Our veterinarians perform many types of orthopedic (bone) surgeries on all types of exotic animals in our Toronto clinic.  Because we want to ensure that our patients receive the best possible outcome, or if we do not have the appropriate equipment, as in the cases of dogs or cats, we may occasionally refer them to board-certified orthopedic surgeons to perform back surgery and other very complex surgeries.

Whether a bird, mammal or reptile, leg fractures are the most common orthopedic problem presented at our Toronto clinic. They can be treated in a variety of ways depending on the location and type of fracture. We can apply a cast to treat certain fractures; however, many fractures will require surgical intervention:

• “Pinning” stabilizes the fracture by inserting a long stainless steel rod into the middle of the bone across the fractured area.
• “External fixation” stabilizes fractures using a series of pins on the outside of the leg that pass through the skin and into the bone on either side of the fracture.

Please contact our hospital if you have any questions about these procedures or if you think your pet might benefit from them.