Yorkshire Independent Referrals

01/06/2026

Treating Stifle OCD in a Young Labrador Retriever 🐾

At Yorkshire Independent Referrals, Maude — a 9-month-old Labrador Retriever — presented with acute right pelvic limb lameness following exercise.

Initial radiographs performed by the referring veterinary practice demonstrated intraarticular effusion within the right stifle and a subchondral defect affecting a femoral condyle. CT imaging confirmed a medial femoral condyle osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) lesion with associated joint effusion.

Surgical treatment consisted of:
• Right stifle medial arthrotomy
• OCD debridement
• Placement of an 8mm x 8mm SynACART resurfacing core

Stifle OCD is considerably less common than shoulder OCD in dogs but remains an important differential in young, large breed dogs presenting with stifle effusion and lameness. Untreated lesions may lead to persistent pain, cartilage deterioration, and progressive osteoarthritis.

Advanced resurfacing techniques can provide excellent functional outcomes when appropriate case selection and early intervention are achieved.

We are delighted that Maude is recovering well post-operatively and would like to thank the referring veterinary team for their collaboration in her care!

29/05/2026

Join us for our upcoming CPD evening at YIR on June 2nd at 7:30pm.

This event will include two practical presentations designed for referring veterinary surgeons:

• What Can I Diagnose with an X-ray: Forelimb Conditions
• Common Nerve Blocks Used in Orthopaedic and Other Procedures

An excellent opportunity to refresh imaging interpretation skills and gain practical tips for everyday cases and perioperative analgesia.

We still have spots available and would be delighted to welcome you to our referral orthopaedic practice.

To book your place, please contact: [email protected]

25/05/2026

Accessible Advanced Diagnostics for Epilepsy Cases

As a veterinary referral practice, we understand that investigating suspected idiopathic epilepsy can sometimes be financially challenging for pet owners. That is why we are pleased to offer an external outpatient MRI and CSF analysis service at a highly competitive price, helping referring veterinary surgeons complete the diagnostic work-up for their patients without the need for a full neurology consultation in every case.

Our service is designed to support both first opinion practices and their clients by providing access to advanced imaging and diagnostics in a safe, professional, and affordable way.

✔️ MRI brain scan
✔️ CSF analysis
✔️ Careful review of each patient’s history prior to referral
✔️ Advice and guidance offered to referring vets when needed
✔️ Safe anaesthesia protocols tailored to every patient
✔️ Full imaging report provided by a specialist imaging interpretation service

We believe that access to high-quality diagnostics should be achievable for more patients, particularly when early and accurate diagnosis can significantly influence long-term management and quality of life.

Our team works closely with referring veterinary surgeons to ensure a smooth and supportive process from referral through to reporting.

If you would like more information about our outpatient MRI epilepsy work-up service, please get in touch with our team.

22/05/2026

Mia’s Story – A Reminder That Early Intervention Matters

Meet Mia, a brave 2-year-old Pekingese who has now successfully recovered from two spinal surgeries for intervertebral disc extrusion (IVDE).

Mia first presented to our referral service in October with an acute onset of mild hind limb paresis. Advanced imaging confirmed an L1–L2 IVDE, and she underwent a hemilaminectomy with an excellent recovery over the following weeks.

Unfortunately, in March, Mia returned after a recurrence of clinical signs — this time presenting with non-ambulatory paraparesis. A repeat CT scan revealed a new T13–L1 IVDE, requiring a second spinal surgery. We are delighted to share that Mia once again made a full recovery and is back enjoying life with her very devoted family.

While IVDE recurrence can be discouraging for owners, cases like Mia’s highlight how prompt recognition, advanced imaging, and timely surgical intervention can lead to excellent outcomes, even when multiple surgeries are required.

IVDE recurrence rates in dogs are estimated to be around 20%, meaning some predisposed patients may experience additional episodes during their lifetime.

⚠️ Early recognition of signs is essential:
• Back or neck pain
• Reluctance to jump or exercise
• Hind limb weakness or wobbliness
• Dragging paws
• Difficulty walking or paralysis

For predisposed breeds, preventative management is also important where possible, including:
✔️ Limiting jumping on and off furniture
✔️ Avoiding activities that place excessive stress on the spine
✔️ Maintaining a healthy body weight

We are very pleased that Mia’s owner feels reassured knowing that advanced veterinary care is available whenever needed, and we hope Mia remains symptom-free for a very long time.

22/05/2026

Spaces still available for an in-depth free CPD! 🩺

Contact us on [email protected] to sign up!

Evening CPD for Referring Vets

We’re pleased to invite referring veterinary colleagues to an interactive evening learning session at Yorkshire Independent Referrals, focusing on two practical and commonly encountered areas in orthopaedics:

🔹 What Can We Diagnose With An X-Ray, Forelimb Conditions
🔹 Common nerve blocks used in orthopaedics and other procedures

This session is designed to support confident diagnosis, effective analgesia planning, and smoother referral decision making in everyday practice.

🕢 Start time: 7:30pm
🥗 Light buffet provided

An informal, case based evening with plenty of opportunity for discussion and questions with our orthopaedic team.

We’d be delighted to welcome you and your colleagues — please keep an eye out for further details and booking information.

18/05/2026

May is Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month!

Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month was launched by the British Veterinary Nursing Association 21 years ago to recognise the dedication, skill, and impact of veterinary nurses — a profession that often goes unseen but is absolutely essential to patient care.

At our referral veterinary orthopaedic practice, we are incredibly proud of our veterinary nursing team. Their expertise, compassion, and commitment play a vital role in everything we do — from advanced surgical support to patient recovery and client care.

This month, and every month, we thank our vet nurses for their professionalism, resilience, and the difference they make every single day. 💙

15/05/2026

Orthopaedic Injuries in Puppies & Kittens
Puppies and kittens may be small, but their orthopaedic injuries can be surprisingly common.
At our referral orthopaedic practice, we regularly see young animals with fractures or growth‑plate injuries caused by everyday accidents—often from activities that seem harmless at home.

What we see most often:
Distal radial–ulnar fractures in toy‑breed puppies after minor falls

Tibial and femoral fractures from jumping off furniture or slipping on smooth floors

Growth‑plate (physeal) injuries, especially in active, fast‑growing youngsters

Pelvic and tail fractures in adventurous kittens exploring heights or tight spaces

These injuries can occur with surprisingly low‑impact trauma because young bones are softer, growth plates are vulnerable, and coordination is still developing.

Why activity control at home matters
Once a new puppy or kitten arrives home, excitement often takes over—running, climbing, jumping, and exploring. But this is exactly when they are most at risk.

We strongly encourage owners to:

Limit access to stairs and high furniture

Use baby gates or pens to create safe zones

Avoid unsupervised play with larger pets

Keep floors non‑slip where possible

Prevent high‑energy zoomies on hard surfaces

A few simple precautions can dramatically reduce the risk of orthopaedic injury and help ensure healthy skeletal development. Our message to owners and referring vets:
Early recognition and appropriate management are key to excellent outcomes. If you have concerns about a young patient with lameness or suspected trauma, we’re always here to help with prompt assessment and tailored orthopaedic care.

Let’s keep our young companions safe as they grow.

11/05/2026

We were delighted to meet Drew, an 18‑week‑old male entire Yorkshire Terrier, referred to our practice in January 2026 for evaluation of acute non‑weight‑bearing lameness of the left thoracic limb. The injury occurred after he tripped on a decking step and cried out, becoming immediately lame.

Clinical examination revealed:

Localised pain on palpation of the mid‑diaphyseal radius
No palpable instability
Ulna intact on palpation

Radiography confirmed an incomplete greenstick transverse fracture of the mid‑to‑distal radius with minimal displacement and an intact ulna.

Given the fracture configuration and Drew’s young age, we elected for conservative management using a modified Robert Jones dressing. Drew returned for regular bandage changes, and his owners were fantastic at maintaining strict rest.

Follow‑up radiographs at 3 weeks demonstrated excellent progression of bone healing.
At 8 weeks post‑trauma, Drew showed good limb use, and clinical examination confirmed excellent healing.

We’re thrilled with his recovery and wish him a wonderful, active summer ahead!!

08/05/2026

Evening CPD for Referring Vets

We’re pleased to invite referring veterinary colleagues to an interactive evening learning session at Yorkshire Independent Referrals, focusing on two practical and commonly encountered areas in orthopaedics:

🔹 What Can We Diagnose With An X-Ray, Forelimb Conditions
🔹 Common nerve blocks used in orthopaedics and other procedures

This session is designed to support confident diagnosis, effective analgesia planning, and smoother referral decision making in everyday practice.

🕢 Start time: 7:30pm
🥗 Light buffet provided

An informal, case based evening with plenty of opportunity for discussion and questions with our orthopaedic team.

We’d be delighted to welcome you and your colleagues — please keep an eye out for further details and booking information.

05/05/2026