If you’re an animal lover and you’ve recently found that your furry friend might be experiencing some joint problems, they just might need a vet session for animal arthroscopy. In case you’ve never heard the term, have no fear because we’re here to educate and help take care of your beloved animals. Read on as we shed some light on this process.
Animal Arthroscopy is simply a technique that is used for examining your pets joint with the use of a very small camera. The camera provides a very detailed image which can be thoroughly assessed with the least amount of invasion. And it also goes on to prevent some of the discomfort and risk that came with the traditional form of open surgery. Additionally, animal arthroscopy can also be used as a form of gathering information which aids in a more accurate diagnosis; as such, the best treatment plan and outlook can also be determined from this procedure.
From a theoretical point of view, animal arthroscopy is readily performed on any joint. However, it is more common when it comes to investigating the elbow as well as in diagnosing treatment for elbow dysplasia. This technique can also be carried out to indicate possible shoulder conditions like that of osteochondrosis, ligament ruptures and bicep tendon tears. Additionally, animal arthroscopy is also used on the knee, the ankle joints, the wrist and the rather less common area of the hip.
Arthroscopy is generally carried out when an animal is under anaesthetic. Firstly, the hair surrounding the affected area is clipped and the skin is properly cleaned as if it were another surgical act. Next, some small incisions are made into the animals joint in order to facilitate fluid along with the camera and of course instruments.
The size of the camera used is dependent on the joint under investigation as well as the size of the animal. However, cameras can range from either 2.7mm to 1.9mm in order to facilitate the previously mentioned information. And since all the equipment needed is small, the incision made is only a couple mm in length. This goes on to facilitate faster healing as well as the least amount of discomfort.
As previously mentioned, animal arthroscopy is not invasive at all and the recovery time is fast. So, most dogs that undergo this small surgery is released during a 24-hour period. And, any bit of discomfort can be controlled with painkillers and will be gone in just a matter of a few days. However, when going for walks, your dog will need to be restricted and put on the lead for the incisions to properly heal.
As we conclude, we’ve just walked you through the process of animal arthroscopy and we’ve also discussed the healing aspects. Additionally, the sutures on your dog will need to be removed within a 2-week period. However, depending on the diagnosis, some animals can need a bit of physiotherapy as well as some ongoing management to properly take care of any osteoarthritis.
