Soft Tissue Surgery

Brachycephalic Syndrome otherwise known as “brachycephalic respiratory syndrome” or “congenital obstructive upper-airway disease”

• - Dogs with a “shortened head”, such as Bulldogs, Boxers, Pugs and Shih Tzus, can have abnormalities that make them prone to brachycephalic syndrome. – These abnormalities include:
  • - Stenotic nares (severe narrowing of the nasal openings)
  • - Elongated soft palate which may block airway
• - Symptoms include:
  • - Labored or noisy breathing
  • - Exercise induced breathing problems – becoming out of breath
  • - Retching, coughing, snorting
  • - Turning blue (lack of oxygen)
  • - Restlessness
• - With breathing problems may come other symptoms which include:
  • - Increased susceptibility of heat stroke
  • - Difficulty swallowing
  • - Abnormal body posture, in order to inhale
  • - Increased incidence of dental/periodontal disease
  • - Increased eye problems
  • - Infections in the folds of the face

Laryngeal Paralysis

• - Occurs most often in large breeds such as Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Saint Bernards, and Siberian Huskies
• - Symptoms may include
  • - Voice change, may sound hoarse
  • - Noise while inhaling and exhaling
  • - Symptoms worsen in hot, humid weather or after exercise

Otitis Externa and Otitis Media

• - Symptoms of outer ear disease:
  • - Odor and/or discharge
  • - Scratching or rubbing of ears, shaking/tilting of the head
  • - Redness or swelling
  • - Pain
  • - Changes in behavior, irritability
• - Symptoms of inner ear disease include the symptoms for outer ear disease as well as:
  • - Possible facial paralysis on the infected side which may include difficulty swallowing, droopy eyelids and muscles
  • - Loss of balance
  • - Downward head tilt
  • - Possible circling

Perineal Hernia

• - Breeds more prone to perineal hernia: Boston terrier, Corgi, Boxer, Collie, Kelpie, Old English Sheepdogs, Dachshund and Collie
• - Symptoms include:
  • - Unilateral or bilateral swelling near the anus
  • - Constipation or straining to defecate
  • - Inability/straining to urinate
  • - Abdominal pain
  • - Lethargy
  • - Altered tail carriage
  • - Anorexia

Urethreal Obstruction

• - Mostly found in male cats
• - Symptoms include:
  • - Inability to urinate
  • - Constant licking of gentalia
  • - Weakness
  • - Vomiting or lack of appetite
  • - Dehydration

Orthopedic Surgery

Hip Dysplasia

• - Larger breeds are most likely to experience hip dysplasia
• - Loose and unstable hip joints with the following symptoms:
  • - Rear limb lameness
  • - Difficulty or stiffness upon rising
  • - Moving both rear legs together as if to hop
  • - Waddling
  • - Painful reaction to rear extension
  • - Tendency to tilt hips when hind end is touched
  • - Reluctance to jump, climb stairs or exercise

Knees/Stifle Disease

• - Cruciate Rupture
  • - Symptoms include:
    • - Lameness upon injury
    • - Crepitus
    • - Decreased ROM
    • - Hind leg outstretched while sitting
    • - Weight shift while standing

• - Patellar Luxation
  • - Most likely to occur in small or miniature breeds for dogs and some larger breeds, i.e. Labrador Retrievers; occasionally Domestic shorthair cats
  • - Symptoms are slight but include dislocation of the patella (kneecap) in varying degrees:
    • - Grade I: carrying of the leg occasionally, skipping or hopping
    • - Grade II: joint becomes dislocated more often, Crepitus (crackling) can be heard in joint, DJD can set in
    • - Grade III: permanent dislocation, still may be weight bearing however may appear to be bowlegged
    • - Grade IV: permanent luxation, carrying the leg all the time

Growth Disturbance

• - Osteochondrosis Dissecans (OCD)
  • - Primarily affects large or giant breeds, males more often than females and occasionally small breed dogs and cats, or young and fast growing - animals
  • - Bone growth abnormality resulting in pieces of the cartilage becoming loose around the joints
  • - Symptoms include:
    • - Lameness in the affected limb
    • - Shortened forelimb stride
    • - Reluctance to flex or extend the joint
      
• - Fragmented Medial Coronoid Process (FCP)
  • - Most likely to occur in young large or giant dogs, such as German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers and Dobermans
  • - Bone growth abnormality that causes the bone to break up exposing the tissue
  • - Symptoms are similar to OCD
    • - Lameness in the affected limb
    • - Shortened forelimb stride
    • - Reluctance to flex or extend the joint

• - Ununited Anconeal Process (UAP)
  • - Most often occurring in young German Shepherds, Basset Hounds and Saint Bernards
  • - Symptoms include:
    • - Lameness in involved limb
    • - Possible swelling and tenderness around the elbow joint
      

Neurologic Surgery

• - Intervertebral Disc Disease
  • - Breeds most commonly affected are long-backed dogs, such as Dachshunds
  • - Symptoms in the thoracolumbar region include:
    • - Refusal to walk or jump as had previously
    • - Wobbly hind legs or hind legs cross while walking
    • - As condition worsens:
      • - the animal may refuse to walk or stand at all
      • - inability to completely express the bladder
      • - pain perception is lost
  • - Symptoms in the neck region include:
    • - Neck pain and will protect neck from movement
    • - Stiff gait or unwilling to flex neck
    • - Sudden movements may produce a yelp
      
• - Vertebral Instability
  • - Breeds most commonly affected are Great Danes and Doberman Pinschers
  • - Symptoms progress from:
    • - Unwillingness to bend the neck
    • - Weakness or uncoordinated in hind limbs
    • - Weakness in the front limbs as well
      
• - Spinal Tumors
  • - Symptoms include:
    • - Neck or back pain
    • - Limping
    • - Wobbly gait
• - Brain Tumors
• • - Symptoms include:
    • - Changes in behavior, intelligence or blindness