ADVANCED ORTHOPEDIC CARE FOR DOGS & CATS
Medically reviewed by Bryan Hayter, DVM, Owner and Medical Director of Aliso Beach Animal Clinic. Last reviewed: August 2026.
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.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bryan Hayter | July 2026
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.
