Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Factors affecting dog and cat owner return for fracture X-rays
By Pankowski, Anne et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2026·1Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Owner compliance with radiographic follow-up after fracture stabilization in dogs and cats is influenced by distance, patient age, and invoice.
Plain-English summary
A study looked at why some pet owners bring their dogs and cats back for follow-up X-rays after their pets had surgery to fix broken bones. It found that 79% of owners returned for follow-up visits, but factors like how far they had to drive, the age of their pet, and the cost of the treatment affected their decision. Interestingly, owners who had to travel farther were more likely to return, possibly because they had fewer local options. Older pets and higher treatment costs made owners less likely to come back. This highlights the importance of considering distance and costs when planning follow-up care for pets.
People also search for: dog fracture follow-up care · cat surgery recovery · pet X-ray costs · why is my dog limping after surgery · pet age and treatment compliance
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of owner return for postoperative radiographic follow-up after fracture stabilization with implants. A secondary aim was to investigate the impact of distance from the hospital, species (dog vs cat), breed, pet age, complications, and invoice on follow-up. METHODS: Medical records of 145 animals that underwent open reduction and internal fixation with implants between January 2022 and May 2023 were reviewed, and logistic regression was used to identify predictors of return for follow-up. RESULTS: Among 145 cases, the baseline return rate was 79.1%. Greater driving distance was associated with return, with each additional mile increasing the odds of return by 40%. Older pet age decreased the odds of return by 6% per year, and higher invoice amounts decreased the odds by 21% per $1,000 increase. Breed had a minimal effect on return. CONCLUSIONS: Return behavior was most strongly influenced by distance, pet age, and financial cost. The unexpected finding that greater distance increased return odds may reflect higher motivation among clients traveling farther or limited availability of local specialty care. These results suggest that client investment and economic considerations play central roles in follow-up compliance and warrant further prospective investigation. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study provides insight into postoperative follow-up compliance at a veterinary teaching hospital, emphasizing that follow-up rates may be influenced by distance, invoice, species, or pet age.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41237498/