Orthopaedic Surgery for Dogs and Cats in Dubai: When Is It the Right Call?

Orthopaedic surgery is the branch of veterinary medicine dealing with bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. In practice, this covers a wide range of conditions: a puppy born with legs that are not developing correctly, an older Labrador whose cruciate ligament has given out, a cat that has been hit by a car and has a fractured pelvis, or a small terrier whose kneecap keeps slipping out of place.

The conditions we see most commonly fall into a few distinct categories: fractures from trauma, ligament injuries (particularly cruciate), developmental joint conditions like hip dysplasia or luxating patella, and bone infections or tumours. Each requires a different surgical approach and a different recovery plan.

Not every fracture requires surgery. Stable, non-displaced fractures, particularly in young animals whose bones heal quickly, can sometimes be managed with splinting or casting alone. However, most fractures in cats and dogs have better outcomes with surgical stabilisation.

The main methods of fracture fixation are: bone plates and screws (the most common for long bones like the femur, tibia, and radius), intramedullary (IM) pins inserted into the centre of the bone, and external skeletal fixation, where pins in the bone are connected to an external frame. The choice depends on the fracture type, location, the patient's size, and the surgeon's assessment of the most stable construct.

After surgical fixation, most fractures heal within 6-12 weeks depending on the bone involved and the patient's age. Young animals heal significantly faster than older ones. Restricted activity, wound monitoring, and keeping the repair site dry are essential during this period.

Cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture is the single most common orthopaedic condition in dogs, causing hind leg lameness ranging from a subtle toe-touch to complete non-weight bearing, depending on whether the rupture is partial or complete.

For medium and large-breed dogs, surgery is almost always recommended. The gold-standard technique is the Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO), which stabilises the joint by changing its geometry rather than replacing the ligament. Return-to-function rates exceed 90% with TPLO.

CCL injuries in cats are less common and are usually caused by acute trauma rather than degeneration. Surgical options are similar in principle but adapted for smaller anatomy.

Luxating patella (slipping kneecap) is a common developmental condition in dogs, particularly small breeds. The patella normally sits in a groove at the bottom of the femur. In luxation, it slips out of this groove, either inward (medial, most common) or outward (lateral).

The condition is graded 1-4 based on severity. Grade 1 and 2 luxations are often managed medically with physiotherapy and weight management if the dog is not significantly lame. Grade 3 and 4 are generally treated surgically, as the patella is displaced most or all of the time, causing pain and progressive arthritis.

Surgery typically involves deepening the trochlear groove, repositioning the tibial crest, and in some cases tightening the joint capsule. Recovery is around 6-8 weeks of restricted activity. Most dogs do very well after surgery.

Hip dysplasia is a developmental condition where the hip joint does not form correctly, leading to joint laxity, abnormal wear, pain, and eventually severe arthritis. It is most common in large breeds: German Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, and Rottweilers are particularly predisposed.

Management depends strongly on the dog's age, severity of dysplasia, degree of arthritis, and the owner's circumstances. Young dogs with significant laxity but limited arthritis are candidates for procedures like triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO), which improves joint coverage before arthritis becomes established.

For older dogs with established arthritis, medical management — weight management, anti-inflammatories, physiotherapy, joint supplements — can provide good quality of life for many years. For dogs who are not responding adequately to medical management, total hip replacement is the definitive surgical solution, typically requiring referral to a specialist centre.

Before committing to any orthopaedic procedure, these are the right questions to ask your surgeon:

What is the expected outcome, and what does success look like for this specific patient?

What are the complication rates for this procedure, and what are the most common complications?

What does the recovery involve, and what will be required of me as an owner?

Is there a non-surgical alternative, and what would happen if I chose it?

A surgeon who takes time to answer these questions clearly, and who does not minimise the difficulty of recovery, is one you can trust. Orthopaedic surgery is effective, but demanding for both the patient and the owner.

Orthopaedic outcomes are strongly linked to surgeon experience and the quality of pre-surgical assessment. X-rays must be taken correctly and interpreted carefully. Implant selection matters. Post-operative care and owner education make the difference between a smooth recovery and a complicated one.

At Mike's Vet, orthopaedic cases are handled by 🇮🇪 Dr. Nick Stokes DVM GPCert SAS, 🇮🇹 Dr. Debora Ferraris DVM (Improve International Small Animal Surgery), and 🇩🇿 Dr. Feth Mazari DVM (GP Cert in Ultrasound). We have a dedicated surgical suite, in-house digital X-ray, and pre-operative laboratory testing available on the same day. No specialist referral is required for the majority of orthopaedic cases we see.