Animals with orthopedic issues often require veterinary assistance. A veterinary clinic's ability to provide in-clinic orthopedic services benefits everyone.

In-Clinic Orthopedic Services

Typically, when an animal presents with an orthopedic problem requiring expertise and equipment that the general veterinarian does not have, the animal is referred to a veterinary specialist. However, animals exhibiting with orthopedic injuries such as lameness or stiffness do not always require a referral to an orthopedic specialist. Based upon the examination findings, the orthopedic care of some animals can be provided through the veterinary clinic, for example:

• Diseases affecting bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, such as:
  • Symptoms caused by infections or microorganisms
    • Example: Lyme Disease
  • Immune disorders
  • Cancer
  • Metabolic disorders
  • Geriatric conditions or age-related issues
    • Example: arthritis
• Administration needs requiring drug regimen for anti-inflammatory and pain medications, including:
  • Nutritional and cartilage-protecting supplements
    • Example: Omega-3, glucosamine, chondroitin
• Congenital abnormalities
• Gait abnormalities
• Trauma injuries to:
  • Soft tissue
  • Bone
  • Joint

Treatments for Orthopedic Conditions

Therapy can effectively aid orthopedic conditions that are both acute and chronic. While some methods require specialized equipment, other forms only entail a trained technician. As the use of therapy continues to grow, clients will become increasingly active in requesting this option for their pets.
Forms of therapy used with orthopedic treatments, include:

• Electrotherapy
  • Strengthens and rehabilitates muscles
  • Prevents or reverses muscle atrophy
  • Maintains or increases joint mobility
• Laser
  • Manages pain
  • Controls inflammation
  • Heals wound tissues
  • Reduces edema
• Thermography
  • Benefits animals with arthritis to:
    • Reduce pain
    • Relax muscles
    • Reduce muscle spasms
    • Prepare tissues for stretching
• Cryotherapy
  • Benefits animals following surgery or when injured by:
    • Reducing cellular edema
    • Decreasing muscle spasms
    • Constricting blood vessels
    • Reducing cellular metabolism
• Hydrotherapy
  • Improves muscle and joint function
• Manual therapy
  • Relieves muscle tension
  • Stimulates muscle development
  • Increases joint mobilization

Therapeutic ultrasonography provides an additional form of treatment that can be performed within the veterinary clinic and offered to clients providing benefits to animals suffering from orthopedic issues such as:

• Joint swelling
• Muscle spasms
• Inflammation of tendons

Making Clients Aware of In-Clinic Orthopedic Services

It is not enough to just provide these services. Clinics need to implement marketing strategies in order to increase community awareness. Types of marketing methods that will promote the clinic and publicize the services it offers could include, for example:

• Website
  • To focus on the types of services offered
  • When routinely updated and when information is kept current, clients will be encouraged to return, patient loyalty will be increased, and new clients will be attracted
  • Information that will benefit clients and help to drive local search traffic to the site include:
    • Detailed information on orthopedic services provided
      • Type
      • Possible symptoms indicating need
      • Explanation of services
      • Price
    • Patient testimonials
    • Feature articles
      • Include pictures (before and after) to show progress
• Newsletters
  • Providing information through email distribution is an excellent and affordable way to promote the clinic services
  • Can accomplish helping new and existing clients view the clinic as one that offers better customer service through convenience, pet care, and affordability
  • Should include:
    • Helpful articles offering pet care advice
    • Reminders of yearly checkups, vaccinations, parasite preventives
    • Reduced-rates or special price considerations for new clients
    • Information regarding special services being offered
• Referrals
  • Clients often seek the recommendations of friends and family
  • Encouraging customer referrals by offering incentives will help lead to increased clinic traffic

While the care of some animals will require a referral to an outside orthopedic specialist, there are a number of orthopedic services that can be offered within a veterinary clinic.

Offering services within the veterinary facility that go beyond the check-up, vaccination, and preventive care needs will provide a benefit to clients as well as to the clinic. Contact your Covetrus representative at 855.724.3461 to discuss your options for offering these services.