Dr Wendy Baltzer is a board certified veterinary surgeon and certified canine rehabilitation practitioner. She has worked around the world, and is currently the Associate Professor and head of surgery at the University of Sydney Veterinary School. Dr Baltzer is passionate about teaching veterinary students, borne from an inspiring mentor she connected with in the third year of her DVM. Wendy and I delve into her areas of research, specifically low back pain in dogs, before discussing her approach to supporting recovery after joint surgery. 

Topics discussed include:

• A preventative approach to managing joint disease
• Wendy's favoured supplements for joint health, including omega-three fatty acids, elk velvet, glucosamine and chondroitin sulphate
• An evidence-based program for supporting post-operative recovery after cruciate ligament repair surgery
• How to choose an omega-3 supplement and what dose to use
• Exercise goals after joint surgery, and what to avoid
• The importance of protein in the diet for post-operative cases
• Judicious use of NSAIDs after orthopaedic surgery
• Other treatments Wendy recommends, such as hydrotherapy and acupuncture

Studies discussed during this episode include:

https://trace.tennessee.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1402&context=utk_chanhonoproj

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29680380/#:~:text=Hydrotherapy%20increased%20the%20range%20of,seen%20between%20the%20two%20groups. 

You can find Dr Baltzer at https://www.sydney.edu.au/science/about/our-people/academic-staff/wendy-baltzer.html.