Lameness in dogs may be difficult to localize because of mild pathologic changes or inconclusiveclinical findings. Intra-articular anesthesia is proposed as a diagnostic method to localize the sourceof lameness. After a description of the preparation, technique and puncture sites, an overview is givenof a series of patients admitted for different joint problems. Intra-articular anesthesia proved to beapplicable in any joint, provided that the clinician was experienced and the dog was under sedation.In 87% of the cases, intra-articular anesthesia was positive. Medial coronoid disease of the elbow jointwas the most frequent indication for intra-articular anesthesia.