Orthopedic Consultation for Dogs and Cats in Boston

A board-certified surgeon. A complete evaluation. Confidence in your next step.

Your consultation includes a complete physical and orthopedic exam with a board-certified surgeon who will evaluate your pet thoroughly, explain what they’re seeing, and give you the expert guidance you need to make the best decision about what comes next.

Why See a Board-Certified Surgeon for an Orthopedic Exam?

Our board-certified surgeons at CORE bring years of advanced residency training focused specifically on bones, joints, and ligaments. That means a deeper, more specialized evaluation designed to identify the exact cause of your pet’s pain or mobility issues and determine the best path forward.

Limping, favoring a leg, difficulty getting up, reluctance to jump or climb stairs… these symptoms can look the same whether your dog has a torn ligament, a luxating kneecap, hip dysplasia, early arthritis, or a fracture. A surgeon-level orthopedic exam is designed to tell the difference.

During your consultation, the surgeon watches your pet walk to assess their gait, then carefully feels every joint under different positions and loads, performs specific tests (like the drawer test for cruciate ligament tears), and evaluates muscle symmetry and overall joint stability.

Early evaluation matters. Orthopedic problems tend to get worse, not better. A partial cruciate tear can progress to a full tear. A luxating kneecap damages cartilage a little more each time it slips. Catching these problems early often means simpler treatment, better outcomes, and less pain for your pet along the way.

What’s Included in CORE’s $200 Orthopedic Exam?

Your consultation is thorough and unhurried. It includes a complete physical exam, a detailed orthopedic evaluation with gait analysis, joint palpation, ligament testing, and muscle symmetry assessment, and a clear, plain-language explanation of what the surgeon is finding.

Your surgeon goes at your pet’s pace. The exam is gentle and hands-on, and our team is experienced with anxious, reactive, and painful pets. If your dog or cat is nervous at the vet, we’ll work with them patiently so they’re as comfortable as possible throughout the evaluation.

If imaging is needed, CORE has both digital X-ray and an advanced CT scanner on-site. That means your pet’s exam, imaging, and surgical consultation can all happen in one visit with one team. No separate referrals, no driving to another facility, no waiting for results to come back. Your surgeon reviews the images with you the same day. Learn more about CT imaging

The $200 exam fee covers the consultation and orthopedic evaluation. Imaging, sedation, and additional diagnostics are separate and will be discussed with you before anything is performed.

Most importantly, you’ll have time. Time to ask questions, talk through what the findings mean, and understand the recommendation before making any decisions. This isn’t a rushed appointment. You’re sitting with a specialist who will make sure you leave feeling informed and confident about your pet’s next step, whether that’s surgery, medical management, monitoring, or reassurance that nothing needs to be done right now.

What Families Experience at CORE

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"Excellent veterinary care with a personal touch. Our dog ruptured her CCL and required a TPLO repair. CORE was able to get her in for repair in a week. Tufts would have been over a month. Dr. Davis did a great job explaining the surgical repair to us. Her staff was terrific about communicating with us. Because it is a small office, we were able to check in and get updates on our dog very easily. Maybe most important, they treated Callie, a dog who is not a fan of strangers or vets, with kindness." — Ilana G. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dr. Davis took her time with us during the consult. She answered all of our questions and put us at ease. She was very down to earth, easy to talk to and understand. We felt very comfortable leaving Maximus in her care. Kara at the front desk was also great. She kept us up to date throughout his surgery. We received a text when he was in surgery as well as again when he was done. We also received a call from Dr Davis going over everything and asking if we had any questions. — C. Medeiros ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Great experience at Core. Dr Davis and her team provide top notch care, great customer service and are very accommodating not to mention great with my Frenchie. Thank you Dr Davis and you great team! — Sarah O. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dr. Davis is extremely knowledgeable and professional. She really cares about my dog and explained everything about my dogs tumor in English. I was really upset and worried about my best friend and she made me feel comfortable about having her as his surgeon. Dr. Davis is so much better than the corporate vet clinics. Thank you. — Laura H ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
"Dr. Davis is a very knowledgeable surgeon with specialized training and focuses on what is best for her patients. As a referring general practitioner, it is important to trust who I am sending my patients to for quality treatments. Dr. Davis and her office manager have even been willing to give me additional training and insight into veterinary surgery. I highly recommend this practice." — Nicole R

What Happens After Your Consultation?

You’ll leave with a clear recommendation and the reasoning behind it. If surgery is the best path, you’ll receive a written estimate with transparent pricing before any decisions are made. Surgery can often be scheduled within days to weeks, not months.

If surgery isn’t the right call, we’ll tell you that too. We don’t recommend procedures your pet doesn’t need. Some conditions are best managed with rest, medication, weight management, or physical rehabilitation, and we’ll guide you through that plan just as thoroughly.

We provide detailed invoices and medical records that make filing with your pet insurance provider straightforward. If your insurance company needs additional documentation, our team is happy to help.

Orthopedic Conditions We Evaluate

  • Torn CCL/ACL (cranial cruciate ligament tears) Learn more about TPLO Learn more about lateral suture
  • Luxating patella (kneecap dislocation) Learn more
  • Fractures Learn more
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Arthritis and degenerative joint disease
  • OCD (osteochondritis dissecans) lesions
  • Bone and joint deformities (angular limb deformities)
  • Limping or lameness with unknown cause

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a referral to schedule an orthopedic consultation?

No. You can contact CORE directly to schedule. We also welcome referrals from primary care veterinarians and will coordinate with your vet throughout the process.

How quickly can I get an appointment?

Most families are seen within a week of calling. We know that when your pet is in pain or you’re worried, waiting a month or more for a specialist appointment isn’t acceptable.

What should I bring to my orthopedic consultation?

Bring any existing X-rays, imaging, or medical records from your primary vet. If your vet can send these ahead of time, even better. The more information our surgeon has going in, the more productive your visit will be.

What if my pet needs surgery? How soon can it be scheduled?

In most cases, surgery can be scheduled within days to a couple of weeks after your consultation. We don’t make you wait months to get your pet the care they need.

Is $200 the total cost for the consultation, or are there additional fees?

The $200 covers your complete physical and orthopedic exam with the surgeon. X-rays, sedated exams, or CT are additional costs and will be discussed with you during your consultation.

Does CORE work with pet insurance?

We’re happy to work with any pet insurance provider. We provide the detailed documentation and records you’ll need to file a claim, and our team can help with any additional paperwork your insurance company requires. We recommend checking with your provider about coverage for specialist consultations and surgical procedures before your visit.

What’s the difference between an orthopedic exam at my regular vet and one with a board-certified surgeon?

Your primary vet can identify that your pet has a problem and refer you for further evaluation. A board-certified surgeon has years of additional residency training focused specifically on diagnosing and treating orthopedic conditions. The exam is more detailed, the diagnostic techniques are more specialized, and the surgeon can immediately translate their findings into a treatment recommendation because they’re the same person who would perform the procedure.

My dog is limping but seems fine otherwise. Should I still schedule a consultation?

Yes. Dogs are very good at hiding pain, and a limp, even a mild or intermittent one, usually means something is wrong. Many orthopedic conditions are easier to treat when caught early, before they progress to more significant joint damage or a complete ligament tear.

My cat is limping. Do you see cats for orthopedic problems?

Absolutely. Cats can develop many of the same orthopedic conditions as dogs, including fractures, luxating patellas, and joint injuries. Cats are also very skilled at hiding pain, so if your cat is limping or not jumping like they used to, it’s worth having it evaluated.

Can I get a second opinion even if I’ve already scheduled surgery somewhere else?

Yes. We welcome second opinion consultations at any stage. There’s no obligation to proceed with treatment at CORE. Our goal is to give you the information you need to feel confident in whatever decision you make for your pet.

Schedule Your $200 Orthopedic Consultation

Whether your pet is limping, has been diagnosed with an orthopedic condition, or you’re looking for a second opinion, your consultation includes a complete evaluation with a board-certified surgeon and the expert guidance to take your next step with confidence.

CORE Veterinary Surgical Clinic provides orthopedic consultations and advanced surgical care for dogs and cats across Greater Boston