Orthopaedic palpation: in which order to examine the limbs
5-year-old crossbreed dog with a 3-week left hindlimb lameness. After observing the gait, you are going to perform the orthopaedic palpation.
What is the most appropriate order?
chevron_right Show answer and explanation
A. Start with the left stifle, the most likely site, before the dog gets tired
If you cause pain at the start the animal tenses and stops cooperating, and the rest of the examination (including comparisons) becomes unreliable.
B. Examine only the lame limb, from proximal to distal
Without examining the contralateral limb you have no reference for what is normal in that animal, and lesions may be bilateral (e.g. cruciate disease).
C. The sound limb first and, in each limb, from distal (digits) to proximal, leaving the suspect area until last
Correct. The sound limb shows you that animal's normal response, going from distal to proximal avoids missing structures, and leaving the painful area until last keeps the animal cooperative.
D. Always sedate the animal before palpation so it does not resist
Sedation helps for instability tests (drawer, Ortolani) but prevents pain assessment, which is the key information of the initial palpation.
lightbulb Key takeaway
Start with the animal standing, palpating both sides simultaneously to compare muscle mass, effusion and heat. Then, in lateral recumbency, examine joint by joint (flexion, extension, stress) from distal to proximal. If a manoeuvre is painful, always compare it with the contralateral limb.
Test yourself with 10 random questions
Musculoskeletal system · 100 questions, a different test every time
Related questions
Updated: October 31, 2026 · Educational content for veterinary professionals. It does not replace current clinical guidelines or the judgement of the attending veterinarian.