As the Bay Area’s most comprehensive emergency & specialty veterinary hospital, our board-certified specialists and orthopedic surgery team provide advanced diagnostics and complex surgical care, seamlessly coordinated under one roof.
Our all-inclusive pricing gives you the peace of mind you need to focus on your pet's health. We'll be with you every step of the way, from initial consult to full recovery.
Getting your pet on the path to wellness is our #1 goal.
With years of experience and a range of advanced procedures and treatment options, we'll focus on restoring your pet's quality of life and your peace of mind.
We want you and your pet to have the best experience possible. If you need us to reach out to your primary care veterinarian for your records, we’re happy to do so.
Veterinary orthopedic surgery involves the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of conditions related to a pet’s musculoskeletal system — including bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and tendons.
Following a comprehensive exam and diagnostics, we can determine the best course of treatment for your pet. We choose the least invasive surgical procedure available, so their recovery can be as swift and pain-free as possible. This means we stay on the leading edge of new procedures and approaches.
Each pet family receives a personalized plan for their pet’s procedure, pain management, recovery, rehabilitation, medications, and follow-up care. Providing the best possible quality of life is always our goal.
Our expert surgical team members are leaders in the field of veterinary orthopedics — and it shows by looking at our patient outcomes and best-in-class care.
Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO)
Tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA)
Extracapsular stifle stabilization for CCL injury
Femoral head osteotomy (FHA)
Hip luxation
PENN-hip evaluation
Total hip replacement
Proximal abducting ulnar osteotomy (PAUL)
Sliding humeral osteotomy (SHO)
External fixators
Internal fixation
Occurs when the dog's patella (kneecap) shifts out of alignment
Correction of limb deformities - circular fixator
Joint replacement of elbow and knee
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Understand more about your pet’s condition and treatment options.
Before surgery, you and your dog will have a consultation with a board-certified veterinary surgeon, which includes a physical exam, discussion of the causes of a cruciate ligament tear, an explanation of options (TPLO vs. lateral suture vs.TightRope), a viewing of an animation of the TPLO procedure, and of course, answering any questions from you.
At the initial consultation, our staff will provide an estimate for pre-operation, the procedure, and post-operation, and also includes all exams, medications (not refills), post-op X-rays, and day-of-surgery bloodwork.
Your pet’s surgery is performed in a sterile, dedicated surgical environment by the same surgeon you meet with during your initial consult. Medications and anesthesia required by your pet during surgery are included, as well as anesthesia monitoring both during surgery and through recovery by a registered veterinary technician (RVT) who has extensive experience with anesthesia. Your dog’s leg will be bandaged and he or she will recover in a bed with supplemental heat.
Overnight hospitalization is required for most surgeries, although for TPLO, possibly two to three nights if bilateral, depending on whether the patient is able to walk with two bandages. You can rest easy knowing that your pet will be monitored 24/7 by a veterinarian and will receive necessary antibiotics and pain medication. Additionally, patients are offered a meal when they are alert and will be walked in the afternoon for elimination. While we don’t usually allow visitors due to patient anxiety, our veterinary technicians are happy to send photos as requested by pet parents.
The staff at VSS are available for you to call for updates on your pet any time during their stay with us, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The surgery fee includes all the medications (antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and pain) your pet needs to come home and be comfortable during their recovery. For TPLO patients, we often use long-acting regional anesthesia, which has greatly decreased the need for narcotics.
After your dog returns home, he or she will need to be confined to a small rest area for two weeks with limited walks only while on a leash. For two to six weeks, we recommend all patients go on short walks only while on a leash and continue confinement indoors when unattended. These types of measures at home will ensure a successful and speedy recovery.
Post-surgical appointments to check on the status of your pet are also included in the surgery package. Post-op follow-up appointments include bandage removal at three to five days, suture removal at two weeks, then post-op X-rays at six weeks. All of the above routine recheck appointments are included with the surgery.
