Why Is My Dog Limping? Free AI Gait Analysis | Superwild

Why Is Your Dog Limping? Free AI Gait Analysis

Free 15-second video gait analysis. Honest reads on whether to worry, which limb looks affected, and what to do about it. UK-built.

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Free · Private · 60 seconds · No signup needed

How Lameness Inspector Works

  1. 1. Film 15 seconds

    Side-on, flat surface, good light. Whole dog in frame as they walk past at a normal pace.

  2. 2. We analyse

    The AI extracts 8 frames from your video and reads weight-bearing, stride symmetry, head bob and hip drop across the sequence.

  3. 3. Get your plan

    5-grade lameness score, the suspected limb, gait observations, and a tier-appropriate plan. Vet escalation when it's warranted.

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What We Look For

Lameness Inspector reads four signals across the frame sequence. Together they give a fuller picture than any single frame can.

Weight-Bearing Symmetry

Does the dog place weight evenly on all four limbs through stance phase? Asymmetric weight-bearing is the most reliable single marker of lameness.

Stride Length

Comparing left to right stride length on each pair of limbs. A shorter stride on one side typically indicates pain or weakness on that side.

Head Bob and Hip Drop

The head goes UP when an affected forelimb hits the ground (forelimb pain). The hip DROPS when an affected hindlimb hits the ground (hindlimb pain). These are the cleanest signals for which limb is involved.

Posture

An arched back, abnormally high or low head carriage, or visible compensations all show up across a frame sequence even when individual frames look normal.

The 5-Grade Canine Lameness Scale

Veterinary lameness assessment uses a standardised 5-grade scale (0=sound, 5=non-weight-bearing). It's the same scale your vet would use during a clinical exam. Lameness Inspector applies it to your video.

0

Sound

Green tier

Even weight-bearing on all four limbs. No detectable asymmetry. The dog is moving normally for their age and breed.

1

Subtle lameness

Amber tier

Difficult to detect, intermittent. Often only visible when watching closely, possibly only at certain speeds. Common in early osteoarthritis, especially in senior dogs.

2

Mild lameness

Amber tier

Apparent at a walk, more obvious at trot. Established but mild joint disease, recovering soft tissue injury, or a compensation pattern from elsewhere.

3

Obvious lameness

Red tier

Consistent and obvious at every stride. Bearing weight, but with clear discomfort. Goes beyond what home care can address. A vet visit is needed.

4

Severe lameness

Red tier

Intermittently picking up the affected limb mid-stride. Significant lameness. Requires same-week veterinary assessment.

5

Non-weight-bearing

Red tier

Won't put weight on the affected limb at all. Same-day or next-day vet care. Don't manage at home.

Why Senior Dogs Especially

Osteoarthritis is common in dogs over 8. Research suggests four in five senior dogs have some degree of joint disease, often before owners notice the signs.

The early markers are subtle: morning stiffness that walks off after a few minutes. Reluctance on stairs. Slowing on familiar walks. Difficulty getting up from a lying position. Owners often miss these because they're gradual, dogs don't complain, and compensation patterns develop quietly. By the time the lameness is obvious, the disease is usually well established.

Catching it early matters. Joint disease is progressive without intervention, but its trajectory can be slowed considerably. The evidence base for nutritional support is strongest exactly here: omega-3 reduces joint inflammation, glucosamine and chondroitin support cartilage maintenance, and the combined effect on quality of life in senior dogs is well documented.

For owners of senior dogs, regular gait checks are worth treating as routine. A 15-second video every six months gives you a baseline, and the next time something feels off you'll have something concrete to compare against.

Common Causes of Dog Lameness

Lameness is a symptom, not a diagnosis. The cause depends on which limb is affected, the speed of onset, the dog's age and breed, and the gait pattern. Here's a structured overview.

Front-Limb Lameness

Common causes include elbow dysplasia (especially in large breeds), shoulder soft tissue injury, paw issues (broken nails, grass seeds, cuts between pads), bicipital tendinopathy, and compensation from a hindlimb issue. Watch for: head bobbing UP when the affected limb hits the ground, reluctance to put full weight on the limb, shortened stride on the affected side.

When to act: any persistent forelimb lameness lasting over a week, or any sudden severe forelimb lameness, warrants a vet visit. Acute mild forelimb lameness often resolves with 2-3 days of rest.

Hind-Limb Lameness

Common causes include cruciate ligament injury (one of the most common orthopaedic conditions in dogs), hip dysplasia, patellar luxation (small breeds especially), lumbar spine issues, and osteoarthritis. Watch for: hip dropping when the affected limb hits the ground, sitting awkwardly to one side, reluctance to jump or climb stairs.

When to act: sudden severe hindlimb lameness, especially with a yelp or "sit-down moment", strongly suggests cruciate injury and needs same-week vet attention. Chronic hindlimb lameness in older dogs is usually osteoarthritis.

Sudden vs. Chronic Lameness

Sudden lameness usually points to acute injury: soft tissue strain, foreign body in the paw, fracture, or cruciate rupture. The faster the onset and the more severe the limp, the more urgent the vet visit. Mild sudden lameness often resolves with rest.

Chronic lameness (over a week, or coming and going for months) usually points to joint disease: osteoarthritis, dysplasia, or a low-grade injury that hasn't healed cleanly. Less urgent but more important to address with structured monitoring and joint support.

Breed-Specific Risks

Large breeds (Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Rottweilers, German Shepherds) have higher rates of hip and elbow dysplasia and cruciate ligament disease. German Shepherds also have a specific risk for degenerative myelopathy that can present as hindlimb weakness.

Small breeds (Yorkies, Pomeranians, Toy Poodles) are prone to patellar luxation. Dachshunds and other long-backed breeds are prone to intervertebral disc disease. Brachycephalic breeds (Pugs, French Bulldogs, Bulldogs) often develop compensatory strain due to altered conformation.

What Lameness Inspector Isn't

This is a structured first read on gait, not a clinical diagnosis. We can spot the visible signals a vet looks for during the gait portion of an orthopaedic exam, but we can't palpate joints, do drawer tests, take X-rays, or feel for crepitus. All of those matter and all need a vet.

If the result lands red, the right move is a vet visit, not a supplement. If the result lands amber and a 4-week protocol doesn't produce visible improvement, that's also a vet conversation. The tool is calibrated to be conservative on red flags, because the cost of a false negative on a cruciate rupture is much higher than the cost of a precautionary vet check.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. No signup, no payment, no hidden tier. We make money when dogs whose results suggest they'd benefit from joint support try Super Everyday, but you're never required to.

For visible gait abnormalities (asymmetric weight-bearing, head bob, hip drop, stride length), the AI matches expert observation around 75 to 85 percent of the time when video is clear and side-on. It's a useful first read for owners, but not diagnostic. Vets confirm with hands-on examination, X-rays, and specific orthopaedic tests.

You can film off-lead in an enclosed area like a garden, hallway, or empty park. The key is getting a side-on view as your dog walks at a natural pace. If your dog is too excited and won't walk normally on camera, try filming after a long walk when they're calmer.

Intermittent lameness is common, especially in early-stage joint disease. Try filming when the limping is most obvious, typically first thing in the morning, after rest, or after exercise. If the lameness has resolved by the time you film, the AI may not detect it. In that case, film again next time it appears.

It depends. Subtle limping in young dogs is often a minor injury that resolves on its own. Subtle limping in senior dogs (8+) often indicates early osteoarthritis. Caught early, this responds well to joint support and exercise modification. Persistent subtle limping at any age warrants attention.

Sudden severe lameness (Grade 3+) warrants a same-day or next-day vet visit, especially if your dog won't bear weight on the limb. Sudden mild lameness is often a soft tissue injury that responds to a few days of rest. The tool will help you assess severity, but use your judgement. If your dog is in obvious pain, see a vet.

Symptom-specific guides

Pinpoint guides for the most common limping patterns. Each one runs the same Lameness Inspector at the top, then unpacks causes, vet escalation, and recovery for that specific pattern.

Front Leg

Paw injury, soft-tissue strain, elbow or shoulder issues

Read guide →

Back Leg

Cruciate, hip dysplasia, luxating patella, hamstring

Read guide →

After a Walk

Paw-pad damage, over-exertion, early arthritis

Read guide →

When Getting Up

Osteoarthritis, dysplasia, spinal disc, tick-borne illness

Read guide →

With No Sign of Pain

Pain hiding, mechanical, neurological, early dysplasia

Read guide →

Want to learn more about dog joint health?

Three reads from the Superwild blog on joint care, mobility, and supporting your dog's recovery from lameness.

Is my dog overweight? A 30-second UK self-check (and what to do next) Is my dog overweight? A 30-second UK self-check (and what to do next)A no-guilt 30-second visual check, the same Body Condition Score system UK vets use, and a sensible 4-week...Read article →

Get the Full Picture: Take Super Score

Lameness Inspector reads gait. Super Score gives you the full picture across skin, joints, energy, gut, cognition, weight, dental and more in a 5-minute audit.

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Weight matters for joints

Carrying extra weight significantly increases joint stress and worsens lameness. Body Condition Inspector tells you if extra weight could be affecting your dog's gait.

Try Body Condition Inspector

Lameness Inspector is an informational tool, not a diagnostic device. It does not diagnose disease, replace veterinary advice, or constitute a medical opinion. For any concern about your dog's health, see a vet. By using this tool you agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.

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