Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgery provides effective care for pets with fractures, ligament tears, or joint problems, promoting recovery and lasting wellness.
Your dog or cat’s ability to run, jump, and play depends on healthy bones, joints, and connective tissues. Our surgical services include orthopedic procedures to restore mobility and relieve pain caused by musculoskeletal injuries or disease. Orthopedic surgery addresses fractures, ligament tears, joint problems, and bone conditions through precise surgical techniques. We partner with a skilled traveling surgeon who brings advanced orthopedic capabilities directly to our Montgomery facility, allowing your pet to receive care in our familiar environment.
Musculoskeletal injuries can happen suddenly through trauma or develop gradually from conditions like hip dysplasia and arthritis. Regardless of the cause, orthopedic problems often require surgical intervention when conservative treatments fail to provide relief. Our doctors work closely with our orthopedic surgery partner to ensure your pet receives thorough evaluation, appropriate surgical care, and attentive follow up throughout their recovery.
Understanding Orthopedic Conditions in Pets
Cruciate ligament tears represent one of the most common orthopedic injuries we see in dogs. This ligament stabilizes the knee joint, and when it tears, your dog experiences pain, swelling, and difficulty bearing weight on the affected leg. Without surgical repair, the joint becomes unstable and arthritis develops rapidly.
Fractures require prompt surgical attention to heal properly. Broken bones from accidents need precise alignment and stabilization to restore normal function. We use various fixation techniques depending on fracture location, your pet’s size, and bone quality to maintain proper alignment during healing.
Hip Dysplasia and Joint Conditions
Hip dysplasia causes chronic pain in many dogs, particularly larger breeds. This developmental condition creates an abnormally formed hip joint that leads to arthritis and mobility problems. When medical management no longer controls pain, surgical options like femoral head ostectomy can eliminate discomfort by removing the damaged ball portion of the joint.
Patellar luxation, where the kneecap slips out of position, also benefits from surgical correction to restore normal knee function. This condition ranges from mild to severe, and surgery becomes necessary when it causes persistent lameness or pain.
Our Approach to Orthopedic Surgery
Every orthopedic patient receives comprehensive pre surgical evaluation. We perform physical examinations, take X-rays to visualize bone and joint structures, and run bloodwork to assess organ function before anesthesia. Understanding your pet’s overall health helps us anticipate potential complications and optimize their surgical outcome.
Surgery requires meticulous anesthesia monitoring to keep your pet safe. We use the same advanced monitoring equipment for orthopedic procedures as all our surgical cases. One technician focuses exclusively on monitoring your pet’s vital signs throughout surgery, tracking heart rate with EKG, measuring blood oxygen levels with pulse oximetry, and checking blood pressure to maintain stable circulation.
Post Operative Care
Post operative care begins immediately after surgery. Many orthopedic patients stay with us for observation following their procedure. We provide pain medications, monitor surgical sites for complications, and ensure your pet remains comfortable during initial recovery.
Before discharge, we give you detailed instructions about activity restriction, medication schedules, and wound care at home. Clear communication helps you feel confident managing your pet’s recovery period.
Ready to Meet Our Team?
We'd love to care for your pet. Call us to speak with our team or book your visit online — we're here Mon–Fri 8am–6pm & 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month: 8:00 am –12:00pm
Advanced Monitoring Protects Your Pet
Safety protocols start before your pet enters surgery. Every patient receives pre anesthetic EKG evaluation reviewed by a cardiologist. This screening detects heart rhythm abnormalities that could complicate anesthesia, allowing us to adjust our approach or address cardiac issues before proceeding.
Pain management combines multiple medication types to keep your pet comfortable. We administer pain relief before the first incision and continue throughout recovery. This multimodal approach provides better pain control with fewer side effects than relying on a single medication.
Working With Our Traveling Orthopedic Surgeon
Our partnership with a traveling, board-certified orthopedic surgeon expands the procedures we can perform without requiring you to visit distant specialty centers. This surgeon brings advanced training and equipment to Fish Creek Animal Hospital, conducting complex orthopedic surgeries in our facility. You benefit from continuity of care because our doctors handle all aspects of your pet’s treatment except the surgery itself.
Pre surgical consultation and post operative management stay with our familiar team. You communicate with doctors you already know rather than coordinating with unfamiliar specialty practices. Our doctors perform the initial evaluation, schedule the procedure for when our surgeon visits, and manage all follow up care during recovery.
Recovery and Rehabilitation Expectations
Orthopedic healing demands patience and careful activity management. Most procedures require strict rest during the first weeks after surgery. Your pet needs confinement to prevent running, jumping, or rough play that could damage healing tissues.
Follow up appointments let us monitor surgical site healing and bone or joint recovery. We may recommend repeat X-rays to verify proper alignment and healing progress. Suture removal typically happens 10 to 14 days after surgery once incisions have sealed properly.
Physical Rehabilitation
Physical rehabilitation helps many orthopedic patients recover strength and mobility. Controlled exercise programs rebuild muscle and improve joint range of motion as healing progresses. We guide you through appropriate rehabilitation activities based on your pet’s specific surgery and healing timeline.
Gradual return to normal activity prevents complications while restoring function. Each pet’s recovery timeline varies depending on the procedure performed and their individual healing response.
Schedule an Orthopedic Consultation at Fish Creek Animal Hospital
Your pet deserves orthopedic care combining thorough diagnostics with skilled surgery and attentive recovery support. We have served Montgomery and surrounding communities for over three years, building our practice on personalized, high quality veterinary medicine. Our doctors follow up on all lab work personally and perform procedures in exam rooms whenever possible, keeping you informed throughout treatment.
Located across from the Woodforest neighborhood at 618 Fish Creek Thoroughfare Suite 400, we provide convenient access to orthopedic services without extensive travel. Our team combines compassionate care with advanced medical capabilities to address your pet’s musculoskeletal needs. Request an appointment today to discuss how orthopedic surgery might help your dog or cat.
**Our accepted forms of payment include CareCredit, Scratchpay, cash, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, and American Express.**
