Triple Pelvic Osteotomy

Triple Pelvic Osteotomy (also called Pelvic Osteotomy or abbreviated TPO) is one of the treatment options for hip dysplasia, a developmental disease of the hip joints most commonly seen in large and giant breed dogs.

The object of a TPO is to change the orientation of the shallow hip socket (acetabulum) to allow better coverage of the head of the femur. This increases the depth of the acetabulum causing it to “capture” the head of the femur and not allow it to slip out of the socket. Increasing the stability of the joint helps to minimize the development of degenerative joint disease (arthritis) as the dog gets older.

Indications

Triple Pelvic Osteotomy is a procedure that is generally done on young dogs that are showing pain in the hips, but have not yet developed significant radiographic changes in the joints. Unfortunately, the early changes of hip dysplasia are subtle and some dogs do not show signs indicating that they have the disease until after they have already developed changes in the joint that make performing a TPO inadvisable. For this reason, many veterinarians recommend doing routine palpation and X-ray screening of the hips in all large and giant breed dogs at about 6 months of age.

Any young large or giant breed dog that demonstrates lameness in one or both rear legs, reluctance to run and play, tires easily, shifts the weight to the forelimbs, shows loss of muscle mass in the rear limbs, shows pain when the hips are manipulated, or has a “popping” sensation felt over the hip joints, should be evaluated by your veterinarian.

If caught at the early stages, TPO is a very successful procedure with few complications.

Figure 2. A pelvis from a dog, showing the three areas where the bone must be cut in order to rotate the hip joint (acetabulum)

Figure 3. A special plate is used to hold the rotated acetabular segment in the desired degree of rotation until the ilium has healed back together.

Figure 4. X-rays taken of the pelvis immediately after surgery show the rotation of the acetabulum on each side and the plate and screws holding the acetabulum in the desired degree of rotation.

Figure 5. An X-ray taken of the pelvis at 8 weeks after surgery shows that the ilial osteotomy is now healed.

A special thank you to ACVS for providing this information for dog owners. For more information on potential complications from TPO and aftercare, please refer to their website by clicking here.

Soft Tissue Surgery - Brachycephalic Syndrome

We offer multiple services for different surgical conditions. One I would like to highlight is the Brachycephalic Syndrome. This condition is found mostly in short nosed dog breeds, referred to as brachycephalic breeds. Dogs such as the English bulldog, Pug, Pekingese, and Boston terrier all fall into this category because of the shape of their head, muzzle, or throat.

The term "Brachycephalic Syndrome" refers to the combination of elongated soft palate, stenotic nares, and averted laryngeal saccules, all of which are commonly seen in these breeds. Some dogs with brachycephalic syndrome may also have a narrow trachea (windpipe), collapse of the larynx (the cartilages that open and close the upper airway) or paralysis of the larvyngeal cartilages.

For a great reference on Brachycephalic Syndrome , click here.

Pet Costumes

I'm sure by now you have noticed the costumes section is growing every year, and not just for people, but pets too! Here is the top ten list of most popular pet costumes according to the National Retail Federation.

1. Devil

2. Pumpkin

3. Witch

4. Princess

5. Angel

6. Pirate

7. Hot Dog

8. Bat

9. Black Cat

10. Clown

During your next visit to the store, I hope you walk to the pet costume aisle if not for nothing but a good laugh.

What To Know When Flying With Your Pet

With the holidays quickly approaching, I felt these quick tips might come in handy.

- Book the flight for you and your pet at the same time. Most airlines have an allowed number of pets on board so if you wait, they might not have room for you four legged friend.

- When choosing your flights this winter, pick a time during mid day for a warmer temperature on the plane. If flying in warm weather, choose an early morning or late in the afternoon flight. Also be aware that airlines are not allowed to ship pets when temperatures are above 85 degrees.

- Some airlines require an acclimation certificate (a document about your pet's health) written by your vet within 10 days of your flight.

- Purchase your travel approved crate a couple of weeks before your flight so your pet has time to get used to it and be comfortable.

We hope this helps! Let us know if you have any questions or if we can be of service in any way.

WCVS - Supporter of The Junior League

Here is a copy of the latest ad from Western Carolina Veterinary Surgery for The Junior League. The Junior League of Asheville hosts many events to help raise money for our community projects.


See below for information on the next Junior League Event- The Fall Gala: Masquerade in the Meadow

Asheville’s Inaugural Fall Gala: Masquerade in the Meadow. Longmeadow Park is an outdoor "living room" for all seasons where guests will arrive and be greeted by aerial performers, jazz music, food, beverages and incredible raffle items. Tents will be arranged in the natural amphitheater, magnificently lit with plenty of room for guests to sit, eat and socialize. This year’s theme - Masquerade in the Meadow - means you, your date, your neighbor and your friend, all have the possibility to sport cocktail attire with masquerade flair, wickedly fun makeup, and a feather or two. Delightful idea? We thought so too!

Where else can you enjoy an evening of dress up while sipping cocktails and watching acrobats dangling from Tuscan hued trees? Or meander in and out of a tent affectionately dubbed Libation Lounge? Or capture a naughty moment inside a Smooch Booth? Exactly. Come join us!

Get out your datebook: Saturday, October 23, 2010
Set your clock: 6:00 p.m.
Program your GPS: Longmeadow Park, The Ramble
And of course, grab some dough: $50 per ticket

Proceeds from The Fall Gala support the Junior League of Asheville's mission to improve the community, promote voluntarism, and develop the potential of women.

Click Here for more information.

Italy Conference

Dr. Crouch just returned from the World Veterinary Orthopedic Congress in Bologna, Italy. The conference is held only once every four years and is traditionally supported by two sister societies ESVOT (European Society for Veterinary Orthopaedics and Traumatology) and VOS (Veterinary Orthopaedic Society).

Veterinary orthopedic surgeons worldwide attended this intense four-day conference. Topics included cutting edge surgical techniques and technology. These forums included arthroscopic surgical techniques, advances in arthritis treatment and sports injuries and medicine.

We are thrilled to have had the opportunity to attend this prestigious conference. Staying on the forefront of 21st century science helps to provide the very best care for our beloved veterinary patients.

Stay up-to-date with all the news and activities at Western Carolina Veterinary Surgery by signing up for our newsletter. Simply send an email to info@wcvs.org .

Naples Flordia Conference

You will be pleased to know that Dr. Crouch recently attended the Veterinary Arthrology Advancement Association (VA3) meeting in Naples, FL. The meeting is hosted annually by Arthrex, Inc. This elite group of 45 orthopedic veterinary surgeons from around the world come together to discuss and refine the latest surgical techniques.

More specifically, the course featured advance arthrosopic approaches to many orthopaedic problems affecting small animals. They also discussed and gave examples of new implants and data sharing in order to improve outcomes in veterinary orthopaedics. All who attended had to be at the advance level in arthroscopy.

Continuing education is always important no matter what profession you are in. At Western Carolina Veterinary Surgery, we take this seriously. It is very important to us that we are up-to-date with the latest and greatest breakthroughs. The more we can fine tune our skills, the better service we will be able to provide you and your pet.