West Suburban's Dr. Gary Thompson is a Board-Certified Specialist in Canine and Feline Practice whose area of professional interest include orthopedic surgery.  

Our entire staff understands that the decision to allow your beloved pet to undergo surgery is never an easy one. We strive to ensure your pet's procedure is as comfortable and stress-free as possible.

Have you been referred? Please bring the following at the time of your consultation: 

• Any recent radiographs or blood work from your family veterinarian

• Any current medications your pet is taking

What is Arthrodesis? 

Arthrodesis is a surgical procedure that is used to alleviate pain in a joint that has end-stage arthritis or other severe debilitating disease of a joint.

Correcting Arthrodesis involves surgical fusion of a joint-typically the wrist (carpus) or ankle (tarsus). The cartilage is removed and a bone plate is placed to provide support while new bone forms in place of the old joint. This surgery is for animals with advanced arthritis or trauma to the wrist/ankle. Healing takes up to 16 weeks in some cases.