Orthopedic Services for Pets

Orthopedic conditions impact your cat or dog’s joints, bones, and muscles. Typically, they can range from minor issues to chronic diseases, like osteoarthritis that are more painful. Our orthopedic services aim to address their condition by easing any discomfort or pain they’re experiencing.

What types of orthopedic conditions do you treat?

Common orthopedic conditions include arthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia and cruciate ligament structure. Arthritis is caused by the deterioration of the protective cushioning between your dog or cat’s bones. As it continues to wear away, they could have mobility issues, decreased quality of life and persistent pain. Hip or elbow dysplasia is particularly common in larger dogs, causing similar types of pain as arthritis. Cruciate ligament rupture happens when the connector between the thigh and shin bone is broken or torn. With the help of our team, we can get your dog or cat moving again. If your dog or cat is affected by any of these conditions, please contact us at 905-571-3700.

What does treatment involve?

Depending on your dog or cat’s specific condition, we’ll determine how to best treat them. Treatment options include medication, special diets, therapeutic treatments, exercise, and surgery. Ways you can determine if your dog or cat’s condition is worsening is if they display symptoms like:

• Difficulty standing
• Limping
• Irritability
• Lethargy
• Inability to move

What types of orthopedic surgeries do you perform?

We perform many types of orthopedic surgeries in our clinic. We occasionally refer them to board-certified orthopedic surgeons to perform back surgery and other very complex surgeries to ensure that our patients receive the best possible outcome. Leg fractures are the most common orthopedic problem presented at our clinic and usually result from a mishap with an automobile. They can be treated in a variety of ways depending on the location and type of fracture. We can apply a cast to treat certain fractures; however, many fractures will require surgical intervention:

• “Pinning” stabilizes the fracture by inserting a long stainless-steel rod into the middle of the bone across the fractured area.
• “Plating” involves attaching a flat stainless-steel plate to the bone using screws on either side of the fracture.
• “External fixation” stabilizes fractures using a series of pins on the outside of the leg that pass through the skin and into the bone on either side of the fracture.