An orthopedic veterinarian specializes in the treatment of animals with musculoskeletal problems. Bone and joint deformities, fractures, nerve disorders, and muscle injuries are common in animals, just as they are in humans. Some of these conditions may have existed since the animal’s birth or may have developed as a result of an athletic mishap, especially in animals competing in professional sports like dog or horse racing. An orthopedic veterinarian assists animals in recovering from these conditions through surgical, therapeutic, or other means.
An orthopedic veterinarian can help animals and their owners manage pain if they have conditions that cannot be corrected. Additionally, veterinarians who specialize in this field of medicine can assist animals in living full, mobile lives despite apparent limitations caused a genetic disorder or an accident. In addition to working with the animal, an orthopedic veterinarian collaborates with the animal’s primary veterinarian and the animal’s owners to ensure that the animal receives the best possible care.
A veterinarian who specializes in orthopedics can work in a private practice or on the staff of a veterinary hospital or rehabilitation center. These veterinarians perform surgeries on animals as needed, and they frequently use cutting-edge technology to help animals exercise and regain full mobility after surgery. An animal may require a short stay in a facility to recover, or an orthopedic veterinarian may treat the animal on an outpatient basis.
Osteoarthritis, congenital birth defects, limb deformities, bone fractures, torn ligaments, and hip dysplasia, which is very common in dogs, are some of the more common conditions an orthopedic veterinarian may see. Veterinarians can also replace joints that can’t be repaired or don’t respond well to other treatments and are causing pain in the animal. Animals with neurological disorders, such as wobbler’s disease, spinal fractures, or lumbosacral disease, which is a painful condition caused a compression of the animal’s lower back nerves, may be treated orthopedic veterinarians.
An orthopedic veterinarian’s procedures and attentive care often help an animal live longer. Massage, acupuncture, underwater treadmill therapy, swimming, chiropractic care, and pulsed magnetic field therapy, which aids in tissue repair, are some of the rehabilitative therapies used after surgical procedures. This type of specialized care also aids the animal in regaining mobility and maintaining a high quality of life for the remainder of his or her life.