Canine anatomy explorer

Areas covered in an assessment

Neck Cervical spine

The neck works hard in dogs that pull on the lead or spend much of the day nose down. Discomfort here usually looks like reluctance rather than obvious pain.

Shoulder Shoulder joint and tendons

A frequent site of soft tissue injury in active dogs, particularly where the biceps and supraspinatus tendons attach.

Elbow Elbow joint

Elbow dysplasia and the arthritis that follows are among the most common causes of forelimb lameness, particularly in larger breeds.

Carpus Carpus and front paw

The carpus absorbs impact every time a dog lands. Older dogs and those recovering from injury often start to drop through this joint.

Thoracic spine Thoracic spine and mid back

The mid back links the front and hind limbs. It commonly stiffens when a dog has been compensating for a sore leg somewhere else.

Lumbar back Lumbar and lumbosacral spine

The lumbosacral junction carries a great deal of load, and is a frequent source of pain in older, working and sporting dogs.

Hip Hip joint

Hip dysplasia and arthritis are common, and dogs hide them well. Muscle over the hindquarters is often lost before an owner notices a limp.

Stifle Stifle joint and cruciate ligament

The stifle is where cruciate ligament injury happens, which is the single most common orthopaedic problem seen in dogs.

Hock Hock and Achilles tendon

The hock provides push off in the hind limb. The tendons around it are slow to heal once they have been injured.

This guide is for general information. It is not a diagnosis, and veterinary consent is required before physiotherapy treatment. Get in touch to arrange an assessment.