Orthopedics

What is orthopedic surgery?

Orthopedic pet surgery consists of surgical procedures that address the joints, skeletal system and their associated soft tissues, including muscles, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.

Our advanced imaging and diagnostic tools help us provide accurate and effective orthopedic diagnosis.

Common Orthopedic Conditions

There is a wide range of orthopedic conditions that affect cats and dogs. The following are among the most common:

Cruciate Ligament Tears

Torn cruciate ligaments in dogs must be surgically repaired to prevent arthritis. There are many different types of surgical procedures that can be used to repair this injury, and the type used typically depends on the size of the dog.

Fracture Repairs

Some bone fractures that occur can be treated via a simple bone realignment and containment. However, some breaks are not clean enough to simply fit back together and require a surgery to properly heal.

Luxating Patellas

The patella (knee cap) lies in a cartilaginous groove at the end of the femur at the stifle.

A luxating patella occurs when the knee cap moves out of its natural position. Knee cap problems are common in many dog breeds, both large and small.

Surgery is recommended for animals that have significant lameness as a result of luxating patellas, with the goal of keeping the patella in its appropriate location at all times.

Orthopedic Surgery FAQs

• What happens during the surgical consultation?

  During the surgical consultation, we will perform a physical exam and review your pet’s medical history. Blood work, and any other diagnostic tests that are needed to determine the nature of your pet's condition will also be undertaken at this time.

  Diagnostics may include x-rays, an ultrasound, or biopsies. Once the results are back, a plan for surgery is developed and discussed with you.

• Will the surgery and consultation happen on the same day?

  No. The consultation appointment is required for testing and examination, to determine the nature of your pet's health problem. Once any diagnostic test results have come back from our lab, a surgery appointment can be scheduled.

• How long will the surgery take?

  Orthopedic surgeries typically last between two to four hours, depending on the type of surgery being performed and on your pet’s specific condition.

• Does my pet have to stay at the hospital overnight either before or after the surgery?

  Depending on the time of day that the surgery is scheduled, it may be necessary to drop your pet off the night before.

  Many of our patients need to stay with us overnight after surgery so that we can monitor them as they recover. Depending on the type of surgery that is performed and how quickly they recover after anesthesia and surgery, your pet may be able to go home on the same day.