Longtime Brentwood resident and animal lover Mayor Richard Riordan noticed his Labrador retriever, Dale, was limping on his left hind leg, making walking a little more difficult. After unsuccessful attempt to resolve the limp Dale needed to see a specialist.
Dr. Balfour, a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons at Animal Surgical & Emergency Center (ASEC), met Dale and after evaluation concluded that he had a tear of the cranial cruciate ligament, the most common orthopedic injury seen in dogs when their ligaments start to wear down.
A tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) was recommended for Dale. This surgery is performed on larger dogs to stabilize their knee(s) once the cranial cruciate ligament has torn. The surgery requires only an hour in the operating room followed by an overnight hospital stay for Dale and other pooches — the results are well worth it given the improvement seen in your dog’s quality of life!
Dr. Balfour, one of the first surgeons to perform this surgery in Southern California, has performed over 2,000 TPLOs in his career. “I feel it gives dogs the best opportunity to return to normal function of the leg,†states Balfour. “I performed this surgery on my own Labrador who is back to catching frisbees on the beach.â€
ASEC is located in West Los Angeles and is a leading round-the-clock animal hospital as well as one of the largest referral and specialty hospitals in the country. They have been in business for over 30 years, they provide advanced equipment and technology, as well as 24-hour emergency care.
“As pets live longer they are experiencing more health problems associated with old age,†states Dr. Scott Anderson, head of the surgical team at ASEC. “Many of these health problems require more advanced, specialized care and expertise.â€
Whether you need a certified specialist in surgery, oncology, radiology, cardiology, internal medicine or critical care, the doctors at ASEC are not only there when you need them, but make getting older a lot less painful.
For more information on this and other pooch procedures see: www.ASECVets.com
