ADVANCED ORTHOPEDIC CARE FOR DOGS & CATS
Limping, joint instability and difficulty moving can significantly affect a pet’s comfort and quality of life. At Aliso Beach Animal Clinic, we provide orthopedic evaluations and coordinate advanced surgical care for dogs and cats with injuries, developmental conditions and painful joint problems.
For complex orthopedic procedures, we work with Zachery “Zack” Smith, DVM, DACVS, a board-certified veterinary surgeon who specializes in orthopedic and soft-tissue surgery. Dr. Smith performs scheduled surgical procedures at Aliso Beach Animal Clinic by appointment, allowing many patients to receive advanced care through their familiar veterinary hospital.
Procedures may include TPLO surgery, femoral head and neck ostectomy, medial patellar luxation correction and other complex orthopedic or soft-tissue surgeries based on the patient’s diagnosis and surgical consultation.
REQUEST AN ORTHOPEDIC EVALUATION
Many orthopedic conditions require specialized surgical training, equipment and careful postoperative management. Rather than sending every patient to an unfamiliar hospital, Aliso Beach Animal Clinic can coordinate selected procedures with a visiting board-certified veterinary surgeon.
Your pet’s regular veterinary team remains involved throughout the process. We can help coordinate the initial examination, diagnostic testing, surgical consultation, procedure, pain-management plan and postoperative follow-up.
Not every limping pet needs surgery. Our first priority is to determine why your pet is uncomfortable and identify the most appropriate treatment. Depending on the diagnosis, recommendations may include rest, medication, weight management, rehabilitation, laser therapy, surgery or referral for additional specialty care.
Dr. Zack Smith is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and specializes in complex orthopedic and soft-tissue surgery.
Board certification in veterinary surgery requires advanced postgraduate training, completion of a surgical residency and successful completion of rigorous specialty examinations. This training prepares a veterinary surgeon to evaluate and treat complicated orthopedic injuries and surgical conditions.
Dr. Smith performs eligible procedures at Aliso Beach Animal Clinic by appointment. Surgical availability depends on the patient’s condition, the procedure required and scheduling with the surgical team.
A limp may result from something relatively minor, such as a sore paw or temporary muscle strain. It can also be a sign of a torn ligament, unstable kneecap, fracture, joint disease, tendon injury, spinal problem or another condition requiring treatment.
As a practical rule of thumb, a pet that remains lame for more than seven days—even if the limp comes and goes—should receive a veterinary examination.
Persistent or intermittent lameness does not automatically mean that surgery is necessary. However, lameness lasting longer than a week often suggests that the problem is more than temporary soreness and deserves a clear diagnosis.
Sudden inability to stand, major trauma, uncontrolled pain, severe bleeding or an open fracture requires immediate veterinary attention.
Waiting does not always allow an orthopedic injury to heal. When a ligament, kneecap or other joint structure is unstable, continued movement can create repeated inflammation and abnormal wear inside the joint.
Depending on the condition, delaying recommended treatment may contribute to:
Surgery cannot erase arthritis that is already present, and some arthritis may continue to develop even after a successful procedure. However, when surgery is recommended for an unstable joint, restoring stability can reduce ongoing abnormal movement, improve function and help slow additional joint deterioration.
The decision should be based on the diagnosis, severity of instability, pet’s age and size, activity level, overall health and expected quality-of-life benefit—not on lameness alone.
A cranial cruciate ligament injury is one of the most common causes of hind-leg lameness in dogs. When this ligament becomes partially or completely torn, the knee becomes unstable and painful.
TPLO stands for tibial plateau leveling osteotomy. Rather than attempting to replace the damaged ligament, the procedure changes the biomechanics of the knee so it can remain stable while bearing weight.
During TPLO surgery, the surgeon makes a carefully planned curved cut in the upper tibia, rotates the tibial plateau and secures it in its new position with a surgical plate and screws.
TPLO may be recommended for:
The appropriate treatment depends on the individual dog. An orthopedic examination and properly positioned radiographs are generally required before planning TPLO surgery.
A femoral head and neck ostectomy, commonly called an FHO, is a procedure used to relieve pain associated with certain hip conditions. The surgeon removes the head and neck of the femur so the painful bone-on-bone contact within the hip joint is eliminated.
Over time, the surrounding muscles and soft tissues form a functional false joint. Rehabilitation and gradual return to activity are important parts of recovery.
FHO may be considered for selected dogs or cats with:
The expected result depends on the patient’s size, body condition, muscle strength, underlying diagnosis and postoperative rehabilitation.
Medial patellar luxation, or MPL, occurs when the kneecap moves out of its normal groove toward the inside of the leg. Some pets intermittently skip or carry the leg, while more advanced cases can cause persistent lameness, abnormal limb alignment and progressive arthritis.
Mild cases without significant symptoms may be monitored. Surgery is more commonly considered when luxation is causing pain, repeated lameness, cartilage wear or functional difficulty.
The exact surgical plan depends on the cause and severity of the luxation. Correction may involve deepening the groove that guides the kneecap, repositioning its tendon attachment, tightening or releasing supporting tissues or correcting abnormal bone alignment.
Dr. Smith may perform other advanced orthopedic procedures based on the patient’s diagnosis and surgical evaluation. These may include selected fracture repairs, joint-stabilization procedures and correction of complicated orthopedic conditions.
Procedure availability varies. Our veterinary team will review your pet’s examination findings and imaging before determining whether surgery can be performed at Aliso Beach Animal Clinic or whether referral to a specialty hospital is more appropriate.
Dr. Smith may also be available for selected urgent or emergency soft-tissue surgical cases when scheduling, staffing and the patient’s condition allow.
Potential cases may include complicated wounds, gastrointestinal foreign bodies, internal surgical conditions or other urgent problems requiring advanced surgical expertise.
Call Aliso Beach Animal Clinic before arriving. Surgical availability cannot be guaranteed without prior communication and evaluation.
Patients that are unstable, require immediate overnight intensive care or need treatment when the surgical team is unavailable may be referred directly to a 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital.
LEARN ABOUT SAME-DAY URGENT CARE
We will ask when the lameness began, whether it is constant or intermittent, whether a specific injury occurred and what activities make it better or worse.
Tell us about previous injuries, surgeries, medications, supplements and any treatments already attempted. Videos of your pet walking or limping at home can be useful when the problem is intermittent.
The veterinarian will observe your pet standing and walking and will examine the affected limb for pain, swelling, instability, reduced motion or muscle loss.
The examination may also include the opposite limb, hips, spine and neurologic function because the apparent location of a limp does not always identify the true source of the problem.
Radiographs may be recommended to evaluate bones, joints, alignment and signs of arthritis. Some orthopedic conditions require sedation so precise positioning can be obtained without causing unnecessary discomfort.
Additional testing or advanced imaging may be recommended when ordinary radiographs do not provide enough information.
When a complex procedure may be beneficial, the case can be reviewed with Dr. Smith. The consultation includes discussion of the diagnosis, recommended procedure, alternatives, expected recovery, potential complications and estimated cost.
Before surgery, your pet may need:
Follow all medication and fasting instructions carefully. Contact us before surgery if your pet develops vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, reduced appetite or another new medical concern.
Successful orthopedic surgery requires careful home care. Even when a pet begins using the leg quickly, the bone and supporting tissues may still need weeks to heal.
Postoperative instructions may include:
Returning to unrestricted activity too early can delay healing or contribute to implant complications. Follow the prescribed recovery schedule even when your pet appears comfortable.
No. Lameness may be treated with rest, medication, weight management, rehabilitation or another non-surgical approach depending on the cause. Surgery is considered when a structural problem, joint instability, fracture or other condition is unlikely to improve adequately without correction.
A mild limp that begins after unusual activity may improve with brief rest. However, schedule an examination if the limp is severe, repeatedly returns or lasts longer than seven days. Seek care sooner if your pet will not bear weight, is visibly painful or experienced significant trauma.
No procedure can guarantee that arthritis will never develop. Many orthopedic diseases begin causing inflammation before surgery is performed. The goal of surgery is to correct or stabilize the underlying mechanical problem, improve comfort and function and reduce continued abnormal wear when possible.
Medication may reduce pain and inflammation, but it does not permanently stabilize a knee with significant cruciate-ligament insufficiency. Continued instability can contribute to meniscal injury, muscle loss and progressive arthritis. The best treatment depends on the patient’s size, activity, degree of instability and overall health.
A veterinarian must first confirm that the knee is the source of the lameness and assess the degree of cruciate instability. Orthopedic examination findings, radiographs, body size, activity and health status are considered before recommending TPLO.
No. Dr. Smith is a visiting board-certified veterinary surgeon, and complex procedures are scheduled by appointment. Call our team to arrange an evaluation and discuss upcoming surgical availability.
Selected emergency soft-tissue procedures may be possible depending on timing, staffing, the patient’s stability and surgeon availability. Call immediately for instructions. Some patients will need direct transfer to a 24-hour emergency and specialty hospital.
Recovery depends on the procedure and individual patient. Many orthopedic procedures require several weeks of restricted activity followed by a gradual return to exercise. Follow-up radiographs may be necessary before unrestricted activity is approved.
If your dog or cat has been limping for more than seven days—even intermittently—or is having difficulty standing, walking, climbing stairs or returning to normal activity, schedule an orthopedic examination.
Our veterinary team can evaluate the problem, obtain appropriate diagnostic images and determine whether medical care, rehabilitation or consultation with board-certified veterinary surgeon Dr. Zack Smith is the best next step.
Aliso Beach Animal Clinic
30816 Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Directly across from the Montage Laguna Beach
Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
Do not submit an online appointment form for a life-threatening emergency.
Veterinary anesthesia is not limited to the time your pet is on the operating table. It is a coordinated process that begins with pre-surgical evaluation and continues through anesthesia, surgery, pain control and recovery.
Our surgical approach may include:
No anesthetic procedure is entirely without risk. Careful evaluation, individualized medication choices, attentive monitoring and early intervention help us reduce that risk as much as reasonably possible.
Veterinary surgical procedures generally fall into two categories: planned procedures and medically necessary or urgent procedures.
Planned procedures are scheduled in advance. Although some are described as elective, they may provide important preventive or medical benefits.
Examples may include:
The recommendation to perform surgery is never made lightly. Dr. Hayter considers your pet’s condition, age, expected quality-of-life benefit and available nonsurgical alternatives before recommending a procedure.
Some conditions require prompt surgical treatment. These may include:
The services appropriate for an individual patient depend on the pet’s stability and the complexity of the procedure. When a patient requires overnight intensive care, advanced imaging or specialty surgery, we will discuss referral to an appropriate emergency or specialty hospital.
Please call before arriving with an urgent case so our team can advise you regarding availability and the most appropriate level of care.
Pre-anesthetic blood work helps us evaluate your pet’s health before administering anesthesia. A pet may appear healthy while still having an early medical condition that is not obvious during a physical examination.
Testing commonly includes a complete blood count and blood chemistry panel.
A complete blood count, or CBC, evaluates:
A CBC may identify anemia, inflammation, infection, platelet abnormalities or other findings that could affect surgery or anesthesia.
A chemistry panel provides information about:
Depending on your pet’s age, symptoms, medical history and procedure, additional evaluation may include urinalysis, blood-pressure measurement, diagnostic imaging, an electrocardiogram or cardiac testing.
An abnormal laboratory result does not automatically mean that your pet cannot receive anesthesia.
Pets with kidney disease, liver changes, diabetes and other chronic conditions can often undergo necessary procedures with a modified anesthesia, medication or fluid plan. In other cases, it may be safer to stabilize the patient, perform additional testing or postpone an elective procedure.
Dr. Hayter evaluates the complete patient rather than making a decision based on one laboratory value.
There is no single age at which a dog or cat automatically becomes too old for anesthesia.
Senior pets are more likely to have changes involving the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs or endocrine system. For that reason, they may benefit from additional testing and more extensive anesthetic planning.
A healthy 15-year-old pet may sometimes be a better anesthetic candidate than a younger pet with uncontrolled disease. We consider your pet’s overall health, comfort, mobility, quality of life and expected benefit from the procedure.
Many pets with heart murmurs can undergo anesthesia safely, but the murmur should be evaluated as part of the pre-anesthetic assessment.
Depending on your pet’s examination, symptoms and medical history, additional testing may include:
The results help us determine how well the heart is functioning and whether the anesthesia and fluid plan should be modified.
Many pets with well-managed medical conditions can receive anesthesia with additional planning and monitoring.
Conditions requiring special consideration include:
These conditions may affect medication timing, fasting instructions, fluid therapy, anesthetic drug selection and recovery care.
Do not stop or change insulin, steroids, heart medication, seizure medication or another prescription unless our veterinary team specifically instructs you to do so.
Anesthesia is not a one-size-fits-all process. Medication selection and dosage are adjusted according to your pet’s:
Using a combination of appropriately selected medications can provide sedation, anesthesia and pain relief while reducing reliance on any single drug.
An IV catheter provides reliable access to your pet’s bloodstream throughout anesthesia.
It allows the team to administer:
Having immediate venous access is an important component of anesthetic preparation and patient support.
Fluid therapy may help maintain IV catheter access and support circulation during anesthesia. The type and rate of fluids are selected for the individual patient rather than using the same plan for every pet.
Pets with kidney disease, heart disease, dehydration, blood loss or other medical concerns require careful adjustment to avoid giving too little or too much fluid.
During general anesthesia, an endotracheal tube is commonly placed to protect the airway and deliver oxygen and anesthetic gas.
This is especially important for procedures involving the mouth, dental procedures and patients at increased risk of airway obstruction or aspiration.
Capnography measures the carbon dioxide in your pet’s exhaled breath. It provides real-time information about ventilation and can alert the team to changes in breathing, airway function or circulation.
Capnography provides different information from pulse oximetry, so using both creates a more complete picture of respiratory function.
An electrocardiogram, or ECG, tracks the heart’s electrical rhythm. It helps the team recognize changes in heart rate or rhythm that may require an adjustment in anesthesia or supportive care.
Pulse oximetry estimates the percentage of oxygen carried in the blood. It helps the team evaluate oxygenation throughout the procedure and recovery period.
Anesthesia can affect blood pressure. Monitoring allows the team to recognize low or high blood pressure and respond by adjusting anesthetic depth, warming, fluid support or other treatment.
Pets can lose body heat quickly while anesthetized. Low body temperature may slow recovery and affect circulation, metabolism and comfort.
We monitor body temperature and use appropriate warming devices to help maintain a safe temperature before, during and after surgery.
A dedicated veterinary technician monitors the patient rather than performing the surgical procedure.
The technician observes:
Monitoring equipment is valuable, but it does not replace direct observation by a trained team member.
For procedures requiring sterile technique, the surgical site is clipped and carefully cleansed with antiseptic solutions before surgery.
Our team uses appropriate aseptic practices that may include:
These measures help reduce the risk of contamination and postoperative infection.
Pain control begins before the first surgical incision and continues during recovery and at home.
Depending on the patient and procedure, pain management may include:
Using multiple forms of pain relief can improve comfort while reducing reliance on any single medication.
Sedation helps a pet become relaxed or drowsy but may not produce complete unconsciousness. General anesthesia creates a controlled state of unconsciousness and usually allows the airway to be protected with an endotracheal tube.
Sedation may be appropriate for selected brief or minimally invasive procedures. General anesthesia may be preferable when a procedure:
Local anesthetic blocks can improve pain control but usually do not replace sedation or anesthesia when a pet cannot safely remain awake and still.
The least intensive option is not automatically the safest. The correct choice depends on the patient and procedure.
Brachycephalic, or flat-faced, dogs and cats can have an increased risk of airway obstruction and breathing complications.
Examples include:
These patients require careful airway assessment, oxygenation, intubation and recovery monitoring. Heavy sedation is not necessarily safer because a sedated flat-faced animal may lose some ability to keep its airway open.
We plan the anesthetic approach according to the individual pet’s anatomy, health and procedure.
Anesthesia-free tooth scaling is not equivalent to a comprehensive veterinary dental procedure.
Removing visible tartar from an awake pet does not allow the veterinary team to:
General anesthesia allows a thorough oral examination, professional cleaning and necessary treatment without fear, movement or pain. Learn more on our Veterinary Dental Services page.
Follow the individualized instructions provided by Aliso Beach Animal Clinic. Fasting and medication directions differ according to age, species, size, health conditions and planned procedure.
Before surgery:
Do not automatically withhold food and water for 12 hours. Young pets, diabetic patients and medically fragile animals may require different instructions. Unless we tell you otherwise, do not change your pet’s medication or fasting schedule on your own.
Careful recovery monitoring is an important part of anesthesia safety.
A team member will observe your pet’s:
Some sleepiness, mild disorientation or decreased appetite may occur during the first evening. Your pet’s expected recovery will depend on the procedure and medications used.
Home care may include:
Contact the clinic promptly if your pet experiences difficulty breathing, collapse, repeated vomiting, uncontrolled bleeding, severe pain, extreme weakness, an opening in the incision or another concerning symptom listed in the discharge instructions.
Yes. Two estimates for the same procedure may include very different levels of preparation, monitoring, staffing, pain management and recovery care.
When comparing veterinary surgical or dental services, ask whether the estimate includes:
Price is important, but it should not be the only factor considered when choosing where your pet will receive anesthesia and surgery.
Aliso Beach Animal Clinic provides veterinary surgery, pre-anesthetic blood work, advanced anesthesia monitoring and individualized pain management for dogs and cats in Laguna Beach and surrounding South Orange County communities.
We welcome pet owners from South Laguna, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo and nearby areas.
Aliso Beach Animal Clinic
30816 Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 499-4190
Call today to schedule a surgical consultation or discuss an upcoming procedure.
