As pet care specialists, we are proud to extend surgical services to our patients. Our skilled physicians and technicians are proficient in a variety of surgical procedures, allowing your pet to obtain precise care. Prior to scheduling surgery, we will discuss all treatment options available to you and your pet. Our goal is to allow you to fully understand the benefits and potential risks of surgery and make an informed decision about your pet’s care. We also recommend that patients receive a full physical evaluation and blood work panel to ensure there are no preexisting conditions that could negatively affect pet health when anesthesia is used. Listed below are some of the most common surgical procedures that we can perform. 

Surgical Procedures 

• Spay/Neuter
• Mass/lump removal for biopsy
• Foreign body removal
• Trauma repair
• Feline declaw
• Dewclaw removal
• Various orthopedic surgeries

This is not a comprehensive list, if you have any questions about other surgical procedures please contact our office.

What does surgery involve?

Surgery for pets is very similar to surgery for humans. During the pre-operative appointment, the necessary preparations for surgery will be discussed. If your pet is having anesthesia, fasting will be required, and we request that you inform us of any medications your pet is taking. The majority of our scheduled surgeries are performed in the morning and your pet will be kept until the evening so that we can monitor their recovery. With some surgeries, an overnight stay at our facility is necessary so we can continue to monitor your pet’s recovery. If this is required with your surgery, you will be notified when scheduling the appointment. 

We believe that pain management is a critical aspect of recovery. We make an added effort to provide your pet with superior comfort. If we feel that post-operative pain management would be beneficial to your pet, we will prescribe additional medication.

Upon the completion of surgery, you will be informed of all care instructions for recovery. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s surgery, or would like to schedule a surgery, please contact our office.

Spay/Neuter

In an effort to help your pet live a healthy life, we provide spay and neuter services. Choosing to spay or neuter your new pet is one of the most responsible decisions you can make as a pet owner. Spaying and neutering pets is estimated to add years to your pet’s life in decreasing or eliminating their chances of getting certain cancers; it also helps decrease the amount of animals in shelters and the number of euthanized pets each year.

With statistics indicating that nearly 4 million pets in the United States are put down annually, we believe spaying and neutering animals is a productive initiative. In providing these services, we hope to prolong pets’ lives and help the community in preventing pet overpopulation.

Reasons to spay or neuter your pet:

• Decrease aggressive behaviors in male pets
• Decrease desire for pets to roam and find mates
• Decrease pet overpopulation and pet euthanasia
• Decrease risk of mammary gland tumors
• Eliminate heat cycles, bleeding, and yelling for a mate
• Eliminate or reduce marking and spraying
• Reduce risk of ovarian and uterine cancers
• Reduce risk of prostate cancer and testicular cancer

What does spaying or neutering involve?

Both spaying and neutering are surgical procedures that prevent an animal from reproducing. Spaying and neutering are typically recommended for pets that are at least 6 months old and are not going to be used for breeding. Spaying is performed on female animals and involves surgically removing the uterus and ovaries to prevent pregnancy. Neutering is implemented on male animals and the testicles are removed to eliminate fertility.

Your pet may experience increased discomfort in the days following surgery. Depending on your pet’s surgery, pain medication can be prescribed. These tips should be followed to ease your pet’s recovery: 

1. Do not allow your pet to run or jump for the next few days.
2. Examine the incision daily to ensure proper healing.
3. Keep your pet confined from others, and allow them to have a quiet resting place.
4. Prevent your pet from licking the surgical site by keeping close watch or by using an Elizabethan collar. 
5. Wait at least 10 days after surgery to bathe your pet. If your pet’s incision has opened or if you notice excessive swelling, redness, or discharge, contact our office immediately.

If you have further questions about the spay and neuter procedures or would like to schedule the surgery for your pet, contact our office at your convenience.