Veterinary Orthopedic Surgery

Common Veterinary Orthopedic Conditions

There is a wide range of orthopedic conditions that affect cats and dogs. If your pet requires specialized surgery or treatment that our vets are unable to provide we will refer you and your pet to a Board-Certified Veterinary Orthopedic Surgery near Hoquiam.  There are many conditions that can lead to the need for your dog to have orthopedic surgery. Veterinary orthopedic surgery in Hoquiam includes:

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.

Hip dysplasia can happen in dogs of any breed but is most commonly seen in German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and other large breed dogs.

Total hip replacement is the most effective surgical treatment for hip dysplasia. The surgeon replaces the entire joint with metal and plastic implants, returning hip function to a more normal range.

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..

TPLO in Hoquiam

Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO) is an orthopedic surgery performed by our skilled and experienced vets here at our Hoquiam animal hospital.

TPLO surgery is an effective way to alleviate your dog's knee pain caused by a torn or injured cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) by altering the functioning of the knee so that the damaged ligament is no longer required.

Contact us to book a consultation for your pup. Our vets will evalutate your dog's knee condition to assess whether TPLO surgery is the right treatment to restore your dog's pain-free mobility.

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 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, a CT scan, an ultrasound, or biopsies. Once the results are back, a plan for surgery is developed and discussed with you.

  If your dog requires the specialized care of an orthopedic surgeon, our vets will be sure to refer you and your pet to a Board-Certified Veterinary Orthopedic Surgeon near Hoquiam.

• Will my pet's 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 my pet's 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.