Pet Medical Library

Orthopedics

Arthritis
Tylenol and other over the counter pain killers are not safe and should not be used without veterinary supervision.
Adequan: This drug is for degenerative arthritis in dogs and do not cause the side effects of aspirin or cortisone. This drug is “chondroprotective,” that is, it contains a chemical that helps to protect the joint.
Adequan is available only in the injectable form. The injections are given weekly for 4-6 injections, then as needed.
NSAID's: 

Hip Dysplasia Evaluation
All medium and large-breed dogs who may be used for breeding should be tested for hip dysplasia before reproducing to help minimize the genetic transmission of this painful and debilitating disease.

The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) requires precise positioning and muscle relaxation. For this reason, general anesthesia or heavy sedation is usually required. Usually, only one x-ray is needed, but on occasion, more than one may be necessary.   Testing with OFA cannot be done until 2 years of age. 

The PENN Hip method of testing for hip dysplasia is much more accurate and diagnostic and can be performed at a younger age.  Dr. Keeney will be certified for this procedure in late February 2009.  See What's New? for updates.

Dislocated Hip
A general anesthetic is given and an attempt will be made to put the hip back in the socket, often followed by an application of an Ehmer Sling. During the procedure, several x-rays will be taken to ensure that the hip is in place and remains in place during the application of the Ehmer Sling.
Not all dislocations of the hip can be reduced manually and repaired with a sling. If there has been extensive joint damage or concurrent pelvic damage, if there is underlying hip dysplasia, if the patient is large or obese, or if the hip has been out of place for more than a couple hours, then reduction may not be successful and surgical treatments need to be pursued. In addition, some patients may need a few days in the hospital to adjust to the splint or they may need sedation during those days or they just may not tolerate the splint.
If successful, the sling is left in place for several weeks before it is removed.

Fracture Repair -- w/ Board-certified Surgeons
Since pets don't tolerate casts very well and don't walk on crutches, bone pins or plates are often used to stabilize and repair fractures. Surgery is required to place the pins, wires and plates, with particular attention made to prevent infection. X-rays before, during and after the surgery are used to determine the correct placement of the pin(s). Strict exercise restriction for the next 6 - 16 weeks is essential to ensure optimal bone healing. After the bone has healed, another surgical procedure is sometimes necessary to remove the pin(s).

Anterior Cruciate Ligament Repair
The anterior cruciate ligament is located in the knee and rupture of it leads to an unstable knee that slides backward and forward. This movement leads to degenerative arthritis of the knee. In order to decrease the progression of this arthritis, surgery is recommended. This surgery involves exploring the knee joint to remove the pieces of the torn ligament, inspecting and repairing other structures in the joint and stabilizing the knee to prevent the knee from sliding forward and backward.
Post-operative care consists of strict limitation of exercise for one month, restricted exercise for one month and leash walks for one month.
Obesity is often a cause of this ligament rupture and a weight reduction program may be necessary to hasten recovery and prevent ligament rupture in the other leg.

Patellar Luxation
Patellar Luxation is a dislocation of the kneecap (patella). The kneecap may dislocate toward the inside (medial) or outside (lateral) of the leg or may move in both directions. It may result from injury or congenital (present at birth) deformities. Both legs may be affected.
The symptoms of a luxating patella vary, depending on the severity and duration of the luxation. The milder forms, especially in small breeds, show little or no signs and only minimal treatment is required. Severe cases cause more intense pain with limping. Treatment ranges from rest (decreasing your pet's activity for one to two weeks) to surgical reconstruction of the knee joint. Your pet will go home the day after surgery with a leg bandage, which will be removed one week later.