AUTHOR’S NOTE

“My constant endeavour will be to ensure the health and welfare of animals committed to my care.”

This is the promise I made when I qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1997. My mentors taught me the importance of treating every animal as if they were my own pet. When I see a painful patient, the first question I ask myself is this: What's the likelihood I can make them better without an operation? If the chance is high, I won't recommend surgery. If the chance is low, I weigh up the risks and benefits of the available operations. My journey as a surgical specialist began in 2004. I learned TPLO during my ECVS residency at Glasgow University. In 2005, I visited Zurich University to learn TTA from its inventors. Over the past 17 years, I've gained personal experience in many canine ACL treatments. I've worked with an orthotics designer in Sweden and I've treated many dogs using CWO, TTO and CBLO. I've published papers on canine knee arthroscopy, TPLO and TTA, and a book chapter on the canine stifle joint. Broad medical and surgical experience means I'm not burdened by a personal agenda. This allows me to offer an unbiased, evidence-based explanation of how I'd treat my own dog.