of the tail (lower-lumbar/
LS area). See Figure 1. As you gently
press down and glide from head to tail,
feel for any areas of tightness or spasm
along the way. Retaining a written log
of those areas will allow you to monitor
them over time.
The best way to evaluate your dog's cervical spine range of motion or flexibility
is to have the dog follow treats:
1. Move a treat to the dog's left shoulder and then right shoulder.
2. Take a treat to your dog's flank or hip
region. See Figure 2. Have the dog
bend toward the left hip and then
the right hip.
3. Starting in a neutral position, take
the treat and have the dog follow it
so that he looks up toward the ceiling and then down toward the floor.
50

Palpating each digit of the foot

Palpating the Achilles tendon

The stifle or knee

It may be very beneficial to have someone take photos or videos of the cervical/spinal
range of motion tests.

Check the Hind Limbs
Following the spinal assessment, continue on to your dog's hind limbs. Start with the
toes and work your way up to the hip. It is important to evaluate the individual nails,
pads, and individual digits thoroughly.
Begin your assessment by looking at the nails. If your dog has a subtle lameness in a
particular limb, you may notice that the nails of that limb may not be worn down as
much as they are on the other limbs. Or, in some cases, the dog may be scuffing the
nails slightly and wearing them down more than in the other limbs.
Next, go to the pads. Do they show signs of abnormal wear? Check for any small lacerations or abrasions, especially in the webbing between the toes. Gently press on
each pad; they should feel slightly firm with no signs of discomfort.
Move on to the toes. There are three individual segments in each digit, just like our
fingers. You should easily be able to place each segment through a gentle range of
motion. See Figure 3.
Do not worry if you notice a slight snap-crackle-pop during any of your joint assessments, as long as it is not uncomfortable for the dog, it is normal. If you do notice
discomfort or pain, please record it in your dog's medical journal. You can refer back
to this information when you meet with your canine healthcare provider.
Gently make your way up from the toes to the ankle (hock). See Figure 4. There should
be no signs of swelling or discomfort. Remember, always compare both limbs, noting
any difference or asymmetry. When you arrive at the hock, gently lift the limb from
the floor and place it through full range of motion (flexion and extension). Attaching
to the backside or calcaneus/heel of the hock is the Achilles tendon. Palpate both
Achilles tendons at the same time. Starting at the ball of the hock where the Achilles
inserts, glide your fingers upward. Each tendon should feel like a smooth band, which
should be taut when standing, with no signs of swelling. See Figure 5. As you make
your way up the limb, the next stop is the stifle or knee. See Figure 6.
Clean Run | February 20

Clean Run - February 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Clean Run - February 2020