Pet Orthopedic Referral
Our orthopedic team will ensure your referred clients feel educated, informed, and comfortable with their pet’s procedure.
Pet Orthopedic Referral
Following Dr. Gauger’s retirement in early 2023, our orthopedic surgical services have been in the skilled hands of Dr. Tim Gintz and Dr. Stuart Sherburne. Dr. Gintz began working with Dr. Gauger prior to his retirement and has more than three decades of experience in orthopedic surgery, including more than 1,000 successful TPLO procedures. Dr. Sherburne has experience in fracture repair and joint disease and regularly utilizes minimally invasive surgical techniques. Both Drs. Sherburne and Gintz have trained extensively with nationally recognized experts in veterinary orthopedics, and they’re ready to coordinate with you to provide trusted care for your patients’ orthopedic needs.
Our surgical suite is large, modern, and equipped with advanced patient monitoring technology, digital imaging, and an extensive array of state-of-the-art orthopedic instrumentation. Our orthopedic team will ensure your referred clients feel educated, informed, and comfortable with their pet’s procedure. We will actively collaborate with you to ensure superior patient care from the first consultation to post-surgical recovery and rehabilitation.
Our Orthopedic Services Include:
Fracture Repair
Joint Disease
TPLO Surgery
Arthroscopy
Cranial Cruciate Disease
Elbow Dysplasia
Medial Patellar Luxation
Pet TPLO Surgery
If your pet is struggling with knee pain or mobility issues, don’t wait to seek help. TPLO surgery can be the key to a happier, healthier life for your furry companion.
Restoring Mobility and Comfort for Your Pet
When knee injuries like a torn cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) affect your pet, it can lead to pain, instability, and difficulty moving. Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) surgery is a proven solution designed to restore your pet’s mobility and improve their quality of life.
When left untreated, CCL injuries can result in:
- Chronic pain and inflammation
- Loss of joint function
- Degenerative joint disease (arthritis)
- Compensatory injuries in other limbs
Why Might Your Pet Need TPLO Surgery?
CCL injuries are one of the most common orthopedic issues in dogs, often caused by:
- Active Lifestyles: High-energy dogs involved in running, jumping, or playing can experience ligament strain or tears.
- Obesity: Excess weight can put additional stress on your pet’s knees, increasing the risk of injury.
- Age or Breed Predisposition: Larger breeds and aging dogs are more prone to degenerative ligament conditions.
- Trauma: Sudden injuries, such as a misstep or fall, can lead to a ruptured CCL.
What is TPLO Surgery?
TPLO surgery is an advanced orthopedic procedure used to address CCL injuries in dogs. Unlike traditional repair methods, TPLO alters the biomechanics of your pet’s knee to eliminate the need for the damaged ligament, providing a stable and pain-free joint.
What to Expect with TPLO Surgery
Our experienced veterinary surgeons use state-of-the-art techniques to ensure the best outcomes for your pet. The procedure involves reshaping the tibial plateau to create a stable knee joint, reducing pain and restoring movement.
Recovery and Aftercare
Post-surgery, your pet will require rest, physical therapy, and regular check-ups to ensure proper healing. Most pets return to their active lifestyles within a few months, with improved comfort and confidence in their movements.
Meet Our Orthopedic Surgeons!
Dr. Stuart Sherburne
More than 25 yrs of experience in veterinary medicine and orthopedics with over 1000 successful TPLO surgeries.
Dr. Sherburne obtained a BS from the University of Vermont, an MS from Utah State University and his DVM from Tufts University. He owned a mixed animal practice in Maine for many years, managing multiple veterinarians and support staff in a practice that served three rural counties. His practice focus was on small animal surgery and equine lameness and surgery. He also worked for the State of Maine as a consulting veterinarian for various wildlife projects.
In the second half of his career, he decided to further his training in small animal surgery and spent two years training in ACVS surgical internship and residency programs where he had the benefit of working with and learning advanced procedures from nationally recognized surgical experts. His areas of interest are joint disease, fracture repair and spinal surgery. He routinely uses minimally invasive surgical techniques like arthroscopy when it is in the best interests of his patients. Dr. Sherburne limits his practice scope to orthopedic surgery and a few select soft tissue procedures.
Dr. Tim Gintz
Dr. Gintz is a practicing veterinarian with over 35 years of experience. During his career, he grew his two-doctor practice into a 15-doctor, 24-hour practice; was an Area Medical Director for VCA responsible for medical quality and enrichment of 18 hospitals in Washington and Idaho from 2000 to 2021; served on the board of governors for Washington from 2006-2010 and was chair from 2010-2011, and served on the board of the Tacoma Humane Society from 2018-2021.
Dr. Gintz’s interests have always been orthopedic and soft tissue surgery. He enhanced his skills by training extensively with local and national surgeons and attending training labs. He has completed more than 1,000 successful Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) procedures and has repaired thousands of fractures. His soft tissue surgery interests include thoracic, abdominal and cancer surgery. When not at work, Dr. Gintz is likely hiking and fishing with his two dogs, spending time with his family or woodworking.
Norway Veterinary Hospital is now offering
Very easy
Just 1 simple,
out patient treatment
Very convenient
No more of the headaches and safety concerns of daily pills or chews
Very safe
Unlike traditional arthritus medicines for dogs, Synovetin OA is non-systemic
Very long lasting
Up to 1 vear of
Pain relief
Norway Veterinary Hospital is excited to be offering this
unique way to treat your dog’s elbow arthritis.
All that’s required is a sedative, and then our specially trained and licensed veterinarians will treat your dog’s affected joints) with a dose of Synovetin OA.
Dogs can generally go home the same day and return to whatever level of activity they are comfortable with, while Synovetin OA goes to work to reduce the arthritis inflammation and pain.
Interested in Learning More?
Please give us a call at 207-743-6384 or
email us at office@norwayvet.com
Short-term home-care instructions must be followed after treatment to minimize extended close contact such as co-sleeping.