Why we’re different

Our team handles a wide range of orthopaedic cases, from routine bone surgeries and cruciate ligament ruptures to major procedures, complex fractures, deformities, and spinal surgeries. We are passionate about returning all dogs and cats to their full potential and allowing many pets to enjoy a more normal life, particularly those with complicated, rare, unusual and painful conditions.

Dr Alasdair Renwick is one of two specific orthopaedic specialists in Australia and the only one in Victoria. Focusing solely on orthopaedics, he can offer different strategies and ways of treating conditions to rehabilitate pets where conventional methods may have failed.

We provide specialised procedures, such as total hip replacements for all pets, including miniatures and toy breeds.

We are one of only a few hospitals to use breed-specific implants, a unique option for humeral fractures in French bulldogs and spaniels.

Orthopaedic consult

Is your pet living with a painful condition? Our orthopaedic consult will provide a global assessment of your pet and a clear treatment plan to address each concern, including what requires treatment and what does not.

Our orthopaedic consult includes:

• Thorough history assessment, including previous x-rays (when available)
• Detailed physical examination
• Discussion of all relevant orthopaedic issues
• Prioritising the most important conditions

We also provide further Radiographs (x-rays) and CT scans if needed.

Surgical intervention

If surgery is recommended, we provide all aspects of orthopaedic care, including surgery for petite pets, complex procedures, and the latest technologies.

Our orthopaedic surgical management includes:

• Advanced imaging (CT)
• Minimally invasive arthroscopy (camera) surgery for lameness investigation and treatment
• Minimally invasive fluoroscopic fracture fixation
• Custom-made drill guides
• 3D printed bone models to tailor individual surgeries
• Breed-specific implants
• Implants specifically designed for toy breeds (under 2kg in weight)
• Overnight onsite critical care to manage pain and maximise comfort
• Nurses and surgical assistants (interns and residents) specifically trained in complex orthopaedics
• Regular on-site anaesthesia specialist

All surgery is provided by Dr Alasdair Renwick and our team of referral veterinarians.

Cases we specialise in

Our team specialises in a wide range of cases, from routine bone surgeries to major procedures.

The types of cases we specialise in are:

• Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (TPLO)
• Lameness cases
• Complex fractures
• Hip replacements and micro/nano hip replacements
• Complex growth deformities
• Spinal stabilisations
• Working dogs expertise, getting back to full performance

Our Specialist Orthopaedic Team

Dr Alasdair Renwick is recognised as a small animal orthopaedic surgery leader in Australia and the United Kingdom. Alasdair is a faculty member of the AO Foundation, which is both an honour and recognition of his expertise and experience. The AO Foundation is the world’s leading education, innovation, and research organisation specialising in the surgical treatment of trauma and musculoskeletal disorders in people and animals.

Alasdair is supported by our large team, which includes specialists in surgery, medicine, anaesthesia, emergency, and critical care, plus our residents and interns who are specifically trained in complex orthopaedics.

Our dedicated anaesthesia and referral nurses, experienced in post-operative care and pain relief, work together to create a positive experience for your pet and will go above and beyond to ensure your pet’s comfort.

“Seeing a dog in huge amounts of pain when arriving at the hospital, and then seeing that dog happy to come back for X-ray eight weeks later; that lets me know we took really good care of that patient because it’s tails wagging when it sees us.” Dr Alasdair Renwick.