Treating lameness with orthopedic veterinary surgery may be required if the symptoms are severe. Lameness can be caused by accidents such as being hit by a car or medical conditions such as tumors. If your animal cries or refuses to put weight on a limb, there may be an issue. Lameness may also be the cause of your animal's trouble with walking or running. If you suspect your animal is lame, visit your veterinarian for diagnosis.
Diagnosing the Cause of Lameness
Vets will give your animal a physical, carefully getting the animal to walk or trot to see what appears to cause the animal pain. The vet will also manipulate the limbs to determine if there are any abnormalities in the limb structure. In some cases, x-rays or MRIs will be used to confirm the veterinarian's findings.
Orthopedic Surgery if Anti-Inflammatories Don't Work
If rest and anti-inflammatory medications do not solve the problem, your vet may resort to surgical treatment. Orthopedic surgery requires the animal to be hospitalized usually overnight, then put on a restricted movement regime for several days once arriving home.