Ep 222: Navigating CCL Tears: A Guide for New Grad Vets, with Dr. Danny Sack

In this episode of "So You're a Vet… Now What?" Dr. Moriah McCauley is joined by Dr. Danny Sack, a first-year surgical resident, to discuss cranial cruciate ligament rupture. Dr. Sack shares insights on diagnosing and managing this common orthopedic issue in general practice. The episode also explores the spectrum of care and the important role of primary veterinarians in guiding clients through treatment decisionsDr. Sack acknowledges that clients can feel overwhelmed with information when making decisions about their pet's care. Therefore, it is essential to provide clients with external references that offer reliable and accurate information. He suggests resources such as handouts from the clinic, reputable websites like tploinfo.com, and educational videos on platforms like YouTube to help clients better understand the anatomy, condition, and treatment options.In addition to verbal communication, Dr. Danny Sack mentioned in the podcast episode that his clinic provides handouts to clients to help them better understand the anatomy, condition, and post-operative care of their pets. These handouts serve as a reference for clients to review at home and reinforce the information provided during the consultation, ensuring they have access to accurate and reliable information even after leaving the clinic.Dr. Sack also recommended utilizing external resources such as websites to enhance client education. He specifically mentioned tploinfo.com as a valuable resource for clients to learn more about TPLO procedures, including the anatomy of the knee, the procedure itself, expected outcomes, and post-operative care. By directing clients to reputable websites, veterinarians can ensure that clients have access to detailed information that complements the discussions held during appointments.This episode underscores the essential role of primary veterinarians in guiding clients through the decision-making process and setting them up appropriately for the best outcomes. By providing comprehensive information, fostering open communication, and offering ongoing support, primary veterinarians can help clients navigate challenging situations like orthopedic conditions with confidence and clarity.Episode Outline[00:02:35] CCL rupture diagnosis and management.[00:09:32] TPLO surgery explained.[00:12:43] Cruciate ligament tearing statistics.[00:15:17] Helping clients understand options.[00:19:29] Recovery from TPLO surgery.[00:24:47] Honest client conversations in veterinary care.[00:27:03] Supporting early stage vets.Episode LinksSee more from Dr Danny Sack: https://www.instagram.com/dr.dannysack/Connect with Dr. Danny Sack: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dsack16/TPLO Video Education: https://tploinfo.com/Mentioned in this episode:So You're a Vet, Now What? - The CourseAre you a new or recent veterinary graduate? If so, Dr. Dave’s course, ‘So You’re a Vet… Now What?’ has been put together specifically for you. The course focuses on non-clinical skills. This is not as dull as it sounds. In fact, almost every career problem that people face is due to not having well-developed, non-clinical skills. These are skills like client communication, so you have great relationships with clients. Emotional intelligence, so you've got great relationships with your teammates. Effective negotiation skills, so you can get paid what you are worth. Management of imposter syndrome, so you can have confidence in your abilities. And, how to build formidable resilience, so you can handle everything that comes your way. These are not just skills. They are prerequisites vital for success and...