Pete the Vet: How can you detect lameness in pets?

Limping is the obvious symptom but there are many other ways to spot lameness, which could point to an underlying condition

There’s a long list of causes of cat lameness, from broken toes and bites to more rare diseases like bone cancer.

We all have a natural ability to identify a lame animal, easily spotting when a pet is not moving with a steady, even gait. But most people struggle to go further than this: why is their pet limping, and what should they do about it?

Pain is the most common reason, but there are three other common causes: instability (e.g. torn ligaments or broken bones), stiffness (e.g. a long-term arthritic joint) and nerve damage (e.g. leading to muscle weakness). Each needs a different treatment approach.