Urethral sphincter mechanism incompetence (USMI) is the most commonly diagnosed cause of urinary incontinence in adult dogs, and is second only to ectopic ureters as a cause of incontinence in juveniles. USMI is most commonly seen in female dogs, but is also diagnosed in male dogs as well as cats. The disease can be congenital […]

  Laryngeal Paralysis   Overview   Laryngeal paralysis is a condition in dogs and cats that results when the nerve that controls one of the muscles in the larynx, the cricoarytenoideus dorsalis (CAD) muscle, is not functioning. This muscle is responsible for opening the arytenoid cartilages of the larynx when an animal breathes so that […]

Medial Patella Luxation What is a medial patella luxation? Medial patella luxation (MPL) is a common cause of orthopedic lameness in both small and large breed dogs.  In the simplest terms this condition is when the patella, or “knee cap”, slips in and out of its natural position.  Normally the patella sits in a groove […]

  Microvascular dysplasia (MD)is a disease in which the patients have abnormal, microscopic communications between the portal and systemic venous systems within the liver parenchyma. These microscopic shunt vessels allow the portal blood to escape normal filtration by the liver parenchyma, similar to a traditional, portosystemic shunt. Breeds affected with MD are similar to traditional […]

In addition to arthroscopy, the DVSC offers a complete array of thoracoscopic, laparoscopic and laparoscopic assisted procedures. As the demand for minimally invasive soft tissue procedures has grown, so has our commitment to providing cutting edge care for our small animal patients. The advantages of laparoscopic procedures versus open procedures are similar to our arthroscopy […]

Many patients with medically and surgically managed neurological disorders greatly benefit by postoperative rehabilitation and physical therapy. The DVSC is associated with a team of dedicated physical therapists trained in the human field that can develop a tailored physical therapy program for each pet to aid in the rehabilitation process. Techniques such as swimming, static/dynamic […]

Perianal Fistula Management in Dogs Perianal fistulas are a common cause of perineal and tail irritation in dogs. Large breed dogs, especially German Shepherds, are overrepresented. Historically, treatment has consisted of various invasive procedures, including debridement/excision, fulguration, laser treatment and chemical debridement. Failure rates with surgical treatment are high, including recurrence of the fistulas and […]

What is a perineal hernia? Perineal hernia is a condition where the muscles in the pelvis weaken and separate allowing organs and tissues to prolapse through this new space.  A swelling adjacent to the anus may occur as a result.  Older intact male dogs (un-neutered) are the most commonly affected, although it can occur in […]

Peritoneopericardial hernias (PPH) are an unusual sub type of diaphragmatic hernias. PPH occur secondary to incomplete separation of the diaphragm from the pericardium during embryogenesis, and are considered to be a congenital defect. Many PPH are discovered as an incidental finding during routine thoracic and/or abdominal radiographs.Typical findings include  enlargement of the cardiac silhouette and […]

What is a portosystemic shunt? A portosystemic shunt occurs when the blood from the intestines (carried by the portal vein) enters into the systemic circulation without first passing through the liver. This becomes a problem because the liver normally filters the toxins contained in the portal blood before it passes to the rest of the […]