My cat injured his shoulder. What are my options?

Q: Prince, my 19 lb orange tiger, slipped off the kitchen counter and is very lame.  I took him to a local vet who diagnosed Prince as having a chip in his shoulder.  I was given pain medicine and  joint supplement for Prince.  This vet doesn’t operate on shoulders.  I live in northern Alabama near Huntsville.  Are veterinarians highly specialized for orthopedics like for humans.  Do you know if there is an orthopedic center for felines in Alabama or  south eastern US?  Regards,  Anne Patterson

A: In general, orthopedic surgery can be performed at most veterinary specialists practices or at the veterinary college.  Try to contact the veterinary university in your state, or google ‘veterinary specialists’ with your city name in the search.