Surgery
Elective and emergency surgery
Our pets are much the same as us when it comes to their health. They also face medical emergencies and surgery. It is just more difficult to know what is wrong with our animals as they can’t tell us.
If your pet develops a problem requiring surgery and advanced care, you may be referred to a veterinary surgeon. Many veterinarians can perform surgery, but the difficult cases may be handled by a specialist surgeon that has undergone additional training to become a specialist in their field.
When health problems arise with your pet, the vet will diagnose the problem and treat the animal. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, your pet may simply require an antibiotic, but other times their condition may be more serious and involve different procedures, including surgery.
Skilled veterinarians tackle among others, a range of surgical procedures:
- Dental surgery
- Neutering and spaying
- Ophthalmic surgery
- Soft tissue surgery
- Wound repair
- Amputations
- Complex Soft Tissue Surgery
- Orthopaedic surgery
- Tumour removal
These kinds of routine surgeries can extend your pet’s life.
Surgical procedures fall into two categories – elective procedures and those requiring urgent attention.
Two Common Types of Surgery
The Surgery Procedure is explained to You
The decision to do surgery on your pet will always involve a vet discussing the surgery with you and making sure you understand some of the possible complications. The age and health of your pet is always a consideration and you will be informed what the possible outcome could be if you opt not to proceed with surgery.
The veterinary team will always present you with all of the facts surrounding the surgery so that you can make an informed decision about your beloved pet.
When we do a surgery we do a pre-clinical exam and we will run pre-anaesthetic diagnostic tests to ensure the appropriate specialised equipment is used prior to performing surgery on your pet. After surgery, your pet will be supervised and will get a high level of post-operative care.
Procedure for surgery
- Pre-anesthetic blood tests are done as these reveal problems that may require attention prior to the surgery.
- The blood test results help with knowing what drugs and dosages will be required for the pre-medication injection prior to surgery.
- Pets receive a pain relief and sedation medication ahead of their surgery.
- Every patient coming in for surgery has a checklist protocol attached to their enclosure that staff use to know precisely when the animal had their medication, what medication was given, their vitals, and any other necessary details for their procedure.
- The pet is relaxed and ready for anesthetic.
- Your pet is monitored throughout the surgery.
After the surgery your pet is further monitored and will be ready to go home after their final physical exam. You’ll have some discharge instructions to follow and be given a date to return with your pet for a recheck.
Postoperative Care
During the postoperative period, the wound will need to be kept clean. Your pet may have a temporary plastic cone around its head to prevent them from licking and biting at the wound.
Whatever the reason for a dog’s surgery, Herriot House Vets will provide exceptional medical services and care for your beloved pet’s well-being.
