Veterinary Orthopedics for Cats & Dogs

Orthopedics is the branch of medicine and surgery that deals with the skeleton, joints, and associated soft tissues—joint capsule, muscle, ligament, cartilage, and tendon.

We categorize orthopedic problems into the cause of the disorder and by the structure that is affected. Some of these disorders are congenital, which means the animal was born with the problem. Other orthopedic conditions can occur during your pet’s development and growth and are influenced by a genetic predisposition; hip dysplasia is a classic example of this.

Trauma to the skeletal system is a frequent cause of orthopedic disease and can result in fractures, bruising, and stretched or torn soft tissues. Infections with certain microorganisms can cause joint disease, most notably tick-borne illness such as Lyme disease. Some immune disorders, as well as cancer, can also cause orthopedic disease. Occasionally, metabolic disorders can lead to orthopedic problems.

Arthritis is a commonly diagnosed orthopedic condition that increases with advancing age. It is often secondary to other orthopedic disorders such as trauma, torn ligaments, or developmental abnormalities such as hip dysplasia.

There are a variety of conditions that result in orthopedic disease in animals. At Pet Care Veterinary Hospital, we offer state of the art diagnostic and treatment options for many of these problems. Dr. Herbert A. Hulls has been performing orthopedic plating of fractured bones for over a decade, and is experienced at repairing cranial cruciate injuries and other joint pathologic conditions.  In addition, we are well versed at pain management.  We employ the most current and effective pain relief methods in order to minimize the discomfort and inflammation associated with skeletal or joint problems