Fractures land luxations of the cervical and thoracolumbar spine (Figure 1) are commonly managed at the DVSC. Options for treatment include surgical stabilization or conservative treatment with external braces, confinement, and analgesics. The best course of treatment depends on the neurologic status and health of the patient and the expectations of the owne   Several […]

Hemoabdomen, or hemoperitoneum, is an accumulation of blood in the abdominal cavity. The condition is a common reason for emergency presentation of pets to the veterinary hospital. While hemoabdomen does occur in cats, it is a more commonly seen condition in dogs. Any age or breed of dog or cat may be afflicted with this […]

Overview: Total hip replacement is a surgical procedure which reliably restores comfort and near normal function to dogs with a variety of painful hip conditions. Advantages include relatively quick recovery, predictable results, and options if complications are encountered. Disadvantages are cost, and need for extended exercise restriction.   Indications: The most common condition for which […]

  Triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO) remains a valuable surgery in the prevention of degenerative joint disease secondary to hip laxity. The surgeons at DVSC recommend that hips of susceptible breeds be palpated beginning at 4-6 months of age. If laxity is detected, owners should be informed about the benefits of the TPO procedure. The basis […]

  A key component of North Texas Animal Rehabilitation (NTAR) is the underwater treadmill. This treadmill will be used by our patients to minimize postoperative swelling, increase muscle strength and encourage early use of the operated limb.         Play movie clip (total time: 0:05)         In addition to the […]

The Dallas Veterinary Surgery Center (DVSC) utilizes many resources to help pets recover from their fractures, and the type of fixation is determined by multiple factors including the patient’s age, type of injury, and expected activity level. The goal of fracture fixation is to immobilize the fracture segments to create a healing environment and to […]

Typically the instability involves the C4 – C7 spine which results in hypertrophy of the dorsal longitudinal ligament (which lies on the floor of the spinal canal) resulting in ventral spinal cord compression. A myelogram or CT will identify the ventral cord compression. When traction is placed on the cervical spine, and the myelogram/CT is […]