Orthopedics

Common Orthopedic Conditions

There is a wide variety of orthopedic conditions that affect cats and dogs in the Brodheadsville area. The following are some of the most common:

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is the medical term for a hip socket that doesn't fully cover the ball portion of the upper thighbone, allowing the hip joint to become partially or completely dislocated. It is most common in German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and other large breed dogs.

Hip replacement surgeries are the most effective surgical treatments for hip dysplasia. An orthopedic surgeon replaces the entire joint, returning hip function to a more normal range. There are a number of possible procedures to help treat this condition, though depending on its stage of development.

Cruciate Ligament Tears

The CCL in dogs, much like humans' ACLs, can be severely injured and require surgical repair to restore mobility and help prevent arthritis. There are a number of surgical procedures available to repair this injury. The kind of treatment that is most appropriate will depend on the dog.  CCL surgery for dogs may include a number of different techniques that aim to provide stability to the joint.

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.

Disc Disease

Just like humans, dogs can develop disc problems in their neck and backs. Breeds that commonly suffer from neck disc problems are Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Dachshunds and Lhasa Apsos. Large breed dogs are more likely to have chronic lower back issues. 

Dogs with advanced disc disease should have surgery as soon as possible. The sooner that surgery is done, the better the prognosis.

Orthopedic Surgery FAQs

• What orthopedic surgeries do you offer?

  At Brodheadsville Veterinary Clinic, we are able to provide orthopedic services through the expertise of our traveling Board Certified Surgeon, Dr. Phil Zeltzman. 

  Dr. Zeltzman is able to offer many orthopedic procedures to help Brodheadsville pets, including:

  • Fracture Repair
  • Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA)
  • Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
  • Joint Dislocation Repair
  • Femoral Head Ostectomy (FHO)
  • Cora Based Leveling Osteotomy (CBLO)
• What happens during the surgical consultation?

  Our vets will ask you and your pet to attend a surgical consultation before the actual surgery. At this appointment, we will review your pet's medical history and conduct diagnostics that will help us to determine your pet's general health.

  Blood work, and other diagnostic tests will also be undertaken at this time to determine your pet's risk for anesthesia-related complications.

  Diagnostics may include x-rays, a CT scan, 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.