Pet Orthopedic Surgery

Pet Orthopedic Surgery

Pet orthopedic surgery is highly effective for returning a cat or dog’s joints or bones to their normal state of health. Veterinary orthopedic surgery deals with preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions related to a pet’s musculoskeletal system — including bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. We surgically treat diseases and abnormalities such as bone fractures, CCL tears (like an ACL in humans), hip dysplasia, and patellar luxation or floating kneecaps using state-of-the-art orthopedic techniques and technology.

Signs Your Pet Needs an Orthopedic Consultation

Orthopedic surgery may be required due to trauma; however, often, it’s necessary because a disease or congenital condition causes pain and mobility issues and negatively impacts a pet’s quality of life. Symptoms include lethargy, temperament changes, limping, gait changes, excessive licking or chewing, reluctance to go up or down stairs, and full or partial paralysis.

What To Expect

Following a comprehensive exam and diagnostics, including bloodwork, we will determine the best treatment for your pet. Each pet family receives a personalized plan for their pet’s procedure, pain management, recovery, rehabilitation, medications, and follow-up care. We will choose the least invasive technique to minimize pain and recovery time. Our team will review any questions and call to remind you of pre-procedure instructions before your pet’s procedure. On surgery day, your pet will rest comfortably until his/her turn. We’ll notify you once the procedure is complete and provide instructions for picking up your pet. We’ll review medications, recovery, and rehab instructions at your pet’s discharge appointment, answer questions and schedule their follow-up appointment.

Pre & Post-care instructions

Our team will discuss pre-op instructions prior to the appointment but will typically include withholding food/water prior to surgery and limiting exercise to prevent further damage to the bone or joint prior to surgery. Some conditions, such as fractures, require interventions asap, while other conditions can be delayed for a short time. Certain medications may be needed before surgery can be performed.

After orthopedic surgery, you pet will need to have restricted exercise and/or confinement for a predetermined length of time. Each procedure requires different restrictions based on healing time. Although rare, infection is the most common complication with orthopedic surgery, and bone infections are notoriously difficult to treat. Your pet will need to wear an Elizabethan collar until the skin heals to minimize the risk for infection.