Fracture Repair Surgery for Dogs and Cats in Boston

When your pet breaks a bone, the right repair makes all the difference.

Our board-certified surgeons provide fracture repair with the advanced imaging, surgical expertise, and implant options to restore your pet’s mobility and get them back to a comfortable life.

What Should I Do If My Dog or Cat Breaks a Bone?

If you think your pet has a broken bone, the most important thing you can do is keep them as still and calm as possible. Don’t try to splint or wrap the leg yourself. Improper stabilization can make the injury worse or cause your pet more pain.

Get to your primary veterinarian or an emergency clinic first. They can manage your pet’s pain, take initial X-rays, and stabilize the injury. From there, most fractures need a surgeon. Your vet can refer you to CORE, or you can contact us directly.

Why Do Fractures Need a Board-Certified Surgeon?

A broken bone doesn’t just need to be “set.” It needs to be precisely realigned and held in place with hardware, whether that’s plates and screws, pins, rods, or an external frame, so it heals in the correct position and your pet can use the leg normally again.

When a fracture heals poorly, the consequences are serious: chronic pain, a leg that doesn’t work right, or bone that never fully mends. These problems are much harder and more expensive to fix after the fact than getting it right the first time.

What makes fracture repair complex is that no two breaks are the same. The surgeon has to evaluate the type of fracture, where it is, how many pieces the bone is in, whether a joint is involved, and your pet’s age, size, and bone quality.

This is where board-certified training matters most. A specialist has the experience to choose the right repair method for your pet’s specific fracture, not just the method they’re most familiar with, and the skill to execute it precisely.

“Dr. Davis and her team are extremely helpful, insightful, and so caring for my cat! We came in for a second opinion and stayed to ensure healing of my cat’s fractured leg was well all till the end.” – Narissa N.

What Types of Fractures Does CORE Treat?

CORE treats a wide range of fractures in dogs and cats, including:

  • Long bone fractures (radius, ulna, tibia, femur, humerus)
  • Pelvic fractures, often caused by being hit by a car or a fall
  • Growth plate (physeal) fractures in puppies and kittens
  • Joint fractures (articular fractures) involving the elbow, knee, ankle, or wrist
  • Comminuted fractures, where the bone is broken into multiple pieces
  • Open (compound) fractures, where bone has broken through the skin
  • Jaw fractures (mandibular and maxillary fractures)
  • Fractures that failed to heal properly (malunion or nonunion) after a previous repair or were never surgically addressed

How Do We Fix Fractures?

Every fracture is different, and the repair method depends on the type of break, where it is, your pet’s size and age, and how active they are. Our surgeons evaluate all of these factors before recommending an approach. The most common fixation methods include:

Plates and screws (internal fixation)

These attach directly to the bone surface, holding the pieces in perfect alignment while they heal. This is the most common method and provides strong, stable support for most fracture types.

Pins and rods (intramedullary fixation)

These are placed inside the bone’s center canal to realign and stabilize the fracture from within. Often used in combination with other methods depending on the fracture pattern.

External fixation

Uses pins placed through the skin into the bone, connected to a frame outside the body. This is especially useful for open fractures or cases where there’s significant soft tissue damage around the break.

We also offer minimally invasive osteosynthesis for the right cases to minimize tissue trauma and postop pain.

When a fracture is complex, our surgeons use CORE’s CT scanner to create a detailed three-dimensional picture of the break before surgery, allowing them to plan the exact placement of every implant before making a single cut.

What to Expect for Your Pet’s Fracture Repair at CORE

Your first visit includes a full evaluation: physical exam, imaging review (and additional X-rays or CT if needed), and an honest conversation about the fracture, the best repair option, and what recovery will realistically look like. You’ll receive a detailed estimate before surgery, and our team is happy to work with your pet insurance provider.

Recovery is the part most families aren’t prepared for. Fractures require strict rest, typically 6 to 12 weeks depending on the type and location. That means crate rest, leash walks for bathroom breaks only, and no running, jumping, or playing. Your pet will feel better long before the bone is actually healed, and keeping them quiet takes real discipline. But this is how we prevent complications and make sure the repair holds. We’ll guide you through it, and you can call us anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does fracture repair surgery cost for a dog or cat?

Cost depends on the type and location of the fracture, your pet’s size, and which repair method is needed. You’ll receive a detailed estimate at your consultation before any decisions are made, and we’re happy to work with your pet insurance provider.

How long until my pet can walk normally again?

Most pets begin putting weight on the leg within the first few weeks after surgery, but full healing takes 6 to 12 weeks. Returning to normal activity depends on following the recovery plan carefully and confirming healing with recheck X-rays.

My pet is very young. Is fracture surgery safe for puppies and kittens?

Yes. Puppies and kittens actually heal faster than adult animals, but growth plate fractures require special care to avoid disrupting future bone growth. Our surgeons are experienced in these cases and will choose a repair method that protects your pet’s developing bones.

My pet is older. Is fracture surgery still a good option for senior dogs and cats?

In most cases, yes. Older pets may have thinner or more fragile bone, which changes the approach, but leaving a fracture unrepaired means chronic pain and loss of mobility. Your surgeon will assess your pet’s overall health and be honest about whether surgery is the right choice.

Do the plates and screws need to be removed later?

Usually not. Most implants stay in permanently and don’t cause any problems. In rare cases where hardware causes irritation after the bone has fully healed, it can be removed in a second procedure.

What happens if a fracture doesn’t heal properly?

Sometimes a fracture fails to heal (nonunion) or heals in the wrong position (malunion). Our surgeons regularly treat these revision cases. The approach may involve removing old hardware, realigning the bone, and placing new implants to give the fracture the stability it needs to heal correctly.

Will my pet need physical rehabilitation after fracture repair?

Some pets benefit from physical rehabilitation to rebuild strength, improve range of motion, and restore normal use of the leg after the bone has healed. Your surgeon will let you know if rehabilitation would help your pet’s recovery and can recommend a qualified rehabilitation provider.

Schedule Your Consultation

If your dog or cat has a broken bone, your consultation includes a complete evaluation, imaging review, and a clear recommendation for the best repair approach. You’ll leave with a detailed estimate and a realistic understanding of surgery and recovery.

CORE Veterinary Surgical Clinic provides fracture repair and advanced orthopedic care for dogs and cats across Greater Boston