Surgery

The cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) or anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the four ligaments within the knee and is the most important joint stabilizer.  Injury to this ligament is common in dogs.  The ligament connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone) and prevents the tibia from sliding forward during normal leg use. Facts about cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) in dogs: CrCL rupture is a common orthopedic injury and the most common…

Obstructive stomach or intestinal foreign bodies (FB) occur when a pet eats a non-food foreign object and it cannot pass through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Foreign bodies can be toys, socks, pantyhose, string, bones, and even mulch.  These items can become lodged under the tongue, or inside the esophagus, stomach, or intestinal tract.  Sometimes FBs can become lodged in multiple locations in the GI tract if they are composed of string, fabric or carpet (i.e.

Total hip replacement (THR) involves replacing both the ball (head of the femur) and socket (acetabulum) of the hip joint with implants. These new components are designed to in­teract and function in the same manner as a “normal” hip joint. Which Dogs are Good Candidates for a Total Hip Replacement? Many factors must be evalu­ated to determine if your dog would benefit from a THR. To decide what is best for your dog, the surgeon…

The patella is the medical term for the kneecap. Luxation means that the kneecap dislocates or moves out of its normal position. A medial patella luxation (MPL) occurs when the kneecap moves out of its normal position toward the inside of the leg. Less common is the lateral patella luxation, which is when the kneecap moves toward the outside of the leg. The patella normally sits in a deep groove located at the end of…