Anesthesia / Surgery

Without proper screening, monitoring, and selection of anesthetics, anesthesia certainly can be more risky than it needs to be. Every patient we see is handled with proper attention and expertise; therefore, the risks of anesthesia and surgery are reduced to a very insignificant level in most patients. We want both you and your pet to be as comfortable and happy as possible throughout the day when we need to perform an anesthetic procedure!

Anesthesia

We use a variety of anesthetic agents and protocols that are tailored to the needs of the individual patient. We determine these needs based on patient age, breed, size, physical exam findings, results of diagnostic tests, prior anesthetic experiences with the pet, and the procedure to be performed. A nurse is assigned to each patient and is responsible for monitoring the patient from the time of patient admission, through the anesthetic period, into recovery, and until the time of patient discharge. In addition to a nurse monitoring the patient, we use an array of electronic monitoring devices that continually display features such as ECG, patient oxygenation level, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature. Your pet will be standing, walking, and pain free at the time of release from the hospital!

General Surgery / Radiosurgery

We perform all general surgical procedures (spay, neuter, tumor removal, wound repair, etc) with radiosurgery. Radiosurgery allows incisions to be made via energy being passed through a tiny wire; therefore our patients have less bleeding, less chance for swelling at the incision site and allows for a faster recovery process. We know that no surgery is “minor”; therefore, the care and safety of your companion is our priority.

Specialized Surgery

We understand that the prospect of surgery can be worrisome, no matter what the circumstance. Compounding this anxiety may be the needs to travel to other vets you are not familiar with to have surgery or other procedures performed. As a unique service in our area, we perform many very specialized procedures for our own patients as well as on a referral basis from other local area vets. We commonly perform abdominal, thoracic, orthopedic, and ocular surgical procedures. We have performed the state of the art TTA procedure for cranial cruciate ligament injuries of the knee since 2008.

Since 2005, we have pioneered the use of laparoscopic surgical procedures in general practice; through the use of this technology, we are able to perform procedures such as preventive gastropexy (stomach tack), internal biopsies, spay, and other procedures via keyhole incisions through which a camera and instruments are passed. As in people, these minimally invasive surgical procedures have the advantage of more rapid recovery with less post surgical discomfort for the patient. Our goal is to make sure you are always comfortable and confident with the care and attention both you and your pet receive at our hospital.

Pain Management

Pain, pain, and go away! We don’t want your pet in pain! Pain does no good for your pet, nor does it do any good for you. Studies have shown that pain actually inhibits the healing process. Appropriate pain management is an integral part of all surgical, dental, and medical cases that we see. Recognizing pain in pets can be the tough part, since they are “wired” to hide it- but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there! Rest assured that we will err on the side of your pet if there is any question as to whether pain is present or not.