Veterinary orthopedic surgeon in Ottawa
Dr. Chris Wood, BSc, DVM (Dist), MS, DACVS-SA, is an ACVS board-certified small animal veterinary surgeon with a professional interest in orthopedic disorders of the hip and stifle, including hip dysplasia, canine cruciate ligament disease and TPLO, and patellar luxation.
He sees dogs and cats through Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre in Ottawa.
Board-certified in small animal veterinary surgery
DACVS-SA means Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Small Animal.
ACVS board certification follows additional specialist training after veterinary school, including internships, an approved surgical residency, credential review, research requirements, and specialist examinations.
The credential covers small animal surgery rather than a separate orthopedic subspecialty. Dr. Wood's particular professional interests include disorders of the hip and stifle.
Review Dr. Wood's training and credentialsHip and stifle disorders
The consultation starts with the individual patient and diagnosis. A referral does not assume that surgery is required.
01Cranial cruciate ligament disease
Assessment of canine knee instability, meniscal injury, limb alignment, body condition, the opposite knee, and whether TPLO or another treatment pathway is appropriate.
Explore TPLO and cruciate care in Ottawa02Hip dysplasia, hip pain, and hip luxation
Dr. Wood is PennHIP certified. Specialist assessment considers hip pain and instability and whether rehabilitation, medical management, joint-preserving care, hip stabilization, salvage surgery, or referral for another procedure should be discussed.
Review current orthopedic procedure listings03Patellar luxation and limb alignment
Assessment of kneecap instability, gait, the hip and stifle, concurrent cruciate disease, and angular or rotational limb deformity when present.
Review patellar luxation procedures and estimate rangesWhy whole-limb alignment matters for patellar luxation
For selected orthopedic procedures, Dr. Wood performs VPOP planning or CT-based 3D bone reconstruction and measurements. Some cases also use a patient-specific plan and 3D-printed surgical guide prepared by an external planning company.
Orthopedic referrals from Ottawa and beyond
Consultations and surgery are provided at Alta Vista Specialty & Emergency Veterinary Centre, 2220 Walkley Road in Ottawa. Local referrals include Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Orléans, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Gloucester, surrounding communities, and Eastern Ontario.
Dr. Wood also receives referral requests from elsewhere in Ontario, other parts of Canada, and the United States, including New York.
How orthopedic care is organized
The purpose of referral is not only to perform an operation. It is to establish the diagnosis, plan for the individual anatomy, adjust the surgical plan when necessary, and provide structured follow-up.
History, gait, orthopedic examination, concurrent conditions, function, and owner priorities are considered before recommending treatment.
Orthopedic planning images are typically obtained under sedation. Some patients return for a separate diagnostic visit. Depending on the joint and the question, this may involve five to nine specialized X-rays or CT. Dr. Wood performs the CT-based 3D bone reconstruction and measurements himself.
Dr. Wood uses VPOP virtual orthopedic planning for TPLO and selected corrective osteotomies to understand alignment, the planned correction, and fixation needs before surgery.
For selected operations, Dr. Wood works with an external planning company. The company uses the patient's CT images to prepare the patient-specific surgical plan and print the guide. Dr. Wood then uses the supplied plan and guide during surgery.
Board-certified veterinary anesthesia support and a 24-hour specialty and emergency hospital are available for orthopedic patients.
Dr. Wood personally handles postoperative clinical follow-up, with scheduled healing assessment and capacity for urgent reassessment when recovery changes.
What to send and what happens next
Call to request a consultation with Dr. Wood
You can call the hospital directly and request a consultation with Dr. Wood. The surgery team can then coordinate the available history, test results, and images with your family veterinarian. The consultation determines the diagnosis and appropriate treatment options.
Call 613-731-9911Start an orthopedic referral
Send the records and images already available. Dr. Wood and his team work with select referring clinics to teach the positioning needed for planning radiographs and provide a calibration ball. When the study meets the planning requirements, Dr. Wood can measure and plan from those images. This may reduce repeated imaging or an additional hospital visit for the owner.
Start referral