Routine & Advanced Surgery

Our talented veterinarians are adept at a multitude of surgical procedures. They perform surgeries in our hospital whenever possible, rather than referring to an outside provider, as part of our philosophy of continuous care.

Every surgical procedure is preceded by a full physical examination and bloodwork to confirm that the patient may be anesthetized safely and is a suitable candidate for surgery.

Although we use the terms “routine” and “advanced” to distinguish between different types of procedures, our doctors and staff perform all surgeries with the greatest meticulousness.

Routine Procedures

Spay and Neuter

Why do we spay and neuter our pets?

Most effective deterrents of pet overpopulation and certain cancers in dogs and cats

• Mammary tumors and uterine cancer in females
• Enlarged prostate and testicular tumors in males

No spotting or going into heat (females)

Males less likely to spray or mark territory

Reduced aggression in males

Males less likely to mount objects and other animals

Males and females less likely to have roaming tendencies

Dental Cleanings and Extractions

Typically associated with bad breath and yellowing teeth, a buildup of bacteria in the mouth can lead to dental disease and other health conditions that can affect your pet’s major organs, including the heart, liver, and kidneys

Some signs that your pet may need professional dental cleaning or extractions:

• Unpleasant breath
• Red, inflamed gums
• Pain while eating
• Yellow, brown, discolored or loose teeth
• Reduced interest in chew toys
• Pawing at mouth

Benefits of anesthetized dental care include:

Thorough removal of dental plaque and tartar

Anesthesia-free dental cleaning is not an alternative to dental cleaning under anesthesia. It’s impossible to thoroughly remove plaque and tartar if the patient is not anesthetized. This is especially true for the area below the gum line where plaque causes the greatest harm.

Less stress and discomfort for your pet

No dog or cat will allow teeth cleaning without anesthesia except under physical restraint. Besides the stress due to prolonged restriction, patients who are not anesthetized may also experience severe psychological stress because they don’t understand what is going on. Anesthesia eliminates most of the stress and makes teeth cleaning a completely painless procedure.

Long-term cost savings

In anesthesia-free dental cleaning, the bacteria that cause periodontal disease are not removed from below the gum line. As a result, the disease can quickly spread to the tooth root or into the bone, which can be very expensive to treat.

Advanced Procedures

Advanced surgical procedures performed at our hospitals include:

Orthopedic surgery

• CCL repair (aka ACL repair for pets)

Gastrotomy/enterotomy

• Opening of stomach or intestines for removal of a foreign object

Cystotomy

• Bladder stone removal

Enucleation

• Removal of eye

Splenectomy

• Removal of spleen for cases of spleen cancer

Gastropexy/bloat

• Tacking of stomach prophylactically or after gastric dilation/volvulus

Soft tissue surgery

Oral surgery

Benign growths of the skin

Skin lacerations or abscess

Internal bleeding

Malignant skin tumors

Bladder stones/urethral blockages

Liver cancer

Amputation

Soft palate resection

Stenotic nares

Intestinal mass removal

Organ and skin biopsies