Everything Veterinarians Need to Know About IVDD, PLDA, and Canine Spinal Surgery w/ Dr. Danielle Dugat

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Welcome to a very special episode of The Veterinary Roundtable! In this episode, we welcome Danielle Dugat, DVM, MS, DACVS to pick her brain about orthopedics and neurosurgery in veterinary medicine while also deeply discussing one of her passions, Percutaneous Laser Disk Ablation (PLDA). This is an episode you DO NOT want to miss!

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Timestamps
00:00 Intro
03:03 Dr. Danielle Dugat Introduction
06:13 Dr. Dugat's Journey into Veterinary Surgery
08:41 Early Adoption of Laser Disc Ablation
10:06 Understanding Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
12:56 High-Risk Breeds and Spine Degeneration
17:25 IVDD in Large Breed Dogs
19:00 Preventing IVDD & Lifestyle Factors
24:18 How Percutaneous Laser Disc Ablation (PLDA) Works
27:55 Preventive PLDA & Patient Suitability
34:09 Risks, Recovery, and Strict Confinement Protocols
39:05 Cervical Spine Limitations & Differential Diagnoses
42:05 Financial Costs and Travel Logistics for PLDA
47:18 NSAIDs vs. Steroids & Referral Timelines
57:18 Lightning Round Questions
01:03:19 Outro