Pet Orthopedic Surgery in Ogden, UT
Dr. Ellis and the team at Millcreek Animal Hospital are proud to offer orthopedic surgery. We can perform surgery on broken bones, torn ACLs, and Luxating Patellas.
Cruciate tears are a difficult injury to recover from, and require a long recovery time post-surgery. To avoid cruciate tears in your dog, follow these pointers:
- Feed fresh sources of calcium, zink, and magnesium minerals (i.e. raw, meaty bones)
- Feed fresh vitamin c (i.e. fresh animal fat)
- Feed fresh sources of glucosamine & chondroitin (i.e. fresh cartilage)
- Watch guilt-laden exercise of older/overweight dogs
- Only neuter your dog once sexually mature
- No fat pups!
What to Expect After Your Pet’s Orthopedic Surgery
Getting your dog home after surgery can be overwhelming. My main concerns are that your dog is comfortable and that ultimately the surgery will be successful and your dog will return to full athletic function. First, let me address your dog’s comfort level. All dogs receive an epidural of morphine prior to surgery.
This will generally keep them comfortable throughout the first day and evening. They will then be switched to oral anti-inflammatory and pain medications as needed. With respect to the restrictions and ultimate success of the surgery there are really just two main rules to remember and follow:
- Do not let your dog lick at its incision. Licking is NEVER okay. Licking is bad for the incision and will prevent healing, or worse, cause the incision to open up and expose the surgery site to infection.
- Normal day-to-day activity in the house is permitted, including the use of the stairs as is necessary, although unnecessary trips up and down the stairs should be avoided when possible. However, when your dog is not in the house, for any reason, he/she MUST be kept on a short leash calmly walking by your side at ALL TIMES for the first 8 weeks. No doggie door. No letting him/her out in the backyard. No matter what time of day, no matter what the weather, he/she must be on a leash at all times when outside for 8 weeks. Every time your dog goes outside to urinate, defecate or go for a walk, he/she must be on a leash and accompanied by a responsible person. The length of walks should be dictated by the dog’s comfort level. As he/she can tolerate, longer walks are permitted. If the dog tires or becomes more lame during or after the walk you probably went too far. That’s OK, just back off on the length a bit and build back up as the dog can tolerate.