Pet Orthopedic Surgery Roseville

Stonebridge Veterinary Wellness provides expert pet orthopedic surgery to help your companion move comfortably and stay healthy.

When your beloved pet experiences joint pain, fractures, or mobility issues, the journey toward healing can feel overwhelming. Pet orthopedic surgery requires precision, compassion, and advanced surgical techniques to restore your companion’s quality of life. From complex fracture repairs to hip dysplasia correction, orthopedic conditions demand immediate attention and skilled intervention to prevent long-term complications.

At Stonebridge Veterinary Wellness, Dr. Erin Paster and our veterinary team brings over 20 years of experience to pet orthopedic surgery in Roseville and the surrounding areas. Our comprehensive veterinary surgical services include advanced surgical procedures designed to address complex orthopedic conditions. Our board-certified veterinary surgeon, Dr. Erin Paster, brings advanced surgical training and extensive experience to every orthopedic procedure, ensuring your pet receives the highest standard of care throughout their treatment journey. We work closely with outside laboratories to perform enhanced testing, and our specialized screenings for hip and elbow conditions help identify problems before they become severe.

What Conditions Require Pet Orthopedic Surgery?

Pet orthopedic surgery addresses a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions affecting bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. Common orthopedic problems in pets include bone fractures from accidents, joint luxations, hip dysplasia in larger breeds, cruciate ligament tears, patella luxations, and elbow dysplasia.

Common Orthopedic Conditions We Treat

Joint pain and lameness often signal underlying orthopedic issues requiring surgical intervention. Our doctors evaluate each case thoroughly and confirm the diagnosis before recommending surgery:

  • Cruciate ligament injuries affecting knee stability
  • Patella luxation resulting in mechanical instability and further joint damage
  • Hip dysplasia causing pain and mobility limitations
  • Fractures requiring external fixation, or internal fixation with plates or pins
  • Elbow dysplasia leading to the development of arthritis
  • Joint luxations requiring restoration of joint structure and function

Our veterinary team frequently treats joint conditions such as patella luxations, where the kneecap dislocates from its normal position. We also address issues with abnormal bone growth (angular limb deformity), premature growth plate closure, bone and joint infections, fusion of the joints, cartilage lesions and developmental abnormalities affecting your pet’s mobility and comfort.

How Do We Diagnose Orthopedic Problems in Pets?

Accurate diagnosis forms the foundation of successful pet orthopedic surgery in Roseville and the surrounding areas. Our diagnostic process begins with a comprehensive physical examination, focusing on gait analysis, joint manipulation, and pain assessment techniques.

Advanced imaging plays a crucial role in orthopedic diagnosis. We utilize digital radiography to visualize bone structures, joint alignment, and fracture patterns. For complex cases requiring detailed soft tissue evaluation, we coordinate with imaging facilities for CT scans or MRI studies. Our specialized screenings for hip and elbow conditions help detect developmental problems early, potentially avoiding more invasive procedures later. For example, we use PennHIP screening to evaluate hip dysplasia risk in puppies as young as 16 weeks of age, and employ early techniques and recommendations to delay or prevent future hip problems before they develop.

Some patients require evaluation of the joint fluid or bone biopsy for further diagnosis. Diagnostics such as these are used when other underlying causes are suspected that are causing or contributing to the orthopedic condition. Armed with this diagnostic information, we ensure that our patients are properly diagnosed and are provided with effective treatments.

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What Surgical Techniques Do We Use for Orthopedic Conditions?

Modern pet orthopedic surgery encompasses a range of surgical approaches designed to restore function and alleviate pain. Our surgical team employs both traditional and innovative techniques based on your pet’s specific condition and overall health status.

Fracture repair often requires internal fixation using specialized plates, screws, or pins to stabilize broken bones. External fixation is used selectively for fracture repair in some cases. For cruciate ligament injuries, we perform procedures to restore knee stability and prevent future complications. Patella luxation repair encompasses a variety of techniques used in combination to restore mechanical integrity of the knee and avoid secondary ligament, cartilage and joint damage. Hip dysplasia cases may require surgical correction to improve joint function and reduce the development of long-term arthritis. Injuries such as joint luxations are repaired by reducing the joint into its normal position and utilizing techniques to stabilize the joint while it heals.

How Do We Manage Pain During Orthopedic Surgery?

Pain management represents a cornerstone of successful pet orthopedic surgery. Our comprehensive approach to pain management begins before surgery and continues throughout the recovery period.

We implement multimodal pain control protocols combining various medications and techniques to maximize comfort while minimizing side effects. Pre-operative pain medications help reduce surgical stress, while regional nerve blocks provide targeted pain relief during procedures. Research from the National Center for Biotechnology Information demonstrates multimodal pain management approaches improve surgical outcomes and accelerate healing in veterinary patients.

What Should You Expect During the Recovery Process?

Recovery from pet orthopedic surgery requires careful monitoring, bed rest, physical therapy exercises, and a gradual return to regular activity. Our veterinary team provides detailed home care instructions covering medication administration, activity restrictions, physical therapy recommendations, and wound management protocols. 

Our team is available to answer questions and assist you in preparing your home environment for a comfortable surgical recovery. Throughout the recovery period, regular check-ups allow us to monitor healing progress and adjust treatment protocols as needed. We are always available during business hours to address any concerns that arise during your dog’s recovery.

Are There Risks Associated With Pet Orthopedic Surgery?

Like all surgical procedures, pet orthopedic surgery carries inherent risks, including anesthesia complications, bleeding, infection, delayed healing, and implant-related problems. Our board-certified surgeon and experienced veterinary team take extensive precautions to minimize these risks through thorough pre-operative evaluation, precise surgical technique, advanced surgical expertise, and sterile surgical techniques.

We conduct comprehensive pre-surgical examinations, including blood work and radiographs, to identify potential complications before surgery. Our anesthesia protocols are tailored to each patient’s individual needs, with continuous monitoring throughout the procedure to maintain safety. Our state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and experienced anesthesia team ensure that your pet’s vital signs are monitored closely during anesthesia and anesthetic recovery. And, our state-of-the-art heated operating table, warming devices, and warming techniques are used to maintain body temperature.

How Do We Support Your Pet's Long-Term Joint Health?

Long-term joint health depends on several factors, including maintaining a healthy weight, engaging in regular exercise, and receiving ongoing veterinary care. Our team works with pet owners to develop comprehensive wellness plans supporting orthopedic health throughout your pet’s life.

Weight management plays a crucial role in reducing stress on healing joints and preventing future orthopedic problems. We provide nutrition counseling and weight management strategies tailored to your pet’s specific needs and activity level. Regular annual wellness exams help us monitor your pet’s joint health and identify potential problems before they require surgical intervention.

Contact Us for Your Pet's Orthopedic Surgery Consultation

Pet orthopedic surgery in Roseville and the surrounding areas requires the precision, attentiveness, and compassion our board-certified surgeon and experienced veterinary team provides. With over 20 years of experience treating fractures, joint conditions, and complex orthopedic problems, Dr. Erin Paster and our Stonebridge team understand the importance of restoring your pet’s mobility and comfort. Our family-owned, state-of-the-art practice combines advanced surgical techniques with personalized care, creating treatment plans designed specifically for your companion’s needs.

Don’t wait when your pet shows signs of joint pain, injury, or mobility problems. Call our veterinary team at (916) 773-8578 or complete a contact form to book an appointment and discuss your pet’s orthopedic concerns. Visit our practice to discover why pet owners throughout Roseville and the surrounding areas trust us with their companions’ orthopedic care.

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Meet Our Veterinarians

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Dr. Christina Venable

Pain Management Specialist

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Dr. Arlene McKinstry

Integrative Medicine Practitioner

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Dr. Erin Paster

Board-Certified Surgeon

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Located at 254 Gibson Drive in Roseville, our family-owned veterinary clinic provides compassionate, five-star care to pets throughout Roseville and the surrounding areas. Led by board-certified surgeon Dr. Erin Paster with over 20 years of experience, our team treats every pet with the same love and respect we would our own.

The information provided on this website has been reviewed by our veterinarians but is for educational purposes only. It should not replace professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your pet is experiencing a medical concern, please contact our clinic at (916) 773-8578 or seek immediate veterinary care.