What is orthopedic surgery?
Orthopedic surgeries are surgical treatments used to address problems with the joints, skeletal system and associated soft tissues, including muscles, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments.
Our advanced imaging and diagnostic tools help us to provide accurate and effective orthopedic diagnosis. Once a detailed diagnosis has been reached our vets will work with you to decide on the best surgical treatment to meet your pet's needs.
Veterinary Surgery at Shoreland Animal Hospital
If your pet has been diagnosed with an orthopedic condition that requires surgery, our vets are here to help. Dr. Shawn Brown is an AO certified orthopod who has been restoring comfortable mobility, and treating disease in Toledo pets for over a decade.
Have your vet complete the referral form linked below, or contact us directly to learn more about our orthopedic surgery options.
Common Orthopedic Conditions
There is a wide range of orthopedic conditions that affect cats and dogs. The following are among the most common:
Jaw Rewiring
Painful and debilitating jaw fractures are relatively common in our canine companions and are typically the result of facial trauma caused by such things as car accidents, jumping to catch a fast moving hardball, fights with other dogs, severe periodontal disease or abuse.
Jaw repair surgery using wiring and a splint to hold the two sides of the break in alignment while the bone heals is one of the only viable ways to reliably heal your dog's broken jaw. Most dogs undergoing jaw rewiring recover well however the healing process can take anywhere from 3 - 12 weeks.
Plating & Pinning
Thanks to advances in veterinary surgery it is now possible to repair most bone fractures seen in dogs. The primary objective of plating or pinning a broken bone is to stabilize the two sides of the fracture securely while the bone has time to heal.
Plating typically involves screwing a plate to the outside of the broken bone to hold the break still as it heals, whereas pinning involves placing a stainless steel pin in the marrow of the broken bone to hold both sides together securely.
Cruciate Ligament Tears
Surgery is typically the best and most reliable way to treat cruciate injuries in dogs. These surgeries can help to restore your dog's comfortable mobility and prevent arthritis. There are many different types of surgical procedures that can be used to repair cranial cruciate ligament injuries in dogs. Which surgery is best for your dog will depend up factors such as the size of your, the severity of the injury, and your dog's lifestyle.
At Shoreland Animal Hospital in Toledo Dr. Shawn Brown performs TTA and TPLO surgeries to help repair cruciate injuries and restore mobility to dogs from across Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan.
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, an ultrasound, or biopsies. 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 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.
- How long will it take for my dog to recover from cruciate surgery?
While many dogs are able to walk within 24 hours of TPLO or TTA surgery recovery can take up to 16 weeks or more. Although the recovery process is long, by closely adhering to your vet's post-op instructions (including diligently restricting your dog's activities during recovery) you can expect your pup to fully return to their normal activities within a year.
- How long will it take for my pet to recover from surgery to fix a broken bone?
The purpose of pinning or plating a broken bone is to provide stability as the bone creates new tissue and heals itself, this process typically takes between 6 - 8 weeks depending on the severity of your dog's fracture. Your vet will be able to provide you with a more accurate estimate for your dog's recovery time.