Companion

Companion Animal Orthopedic Surgery

The Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery service at the Veterinary Medical Center campus and Dublin hospital locations, offers comprehensive surgical care for dogs and cats with orthopedic conditions.

Hours & Appointment Scheduling

Office hours: 8am – 5pm Monday - Friday 

Columbus - schedule appointment/after hour emergency: (614) 292-3551 

Dublin - schedule appointment/after hour emergency: (614) 889-8070

Patient visits by appointment only

Common Conditions

  • Cranial cruciate ligament rupture - Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, lateral suture stabilization.
  • Hip Dysplasia - Total hip replacement (cemented or cement-less prosthesis), triple pelvic osteotomy.
  • Patellar dislocation. Elbow dysplasia, osteochondrosis
  • Diagnostic and therapeutic arthroscopy / arthrotomy.
  • Traumatic conditions of joints - Surgical treatment of dislocation, arthrodesis (surgical fusion of a joint).
  • Fracture management - Pin and wire, external skeletal fixation, plate and screws (DCP, LC-DCP, locking CP), interlocking nail.
  • Revision surgeries for failed primary fracture repair, arthrotomy and THR.
  • Limb deformity - Corrective osteotomy including circular external skeletal fixation for limb lengthening (distraction osteogenesis).
  • Osteosarcoma - Limb amputation and limb-sparing procedures.
  • Immune-mediated joint disease
  • Orthopedic breakdown in the canine athlete, greyhounds, agility dogs.
  • Prolapsed intervertebral disc - Spinal decompression via hemilaminectomy, ventral slot.
  • Wobbler syndrome -Cervical distraction-fusion, dorsal laminectomy.
  • Cauda equina syndrome
  • Spinal fracture / luxation
  • Spinal neoplasia

Service Highlights

  • Board-certified specialists in orthopedic surgery 

  • Lameness diagnosis and treatment 

  • Trauma care 

  • Non-emergent orthopedic surgery (cranial cruciate ligament rupture, medial patellar luxation) 

  • Limb deformity 

  • Minimally invasive surgery 

  • Arthroscopy 

  • Total joint replacement (Columbus location)

  • Orthopedic revision surgery 

  • Sports medicine (Columbus location)

  • Physical rehabilitation  (Columbus location)

  • Regenerative medicine 

Special Equipment & Technology

  • Radiography

  • Diagnostic ultrasound 

  • Computed Tomography 

  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging (Columbus location) 

  • Minimally invasive surgery 

  • Total hip replacement (Columbus location)

  • Comprehensive fracture repair instrumentation 

  • Arthroscopy 

What to Expect

The Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery service is under the direction of an attending faculty surgeon or chief surgical resident. Surgical residents, interns and final year veterinary students complete the service complement. Please check in at the small animal reception on arrival. Please bring a letter of referral from your veterinarian and any relevant medical records, radiographs or clinical pathology results. 

A senior veterinary student or veterinary technician will take a complete medical history from you. 
Your companion will then undergo a preliminary examination. After this, the attending surgeon will review history and physical examination findings with you and formulate a plan for further diagnosis. 

For example, if radiography or ultrasound examinations are necessary, mild sedation may be required and imaging will be performed within 3-4 hours. You will be invited to return to review the results of these and other tests, and to discuss options for medical or surgical management. 

In general, more invasive diagnostic procedures such as biopsy and advanced imaging are scheduled for the following day. If no further diagnosis is required, then surgery is usually performed on the day after initial consultation. 

As you will understand, patients with life threatening conditions in need of immediate surgical care will take priority and this can delay your consultation. We ask for your patience and promise that we will strive to make your visit a helpful and satisfying experience. 

The Orthopedic service is under the direction of an attending faculty surgeon or chief surgical resident. Surgical residents, registered veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants complete the service complement. Please check in at the reception desk upon arrival. If applicable, please bring a letter of referral from your veterinarian and any relevant medical records, radiographs or clinical pathology results.

A registered veterinary technician will take a complete medical history from you. Your dog or cat will then undergo a preliminary examination. After this, the attending surgeon will review history and physical examination findings with you and formulate a plan for further diagnosis.For example, if radiography or ultrasound examinations are necessary, mild sedation may be required and imaging will be performed within 3-4 hours. You will be invited to return to review the results of these and other tests, and to discuss options for medical or surgical management. In general, more invasive diagnostic procedures such as biopsy and advanced imaging are scheduled on the following day. 

As you will understand, patients with life threatening conditions in need of immediate surgical care will take priority and this can delay your consultation. We ask for your patience and promise that we will strive to make your visit a helpful and satisfying experience.

OSU veterinarian clinic was great. They made special arrangements to see my 4 month old puppy with a fractured leg within one day of my initial phone call (no vets in my immediate area could accommodate my pet for her surgical procedure for 4-6 weeks). My pet received the best and most expedient care possible throughout the whole initial consultation, surgery and aftercare. The staff at OSU should be commended for their efforts to care for and love every patient they see as if they were there own family companions. I can't thank the entire OSU staff enough for helping Remi and myself through this tough time.

People Grid Category of

Care Team

Jacob Aiello

Jacob Aiello

DVM
Resident, Small Animal Surgery 2022-2025
Julianna DiMichele

Julianna DiMichele

DVM
Resident, Small Animal Surgery 2023-2026
Mariana Fernandez

Mariana Fernandez

DVM
Resident, Small Animal Surgery 2022-2025
Gabrielle Fontes

Gabrielle Fontes

DVM
Resident, Small Animal Surgery 2023-2026
Erin Hilborn

Erin Hilborn

DVM (VMC)
Resident, Small Animal Surgery 2021-2024
Christina Orona

Christina Orona

DVM
Resident, Small Animal Surgery 2022-2025
Nikesh  Patel

Nikesh Patel

DVM
Resident, Small Animal Surgery 2021-2024
Mitch Sadowitz

Mitch Sadowitz

DVM
Resident, Small Animal Surgery 2023-2026
Cameron Seger

Cameron Seger

DVM
Resident, Small Animal Surgery 2023-2026
Jin Yoon

Jin Yoon

DVM
Resident, Small Animal Surgery 2021-2024
Amber  Blevins

Amber Blevins

RVT
Technician
Kiffy Brickey

Kiffy Brickey

RVT
Technician
Kristie Brush

Kristie Brush

RVT
Technician
Heather Eilerman

Heather Eilerman

RVT
Technician
Michelle Gilliam

Michelle Gilliam

RVT
Technician
Lynnie  Klee-Jenkins

Lynnie Klee-Jenkins

RVT
Technician
Taylor  Long

Taylor Long

RVT
Technician
Kim  McKenzie

Kim McKenzie

RVT
Technician
Mary Mette

Mary Mette

RVT
Technician
Robin  Pollard

Robin Pollard

RVT
Technician
Mary Ross

Mary Ross

RVT
Columbus Orthopedic Surgery Supervisor
Karlissa Treboni

Karlissa Treboni

RVT
Dublin Orthopedic Surgery Supervisor
Mario Ventresca

Mario Ventresca

RVT
Technician
Deborah  Vogt

Deborah Vogt

RVT
Technician
Kelsi Endsley

Kelsi Endsley

Veterinary Assistant
Leah Meadows

Leah Meadows

Veterinary Assistant

Clinical Trials

The Small Animal Orthopedic Surgery service is often recruiting patients for a number of studies for which your pet may be eligible. If you have any questions regarding your pet's eligibility, please contact the Blue Buffalo Clinical Trials Office (cvm-clinicaltrials@osu.edu). 

For a listing of current trials please click here