Updated September 30, 2026.
Useful home observations describe what your dog does without trying to diagnose the cause. A dated note and a clear video can help a veterinarian understand a change that is less visible at the appointment. Your job is to record ordinary, permitted movement and the circumstances around it.
Start with the history
Cornell’s guide to a veterinary lameness visit explains the value of knowing when a change began, how it varies and what the dog looks like at home. Record facts rather than choosing a diagnosis from a checklist.
| Observation | What to write down |
|---|---|
| Onset | The date first noticed; sudden or gradual; any known event around that time. |
| Affected movement | Difficulty rising, a shorter step, limping, scuffing, slipping or needing more assistance. |
| Context | Surface, ordinary activity, rest beforehand and whether the dog was using an aid. |
| Change over time | Whether the same observation is improving, worsening or appearing in a different situation. |
| Comfort and general behaviour | Changes you noticed in willingness to move, posture, appetite or toileting. |
| Existing plan | Current restrictions, prescribed medicines and equipment in use; bring the instructions with you. |
Make a video that shows the whole movement
- Film only movement your dog can comfortably perform within its current restrictions. If the dog cannot walk safely, contact the clinic rather than creating a walking test.
- Use a clear, level area with traction and enough room to keep the entire dog in the frame. Avoid filming only the affected paw.
- If comfortable and permitted, capture a brief side view and a view as the dog moves naturally toward or away from the camera. Keep the camera steady and the pace ordinary.
- Label the file with the date, surface and whether a harness or wheelchair was used. Send the original clip through the clinic’s preferred route.
- Ask the clinic whether another view would help. Do not make the dog run, climb steps or repeat an uncomfortable movement for a better video.
If using a wheelchair, include the frame, wheels and harness contact areas in the view. State the model and size, and note any setting you changed. Do not remove prescribed support just to create a comparison clip.
Leave physical tests to the clinician
A veterinary lameness examination may include orthopedic and neurological assessment. Do not copy drawer tests, forced joint extension, paw-flipping tests or pain-sensation checks from a clinical description. A home observation does not establish whether the problem is orthopedic, neurological or both.
Keep wheelchair sizing separate from gait observations
Measurements for a product answer a fit question, not a diagnostic question. Use the model-specific measurement guide for size selection. Floor-to-groin height, standing back height, straight hip width and chest circumference are different values; this article does not define a universal wheelchair measurement.
Send a concise update to the clinic
A useful message can read: “Since [date], I have noticed [specific change] during [ordinary activity/surface]. It is [improving/worsening/unchanged]. The current restrictions and medicines are [from our instructions]. I have attached a dated clip. Should we arrange an examination or change anything in the existing plan?”
When observation should become a request for help
Seek veterinary advice when the problem is persistent, worsening or affecting ordinary activity. Sudden inability to stand or walk, severe pain or trouble urinating warrants prompt assessment. Do not wait to collect a complete diary or try a wheelchair first.
Where to go next
Sources and scope
Sources checked September 30, 2026.
- Cornell University: What to expect when taking your limping dog to the veterinarian — History, home videos and professional examination.
- ACVS: Intervertebral Disc Disease — Context for urgent neurological changes.