Orthopedic Vet in Memphis

Common Orthopedic Vet Conditions

There are a wide range of orthopedic conditions which are commonly seen in cats and dogs. Here are a few examples:

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is the medical terms for when a hip socket doesn't fully cover the "ball" portion of the thigh bone where it forms the hip joint, allowing the hip to easily become either partially to fully dislocated. It is most commonly seen in large breeds of dog like Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds.

The most effective surgical treatment for hip dysplasia in pets is a total hip replacement. In this procedure, a veterinarian replaces the entire joint with plastic and metal implants, returning the mobility and function of the hip.

Cruciate Ligament Tears

Torn cruciate ligaments in dogs, just like in people, 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.

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 in people, our pets can develop disc issues in both their necks and backs. In dogs, this condition is common in certain breeds when it comes to the neck and others for the lower back. 

Any pet that has developed advanced disc disease should have surgery conducted as soon as possible. The sooner, the better.

Orthopedic Surgery FAQs

• What happens during the surgical consultation?

  During a consultation before surgery, we will perform a comprehensive physical exam and review your pet's medical history. We will also conduct any further testing that may be required, from bloodwork to radiographs to help us determine the nature of your pet's condition. 

  Diagnostics may include x-rays, an ultrasound, or biopsies. Other, more advanced or involved diagnostics may need to be sent out for. 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 often last somewhere between 2 and 4 hours. This depends on your pet's specific condition and the kind of surgery being performed. 

• 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 patients will need to stay with us overnight after surgery so that we can monitor them as we recover. Depending on the kind of surgery that we are performing and how quickly your pet recovers from anesthesia, they may even be able to return home the same day. 

  If your pet requires overnight monitoring, they will have to be transported to a local 24-hour emergency hospital.