KNEE SURGERY FOR DOGS

If your dog may require surgery, VSS is here to help with prompt answers and a surgical team you can trust for your very important family member.

At Veterinary Specialist Services (VSS), our surgeons perform cruciate (TPLO) and patella luxation surgery every week. Your dog is monitored around the clock in a purpose-built hospital, with fixed-price surgery and clear communication at every step.

We’ve been supporting local pets, their owners and referring veterinarians throughout Queensland (and beyond) for more than 25 years. Our hospitals at Underwood, Jindalee and Carrara combine specialist surgery, advanced imaging, anaesthesia, emergency/ICU and physiotherapy, so your dog can move smoothly from diagnosis to surgery to recovery, all in one place.

Your family vet may suspect a partial or complete cruciate ligament rupture in your dog based on the following signs or symptoms:

• Persistent hind-limb (back leg) lameness (limping)
• Pain on knee (stifle) manipulation
• Positive cranial drawer test (shows instability by manually pulling the tibia forward relative to the femur when the joint is manipulated)
• Tibial thrust test (the tibia moves forward when weight is applied)
• Active, medium or large dogs, where stability and faster return to function are priorities.

Your family vet may suspect or have diagnosed medial or lateral patella luxation in your dog based on the following signs or symptoms:

• Pain
• Skipping while walking or running
• Lameness/limping
• Cartilage wear
• Recurrent luxation episodes
• Ability to feel (palpate) that the kneecap isn't in its normal place.