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VetVine Client Care
When Is Surgery Indicated For Joint Problems?
Surgery
This question was submitted during a past webinar on the topic of joint problems in dogs ...
Question:
When should surgery be considered for a dog with joint problems?
Answer by James L. Cook, DVM, PhD, DACVS, DACVSMR:
This is really difficult to provide a general answer to, as it really is such a multifactorial decision that should be made on a case-by-case basis considering patient and client factors and goals. To be very general, surgery should be considered if there is a “mechanical” problem (e.g. fragment, instability, tear, etc) that can be safely and effectively treated surgically, for developmental problems (e.g. hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, etc) that have a proven surgical treatment that beneficially improves long term outcomes, or for advanced, symptomatic arthritis when medical treatments are not working well and a good surgical procedure is available.