Dogs and cats get orthopedic injuries just like we do. In fact, it may surprise you to find out that almost any surgery that can be performed in human medicine has a corresponding animal procedure for your pet. Veterinary medicine has changed--and improved over the years as the human-animal bond has increased.
Working with veterinary surgical specialists over the last several years has really opened the eyes of veterinarians to the possibilities that exist. Not to mention the fact that we have had to take advantage of some of these "possibilities" for not only personal pets, but also for rescue animals in ourcare.
So, what kinds of injuries require specialty orthopedic surgery?
Broken bones, of course, come instantly to mind. But, does your pet need to be seen by a surgical specialist, or can your primary veterinarian repair the fracture? Well, this depends not only on the complexity of the fracture and the procedure to repair it, but also on the skill and experience of your veterinarian. We have seen cases where the pet had to undergo additional surgery by a specialist after a first attempt by a primary care physician.
Joint injuries are also very common, especially in large, athletic breeds, and in overweight dogs. We routinely operate to correct torn cruciate ligaments and luxating patellas. These procedures are usually fairly costly, and the last thing you want to do is try to save a few dollars by having an inexperienced doctor perform these procedures. We have seen hip surgeries go so badly that there is no longer anything for a specialist to work with. There is nothing as difficult as telling a client that you could have helped their pet -- if you had been able to operate first, or sooner.
Recovery and rehabilitation are difficult for many pets, and for their owners! It takes a long time for bones to heal properly. So, if you pet needs orthopedic surgery, you are looking at approximately 12 to 16 weeks -- yes, that's 3 or 4 months! -- before "Roscoe" will be able to go back to normal, off leash activity. I'm not sure who this is more difficult on, the patient, or the owner. But, the worst thing you can do is assume that because "Roscoe" doesn't seem to be in any pain, you can relax on the exercise restrictions. You don't want "Roscoe" to end up back in the operating room, or worse, end up not being able to be restored to normal activity at all.
Not only have we seen pets have to come back for second, third, even fourth surgeries, we have also seen dogs that had to be put down because their prognosis for recovery was so poor when exercise restrictions were not followed. When the surgeon says 2 weeks in a crate, and an additional 8 weeks of on-leash walking only, they mean it!
