As veterinary professionals, we know all too well that the signs of osteoarthritis (OA) can be missed or misinterpreted by pet owners. Many times, the subtler clinical signs associated with osteoarthritis are thought to be normal age-related changes. Because this leads to underdiagnosis of OA, we focused Banfield Pet Hospital’s 2019 State of Pet Health® Report on osteoarthritis, including how the condition is linked to excess weight.
Orthopedic surgery patients may require additional considerations compared with soft tissue surgery patients. These considerations include the need for coaptation, increased risk for infection, and use of supplemental modalities to enhance healing.
Veterinary nurses who have conversations with clients about excess weight in pets improve the outcomes of treating osteoarthritis in these animals.
How did veterinary surgeons manage to regrow a dog’s leg bones using bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)? It began with a jump off the couch for a 2-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Ethel. Ethel broke both the ulna and radius in her right leg, and two previous surgeries had failed to properly heal them. MaryAnn Lawson, Ethel’s owner, …
General practice veterinarians often refer clients and patients to specialty surgery centers or veterinary teaching hospitals for various orthopedic procedures including but not limited to tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, fracture repair, and arthroscopy. However, with the advent of traveling board certified veterinary surgeons, many of these procedures are being performed in the general practitioner’s clinic, …
Intervertebral disc herniation is the most common spinal disease in dogs. This article discusses the pathophysiology, signs, diagnosis, and treatment of this condition, as well as nursing care and rehabilitation.
