Bone Care and Orthopedics for Pets
Orthopedics plays a vital role in diagnosing and managing musculoskeletal disorders. At AniHealHospital, our dedicated team of specialists provides a broad array of orthopedic treatments to ensure the most appropriate and finest care is delivered for your pet's bone health.
Our range of orthopedic services and surgeries includes:
- Broken bone (fracture) repairs
- ACL and other ruptured ligament repairs
- Joint cartilage disturbance corrections
- Cranial cruciate ligament tear
- Patellar luxation surgery
- Hip dysplasia
- Hip joint dislocation
- Medial shoulder instability
- Treatment of osteochondrosis of the shoulder
- Osteoarthritis
- Spine problems and disc disease
- Soft tissue injuries/muscle sprains
- Growth plate injuries
- Angular limb deformities
- Full bone plating
- Pain management
- Achilles tendon injury treatment
- Mandibular fracture treatment
- Bone tumor treatment
- Limb amputations, and much more.
Fractures:
Fractures (broken bones) occur fairly commonly in dogs and cats, as in humans. Furthermore, fractures can be of several different types, each carrying a different prognosis and requiring different treatments. The majority of fractures in dogs and cats can be healed with the right corrective treatment, resulting in most companion animals regaining normality in using their limbs, thus improving their quality of life.
Some fractures, especially in very young animals, can be treated using fiberglass casts. However, most animals are best treated with an operation in which the broken bones are re-aligned and stabilized. Options for stabilizing the bones include bone plates and screws, pins that are placed inside the bone, or external frames that are connected to the bone using pins going through the skin.
Some fractures are relatively straightforward to manage, while others are very complex, necessitating considerable orthopedic instrumentation, implants, and expertise, all of which we provide. Minimally invasive fracture surgery can also be beneficial in some cases, enabling faster recovery and healing times.
Cruciate Ligament Surgery:
Injury to the cruciate ligaments is common in dogs and cats, causing instability of the knee joints and acute pain. Without surgical repair, dogs with ACL lameness will develop degeneration and arthritis within the joint over time. Therefore, surgery is recommended for any dog with ACL damage.
There are two main surgical techniques for repairing cruciate injury: joint stabilization techniques and joint leveling techniques. The choice of technique depends on various factors such as the age, weight, and angle of the tibial plateau of the pet.
Patellar Luxation Surgery:
Patellar luxation, also known as slipping kneecaps, is a condition where the kneecap slips out of position, leading to pain and increased chances of suffering progressive arthritis and torn cruciate ligaments in the future. Surgical correction is typically advised for cases showing clinical signs and all Grade 3 and 4 cases.
The surgical correction of sub-luxating patellas involves deepening the grove that the kneecap sits in (the femoral trochlea groove) and relocating the bone that the patella attaches to (tibial crest transposition).
Hip Dysplasia:
Hip dysplasia is abnormal joint laxity of the hip joint, often leading to hind limb lameness and arthritis. While more prevalent in medium to large breed dogs, it can occur in dogs of any breed and size. Treatment options include conservative management, surgical procedures such as juvenile pubic symphysiodesis and double pelvic osteotomy, and total hip replacement in older dogs.
Spine Surgery:
Pets may require spinal surgery to relieve pressure on the spinal cord caused by conditions such as intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), tumors, atlantoaxial instability, or traumatic spinal injury. The surgery aims to regain the ability to walk and relieve pain. The decision for surgery depends on various factors, and the prognosis for most patients is excellent with proper treatment and care.
Overall, orthopedic surgeries for pets are aimed at restoring normal function and relieving pain, ensuring a better quality of life for our furry companions.
