Clinical Metrology Scoring
Written by Shula Berg BVSc CertAVP(GSAS) GPAdvCert(SASTS) MRCVS
Clinically reviewed by Elizabeth McLennan-Green BVM&S CertAVP(SAM) MRCVS
Although we can often say that a dog or cat is lame from watching them walk, it is a very subjective assessment, and different people may consider the lameness to be more or less severe. This makes it especially difficult to assess progression or response to treatment. Additionally, as vets and nurses, we only see your pet for a short period in the clinic, and this may not reflect what you are seeing at home. Adrenaline is an excellent pain relief, and cats especially are often known for their complete refusal to walk in the clinic.
Metrology is the study of measurements, and clinical metrology scoring is a validated system to grade a pet’s lameness in an objective and repeatable way. Metrology scoring enables pet owners to provide information in a way that clinical staff can interpret safely and repeatably. This can be used in an initial assessment to determine the degree of lameness present, and therefore the most appropriate treatment plan. Repeated metrology scoring enables us to monitor response to treatment and support clinical decision making to provide the best care for your pet.
The LOAD Questionnaire
The Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs (LOAD) questionnaire is a reliable and repeatable way to identify if a dog has signs of joint disease and, if so, how severe these are. It is suitable for many causes of lameness, however arthritis is the most common application. The questionnaire answers produce a “LOAD score” which can be used by your vet or nurse to guide treatment and monitor changes over time.
The LOAD questionnaire consists of 23 simple questions that you will be asked to complete, either before or during your appointment. Most of the questions are multiple choice, and include questions about your dog’s lifestyle, exercise and general mobility.
The follow-up LOAD questionnaire contains only 13 questions but allows changes to be tracked and your dog’s management strategies to be adjusted accordingly.
Feline Osteoarthritis Checklist
Lameness is much harder to detect in cats, as we don’t expect them to exercise alongside us as we do with dogs. Cats are also masters at hiding signs of pain, and it can be tricky to spot.
The feline osteoarthritis checklist helps to identify signs of arthritis in your cat by asking a series of questions about his or her activity levels and behaviour. Examples are given to help with accurate answering, such as graphics demonstrating normal and abnormal movements. Once completed, the results can be printed out or e-mailed directly to your vet.
If you are unsure what to look out for to determine whether your pet is lame, have a look at our guides for identifying lameness in dogs and lameness in cats for some common indicators. If you're at all concerned, speak to your vet.
Disclaimer
Please note that the content made available on this webpage is for general information purposes only. Whilst we try to ensure that at the time of writing all material is up to date and reflects industry standards, we make no representation, warranties or guarantees that the information made available is up to date, accurate or complete. Any reliance placed by yourselves is done so at your own risk.
Page last reviewed: 12th February 2025
Next review due: 12th February 2027