Dogs have two anal sacs (glands) beneath the skin which are located at the four and eight o’clock positions of the anus. (Figure 1) The anal sac duct opens into the edge of the anus. The anal sacs and ducts are closely associated with the anal sphincter muscle. When the anal sacs are expressed, fluid […]

  Anatomy: Dogs have two anal sacs (glands) beneath the skin which are located at the four and eight o’clock positions of the anus. (Figure 1) The anal sac duct opens into the edge of the anus. The anal sacs and ducts are closely associated with the anal sphincter muscle. When the anal sacs are […]

Arthitis is defined as inflammation of one or more synovial joints, usually accompanied by pain, swelling, and stiffness.  Causes of arthritis are joint instability, trauma, degenerative changes (osteoarthritis), infection (bacterial or fungal arthritis), metabolic disturbances, or immune mediated disease (rheumatoid arthritis). Osteoarthritis caused by joint or ligament injury is most common in dogs and cats. […]

Arthroscopy is for both the diagnosis and treatment of a variety joint diseases.  Arthro- is derived from the greek word for joint while –scope (“skopein”) is a greek word meaning an instrument for viewing. There are multiple advantages of arthroscopy over open arthrotomy with a traditional incision.  Arthroscopy is minimally invasive and allows better visualization of […]

Atlanto-axial (A-A) instability is generally seen in juvenile toy breeds due to congenital malformation or absence of the dens and/or associated ligamentous structures. A-A instability is occasionally seen in other breeds due to trauma. Patients will often present with neck pain, weakness and occasionally paralysis. Surgical stabilization of the A-A articulation is the treatment of […]

The hip is the articulation between the femur (thigh bone) and the pelvis.  It is considered a “ball-and-socket” joint in which the “ball” is the head of the femur and the “socket” is the acetabulum of the pelvis. Coxofemoral luxation occurs when the head of the femur becomes luxated (dislocated) from the acetabulum.  Below is […]

What is a cruciate tear? Canine cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease is the most common orthopedic injury seen in dogs.  You may hear veterinarians refer to this injury as an “ACL tear,” which is an adaptation from human orthopedics, but the terms are often used interchangeably.  The CCL is a ligament inside the knee that […]

Lateral fabellar suture, Tightrope, and Bone anchor procedures: Background Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease is the most common orthopedic disease in dogs ( see CCL Overview Section ).  The CCL is located inside the knee and functions to stabilize the knee during locomotion. Because the articular surface of the canine tibia (shin bone) is sloped backward, normal […]

Background Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease is the most common orthopedic disease in dogs (see CCL overview section ).  The CCL is located inside the knee and functions to stabilize the knee during locomotion. Because the articular surface of the canine tibia (shin bone) is sloped backward, normal locomotion leads to forward translation (tibial thrust) […]

Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) Background Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease is the most common orthopedic disease in dogs (see CCL overview section)  The CCL is located inside the knee and functions to stabilize the knee during locomotion. Because the articular surface of the canine tibia (shin bone) is sloped backward, normal locomotion leads to forward […]