What’s an ortho vet’s job?

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An orthopedic veterinarian specializes in the veterinary care of animals suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. Like humans, animals are often affected by bone and joint deformities, fractures, nerve disorders and muscle injuries. Some of these conditions may be present from an animal’s birth or may have occurred during an athletic accident, particularly in animals that compete in professional sports such as dog racing or horse racing. An orthopedic veterinarian helps animals recover from these conditions through surgical, therapeutic, or other corrective means.

For animals with conditions that cannot be corrected, an orthopedic veterinarian can help the animal and its owner with pain management strategies. Additionally, veterinarians who specialize in this genre of medicine can help animals live full, mobile lives despite apparent handicaps due to a genetic disorder or accident. In addition to working with the animal, an orthopedic veterinarian also works directly with the animal’s primary veterinarian, as well as the animal’s owners, to ensure that the animal gets the best possible care.

An orthopedic veterinarian may work in private practice or on staff at a veterinary hospital or rehabilitation center. These veterinarians perform surgery on animals when necessary and often work with the most modern, state-of-the-art equipment to help animals exercise and regain full mobility after surgery. An animal may need to remain in a facility for a limited amount of time to recover, or an orthopedic veterinarian may treat it on an outpatient basis.

Some of the more common conditions an orthopedic veterinarian can work with include osteoarthritis, birth defects, limb deformities, bone fractures, torn ligaments and hip dysplasia, which is very common in dogs. Veterinarians can also replace joints that cannot be repaired or that do not respond well to other interventions and are causing the animals pain. Veterinarians working in orthopedic care can also treat animals with neurological disorders such as wobbler’s disease, spinal fractures or lumbosacral disease, which is a very painful condition caused by a compression of the animal’s lumbar nerves.

The procedures and thoughtful care provided specifically by an orthopedic veterinarian often extend an animal’s life. This is often done through rehabilitation therapies that follow surgical procedures such as massage, acupuncture, underwater treadmill therapy, swimming, chiropractic care, and pulsed magnetic field therapy, which aid in tissue repair. This focused care also helps the animal regain mobility and enjoy a good quality of life for its remaining years.

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