Orthopedics

Your pet is always on their feet exploring their surroundings, and having an orthopedic problem prevents them from doing that. Orthopedic issues are very painful and limit your pet’s daily life. When your pet is having pain in their bones and joints, we encourage you to call our team. We will assess your pet’s condition and get them the treatment they need.

What are common orthopedic conditions?

Many of the orthopedic conditions your pet may develop are due to simple factors like their breed, age, weight, and lifestyle. Some common orthopedic problems that pets may have are:

1. Arthritis
2. Torn ligaments
3. Fractures
4. Hip dysplasia

What are the signs of an orthopedic condition?

Your pet will try to hide their pain by being reluctant towards physical activity. Orthopedic issues will affect their mobility as moving will cause them immense pain. You may notice that your pet has some weight loss, is hesitant to run or jump, has stiffness and limping or has complications using the stairs. If you see these signs, please schedule an appointment with us at 604-856-7707.

What treatments may be recommended?

The treatment we recommend for orthopedic problems may vary based on your pet and how advanced the complication is. Our team may suggest:

• Physical Rehabilitation – Laser therapy, hydrotherapy, massage therapy
• Home Exercises – Low impact moves to help strengthen joints
• Oral Medications – This helps reduce pain and discomfort
• Surgery – Our mobile referred surgeon performs TPLO and other complex procedures to improve your pet’s issues.

What is TPLO surgery?

Tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) is a surgical procedure used to repair torn ligaments and joints in your pet’s knees. The surgery is mainly performed on dogs who have had serious injury, arthritis or an orthopedic condition they’ve inherited. Patients will take approximately 2 to 3 months to recover from the surgery.