I'm Curtis Cathcart

My mission is to bring expert, compassionate surgical services directly to your veterinary clinic. RCVS is committed to providing a high standard of care for each of your patients.

RCVS operates on a referral basis. If you are an owner and feel your pet is in need of a small animal surgeon please consult with your veterinarian. Their recommendations will help you navigate the best course forward.

ACVS Veterinary Surgeon Certification mark

We've cared for pets across the continent

Drawing from years of surgical practice across North America, Curtis brings a rich tapestry of experience to each procedure.

Case studies

Name:

Billy

Age:

4 years

Species:

Canine

Took a tumble and broke my elbow

Billy is a squat little 4-year-old mixed breed dog that fell when climbing on the furniture. He landed awkwardly on his right front leg causing a humeral bone fracture going through to the elbow joint. This humeral condylar fracture is more common in puppies when they are still growing, as the bone is slightly weaker from the growth plate at this location.

Billy had surgery to repair the fracture, paying close attention to reconstructing a smooth joint surface to minimize potential future arthritis. Because the fracture is low on the humerus and into the joint there isn’t enough room for traditional bone plates and screws so single screw and multiple fixation wires were used.

For recovery Billy will have a couple months of exercise restriction with range of motion exercises done at home to help with rehabilitation. He has a good prognosis and is anticipated to be running around again in a few months. Hopefully staying off furniture!

Before

After

Name:

Wookie

Age:

7 years

Species:

Canine

A common case of cranial cruciate ligament rupture

Wookie sustained a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture when out chasing his ball. The CCL is one of the main stabilizing ligaments of the stifle (knee) and so when it ruptures there is shifting between the femur and tibia with each step, preventing a dog from pushing off with the leg properly. This consistently leads to progressive arthritis. For these reasons, surgery to stabilize the stifle is recommended.

A ruptured CCL diagnosis is made by feeling the stifle and doing stability tests. Radiographs (X-rays) can show fluid effusion in the joint space.

TPLO (tibial plateau levelling osteotomy) is often recommended as the surgery of choice. This surgery corrects the joint surface slope of the tibia so the femur doesn’t slide off the back. A precisely planned curved cut is made in the top of the tibia, rotated to flatten the tibial joint surface, and then held in place with a bone plate and screws.

Wookie had a TPLO and is now back to running around and chasing his ball again. We expect a good prognosis with this surgery and 90% of dogs are able to reach excellent levels of activity, typically regaining the level of function they had before surgery.

Before

After

2020

IMEX Hybrid and Circular EXF

2019

AOVet North America Master Course in Canine Sports Medicine Traumatology

2018

BioMedtrix Universal Hip Course

2017

Owner and Surgeon at Saskatoon Small Animal Specialty Services

2016

Staff Surgeon at Oakland Veterinary Referral Services in Michigan

2015

Attained diplomate status as a small animal specialist surgeon from ACVS

2014

Assistant Professor in Small Animal Surgery at the University of Saskatchewan

2011

Small Animal Surgery Resident at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Akron, OH

1999

Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Saskatchewan, Western College of Veterinary Medicine

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Refer patients easily: Clinics can sign up and book consultations or surgeries through our user-friendly Clinic Portal.
Comprehensive Consultation: We provide consultations with the owners for all cases requiring surgical intervention, whether in person or as a pre-operative phone discussion.

Get in touch

RCVS operates on a referral basis. If you are an owner and feel your pet is in need of a small animal surgeon please consult with your veterinarian. Their recommendations will help you navigate the best course forward.