We are a visiting service with expertise in surgery; both orthopaedic and soft tissue. Our team works alongside your primary care vet to ensure we can deliver the best treatment options for your pet whilst staying within the care of the vet practice that your pet is used to visiting.
Our team is dedicated to providing a swift, compassionate and expert referral service to your clients. Rata's client care team will work with you to make booking arrangements with our visiting surgeons stressfree and simple.
Libby and Hayley are available on the phone 8am to 7pm during the week.
We're contactable over the weekends too!
Your client is in a safe pair of hands
Our surgical team are highly trained and experienced.
Every case is important to us
We're an extension of your clinical team.
My husband and I would like to thank you so much for the treatments over the last two months, in all honesty you wouldn’t know Daisy has had double surgery on her back legs.
Special thanks to Matt and Rata for their expertise and support.
Owner of Daisy the two year-old Rottweiler treated for bilateral cruciate disease with TPLO surgery by the Rata surgeons.
At Rata, our surgeons value updates on patients’ recovery after surgery. Oli Gilman was thrilled to learn that Poppy’s quality of life significantly improved following her BOAS procedure.
“I can’t thank you enough for performing the surgery in my practice and the care you have given to Poppy, we are so pleased with how she is doing. Thank you again for changing her life.” Poppy’s owner (SVN, Leadonvale Veterinary centre).
Prioritising a patient’s well-being is essential and each BOAS case undergoes careful evaluation to determine if in-house surgery or an external referral is most appropriate. *See our Practice BOAS guide in bio*
Poppy had previously had alar fold amputation, so a rhinoplasty wasn’t required. Oli performed a routine tonsillectomy and sharp staphylectomy. No evidence of laryngeal collapse was observed.
1 month following surgery, Poppy:
🐾 Has significant improvement in nasal discharge (without the thick discharge)
🐾 Is more playful and able to keep up with the other dogs in the family
🐾 No longer makes upper respiratory noise when breathing
🐾 Loves to run and keeps up on walks
🐾 Is not so reactive to external heat
So lovely to hear!
P A I N S C O R I N G
Elevate your patient care by adding pain scoring to routine checks! It’s quick, easy and can significantly enhance your patients’ comfort.
✨ **Tips for Success:**
- Integrate it into hospital sheets
- Try apps like VetPain
- Keep laminated posters handy
Utilise validated scales like the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Score for effective monitoring post-surgery.
For chronic pain in Osteoarthritis cases, reach for the Canine Brief Pain Index or Liverpool Osteoarthritis in Dogs scale. Cats? Use the Feline Musculoskeletal Pain Index!
Frida faced a setback with a traumatic fracture of her medial malleolus during recovery from cruciate surgery!
Though the bone fragment is small, it plays a vital role as the origin of the medial collateral ligament in the tarsus. This injury led to marked instability (valgus) at her hock joint.
Surgical correction was straightforward—pin and tension band wire—but perfect implant size and orientation were crucial to ensure effective reduction while minimizing soft tissue irritation due to limited coverage.
Frida bounced back brilliantly from surgery and is now gradually increasing her exercise!
Big thanks to Stonehouse Vets! 🐾
🎉 Did you catch the first webinar in our 3-part series with Oli Gilman?
Get ready for Part 2: "I`m All Ears! - TECA Surgery, What You Need to Know."
Join us for a FREE one-hour session featuring the esteemed surgeon Alasdair Hotston Moore, complete with a Q&A at the end.
👉 Sign up now—link in bio! We hope to see you there!
P G R (Patella Groove Replacement)
At Rata we employ various techniques to tackle patella luxation, and in rare instances, we perform a partial joint replacement.
Case selection is crucial; most cases can be managed without PGR through quadriceps realignment techniques such as tuberosity transposition, sulcoplasty, imbrication, and occasionally femoral osteotomy.
Meet Alfie! He had bilateral grade III/IV medial patella luxation and underwent TTT along with sulcoplasty.
While he thrived on the right hind leg, reluxation occurred on the left due to insufficient medial ridge support.
For PGR, we use @kyonvet implants from @freelancesurgical . Sizes must fit each patient perfectly. After removing the trochlea ridges, a small base plate is placed for a secure press-fit of the prosthesis.
Indications for this procedure include:
-Chondromalacia of the femero-patella joint.
-Severe medial ridge erosion or aplaysia
-Luxation due to patella baja
-Mild femoral varus and/or torsion.
Alfie’s recovery has been impressive—he’s using his leg comfortably! 🐾
@ortho surgery @patellaluxation
🌟 S O F T T I S S U E W E B I N A R S 🌟
Get ready for an enlightening Autumn webinar series brought to you by Rata Vet Surgery!
Join our expert Soft Tissue surgeons, Oli Gilman and Alasdair Hotston Moore, as they dive into the latest in soft tissue topics.
📅 Three engaging sessions await:
- **Brachycephalic Airway Obstructive Syndrome (BOAS)**
- **Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA): Essential Insights**
- **Demystifying Anal Sac Adenocarcinoma**
✨ Don’t miss out on these FREE webinars! Secure your spot through the links in our bio. Each session contributes towards your @thercvs CPD credits!
We can’t wait to see you there! 🎉
Meet Tizer, the courageous chap who recently suffered a significant hock injury during a park walk.
Tizer`s injury affected the proximal intertarsal joint, resulting in a fracture-luxation that dislocated the central tarsal bone (CTB). This led to painful joint instability and varus deformity.
Tizer was treated by Rata surgeon Matt Hibberd who successfully reduced the dislocation and performed a partial tarsal arthrodesis (PaTA) for stabilization. Using a medial approach, he debrided cartilage from both ends of the CTB and implanted an autologous cancellous bone graft into the joint space. The repair was secured with a 2.7mm positional screw and laterally placed 2.7mm @veterinary_instrumentation DLP plate.
After receiving excellent nursing care at @livewellvets Vets, Tizer returned home to recover under his owners` attentive supervision.
Tizer has displayed remarkable resilience and is now on track for complete recovery, slowly returning to his normal activities. Read more about canine tarsal injuries in our newsletter which is about to drop through your mail box.
**BIRMINGHAM - MEET OUR NEW SURGEON**
We`re excited to introduce Jon Mills, the latest member of the Rata team! He`ll be working alongside Hannah Gritti in the Birmingham region.
When he`s not scaling peaks in Greenland or tackling Everest, Jon immerses himself in various surgical fields. His passion lies particularly in fracture repair within orthopaedics and is currently publishing a paper on surgical management of Feline medial patella luxation.
With 33 years of experience primarily focused on referral work—most recently co-founding West Midlands Referrals in 2011—Jon brings a wealth of knowledge to the Rata team.
Outside the operating room, Jon is an avid adventurer. Beyond his high-altitude feats like summiting Ama Dablam and Manaslu, he also enjoys skiing, long-distance cycling, running, and canoeing.
A R T H R O C E N T E S I S
Sampling joint fluid is a useful diagnostic tool to diagnose:
- Synovial bacterial infections
- Immune mediated polyarthritis (IMPA)
- Osteoarthritis
- Other causes of inflammatory joint disease. eg Lyme (Borrelia spp).
Arthrocentesis is a simple technique which can be carried out on the heavily sedated/anaesthetised patient.
Synovial fluid samples can be analysed in house for colour, turbidity, protien content and basic cytology. Additional analysis such as bacterial culture, PCR and specialist cytology reports require external analysis.
A sterile preparation is essential to prevent the introduction of pathogens into the joint space.
Equipment required:
- Suitable length needles (up to 1.5" in large dogs or deep joints)
- 2.5ml or 5ml syringe
- Microscope slides with labels
- EDTA tube
- Ideally a blood culture bottle (available from most laboratories) to optimise sample growth. A swab can be used but often with less reliable growth.
Great resources with @idexxuk https://www.idexx.co.uk/files/synovial-fluid-aspiration-protocol.pdf, and @thebsava Procedures Guide book.
Note:
-Often only the hub of a needle may fill with fluid in joints that are not effused, this is enough for a cytology evaluation.
-Avoiding blood contamination is critical to a useful/diagnostic sample, minimise repeat puncture, or re-direction during sampling.
-Multiple joints need sampling to confirm a diagnosis of IMPA.
Handsome Maui, a 4-year-old male Manx cat, experienced a traumatic injury to his tarso-crural joint while out exploring during the day. The team at @filtonvets4pets quickly took action, admitting Maui for assessment and radiographs. The results showed fractures of the fibula and talus, as well as a luxation of the hock joint. Fortunately, his foot`s blood supply remained intact, reducing the risk of complications.
To ensure optimal recovery and function following the articular injuries Rata surgeon, Matt Hibberd performed a pan-tarsal arthrodesis. The procedure involved a medial approach to the joint, debriding cartilage beds, and inserting feline DBM to promote bone growth. A medial PTA plate and calcaneal screw provided stability.
After 8 weeks of rest and recovery, Maui`s hock is showing evidence of healing, allowing him to gradually resume his normal activities over the next 4 weeks. Although his hock is now fixed, Maui is expected to enjoy his favorite pastimes with a bit more caution.
L I V E R L O B E C T O M Y
🌟 Meet Star, a 12-year-old Terrier who’s truly a superstar! 🐾
Usually an active agility champ, Star’s owner noticed something wasn’t right—occasional quiet spells, abdominal discomfort, and a bit of vomiting. An ultrasound revealed a liver tumour, leading to a referral to our ECVS specialist surgeon, Oli Gilman.
After thorough discussions about Star’s condition, which on imaging suggested a slow-growing hepatocellular adenocarcinoma (50-70% of canine liver tumours), Oli and Star`s owner decided to proceed with surgery. A needle biopsy and CT scan was considered to help offer prognosis and surgical suitability but after a pragmatic discussion they were opted against.
With careful pre-op planning which included a coagulation profile, full blood screen & blood transfusion on standby, the tumour was successfully removed. The mass was found in the hilar aspect of the left medial liver lobe and was excised using a @medtronic TA30v Stapler before being oversewn with 2 layers of PDS sutures. @bbraun_vetcare_uk Lyostypt was left at the surgical site to minimise further haemorrhage.
Star’s recovery has been smooth, and the best news? The tumour was fully excised with clear margins!
A big well done to superStar! We hope to see you back on the agility course soon! And a big thank you to @vets4pets_trowbridge for the referral and their excellent care!
🐾 Brave Wren underwent a life-changing procedure to finally find relief from her chronic ear infection! 🩺 Total Ear Canal Ablation and Lateral Bulla Osteotomy (TECA-LBO) was the solution to her suffering. Surgeon Heidi Birkenshaw from @Kelstonvets performed the intricate surgery, removing the diseased tissue and debris to give Wren a new lease on life.
👂🏼 TECA-BO surgery is a last resort for pets with severe ear issues, but the results are often remarkable. While Wren`s hearing may be slightly affected, the removal of the painful infection has made her a much happier pup. 🐶💕
👩🏻⚕️ The road to recovery may have its challenges, but Wren is already on her way to a brighter future. We`re thrilled to see her feeling better and enjoying a life free from ear pain!
Our soft tissue surgery team offer a range of interventions for all soft tisssue surgery procedures. Contact the @rata_vet_surgery admin team for a comprehansive price list.
🌟 #TECALBO #PetHealth #HappyPup
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