Orthopaedics

A deformed dachshund puppy is now back on her feet after corrective surgery at a leading veterinary referral centre in the Midlands with West Midlands Veterinary Referrals.

A four-week-old puppy, that was intended to grow up as a “ratter” on a farm, presented with a dislocated left elbow. In fact, strictly speaking, this elbow wasn’t “dislocated” as it had never in fact been “located” in the first place! The owners were counselled that there was little chance that this elbow could ever be returned to a functional joint.

A young collie presented to us at West Midlands Veterinary Referrals with severe deformities of both hind limbs. Both tibias (shin bones) were massively twisted so that her hocks (equivalent to our ankles) and her stifles (equivalent to our knees) worked at right angles to each other instead of working in parallel alignment as they should do.

Achilles tendon problems are referred to us at West Midlands Veterinary Referrals relatively frequently. The Achilles tendon functions, along with the muscles that contribute to it, to extend the ankle. This keeps the “heel” off the ground and allows the dog or cat to walk on tip-toe.

At West Midlands Veterinary Referrals, we see several cases of chronic degenerative joint disease (DJD) where surgical treatment like joint replacement or salvage surgery is not an option.

There are two long bones in the lower forelimb below the elbow, the radius and the ulna. The radius and ulna's distal (lower) ends makeup part of the carpus (wrist) joint. At their proximal (top) ends, they meet the humerus forming the elbow joint.

Fusion of the carpal joints is often indicated when there is irrevocable traumatic damage to the joint often involving ligament damage.

The use of locking plates has exploded within the orthopaedic community in the UK  in recent years. They have revolutionised the way some injuries are treated. Fusing (“arthrodesing”) shoulder joints used to be a difficult procedure, not because the dogs found a fused shoulder hard to use, but because bending a conventional bone plate to fit the contours of the shoulder was a challenge and a half.

Hip dysplasia is common. It frequently becomes apparent from 6 months or so of age, leading to serious pain when the hip is extended.

We regularly do total hip replacement surgery at our Burton-Upon-Trent at very competitive prices. Most owners are seeking this surgery to manage the joints of larger breed dogs affected by hip dysplasia. Andy Whittingham leads this elective procedure and has experience of well over 200 cases.