Compassionate care from consultation through recovery.
At Safe Haven Veterinary Hospital, we understand how concerning it can be to learn that your pet may need surgery. You deserve clear answers, time to discuss your concerns, and a team that cares about your pet as much as you do.
Our Surgery service provides evaluation and treatment of orthopedic and soft tissue conditions in dogs and cats. We work with you and your primary care veterinarian to develop a treatment plan that considers your pet’s condition, overall health, comfort, and quality of life.
What Is a Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeon?
Just as physicians can specialize in human surgery, veterinarians can pursue advanced training and certification in veterinary surgery.
A board-certified veterinary surgeon has completed veterinary school, followed by a minimum of a one-year internship and a three-year surgical residency. This training includes extensive surgical experience under the supervision of board-certified surgeons, research published in a scientific journal, and rigorous board examinations.
Veterinarians who meet these requirements earn the title Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, commonly identified by DACVS after their names.
Residency training and board certification are different milestones. A veterinarian who has completed a surgical residency has advanced surgical training but must fulfill all remaining requirements, including passing the board examinations, before becoming board-certified.
When Should My Pet See the Surgery Service?
Your primary care veterinarian may recommend a surgical consultation for a complex procedure, a condition requiring specialized equipment, or a problem that has not improved with medical treatment.
A consultation may also be helpful when you want a better understanding of the diagnosis and available options. A surgical consultation does not automatically mean your pet needs surgery. We will discuss nonsurgical options when appropriate, along with the benefits and limitations of each approach.
Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgery treats conditions affecting bones, joints, ligaments, and other structures that support movement.
Knee Injuries and Conditions
- Cranial cruciate ligament injuries: Procedures such as tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) or extracapsular stabilization help address knee instability following ligament injury. The recommendation depends on your pet’s size, activity, anatomy, and other individual factors.
- Patellar luxation: Surgery helps realign and stabilize a kneecap that slips out of its normal position.
Fracture Repair
Broken bones may require surgical stabilization with plates, screws, pins, or other implants. Treatment depends on the location and type of fracture, your pet’s age, and any additional injuries.
Other Orthopedic Procedures
- Femoral head and neck ostectomy (FHO): Removal of the ball portion of the hip joint to help relieve pain in selected patients.
- Arthrodesis: Surgical fusion of a joint when severe damage or instability prevents comfortable function.
- Amputation: Removal of a limb when needed to address severe injury, certain tumors, or an otherwise unmanageable painful condition.
Soft Tissue Surgery
Soft tissue surgery involves the skin, organs, and other tissues outside the bones and joints.
Abdominal and Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Abdominal exploration to investigate or treat disease.
- Removal of swallowed objects from the stomach or intestines.
- Stomach and intestinal biopsies.
- Removal of damaged or diseased intestine, followed by reconnection of healthy sections.
- Gastropexy, which attaches the stomach to the abdominal wall to help prevent twisting.
- Splenectomy, or removal of the spleen.
Liver and Gallbladder Surgery
- Liver biopsies.
- Removal of selected liver masses.
- Gallbladder removal, also called cholecystectomy.
- Evaluation and surgical treatment of selected portosystemic shunts—abnormal blood vessels that allow blood to bypass the liver.
Urinary and Reproductive Surgery
- Cystotomy, an incision into the bladder to remove stones or address other bladder conditions.
- Selected procedures for urinary obstruction, including perineal urethrostomy when appropriate.
- Surgical treatment of reproductive tract disease.
Airway and Chest Surgery
- Surgery for selected breathing problems associated with brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in short-nosed breeds.
- Surgical treatment of laryngeal paralysis in appropriate patients.
- Selected procedures involving the chest cavity.
Mass Removal, Hernias, and Wound Care
- Biopsy or removal of skin, subcutaneous, and internal masses.
- Surgical planning for tumors, including consideration of the surrounding tissue that may need removal.
- Hernia repair.
- Treatment of complex wounds and reconstruction when needed.
The appropriate procedure depends on the diagnosis and your pet’s individual needs. Our team will explain whether surgery is recommended and what it is intended to accomplish.
Your Pet’s Surgical Consultation
At your consultation, we will review your pet’s history, examine your pet, and evaluate available records, laboratory results, and imaging. Additional testing may be recommended to clarify the diagnosis or assess your pet before anesthesia.
Please let us know about all medications and supplements your pet receives, as well as any previous problems with anesthesia.
Together, we will review:
- Surgical and nonsurgical treatment options.
- Expected benefits, potential complications, and prognosis.
- Anesthesia and pain management.
- Anticipated hospitalization.
- Recovery time and home care needs.
- An estimate for the recommended treatment.
Care Throughout the Surgical Process
Safe Haven’s dedicated surgical facilities include four operating suites, surgical preparation areas, and a separate instrument processing and sterilization area.
Your pet’s anesthesia and pain management plans are tailored to their needs. Our Surgery and Internal Medicine services can collaborate when additional medical conditions may affect treatment or recovery.
Before discharge, we will explain your pet’s medications, incision care, exercise restrictions, and follow-up plan. You will also receive instructions about changes to watch for and when to contact the hospital.
A Partnership With Your Veterinarian
We value the relationship you have with your primary care veterinarian. Sharing findings, treatment recommendations, and follow-up plans helps keep your pet’s care coordinated before and after surgery.
Schedule a Consultation
Contact Safe Haven Veterinary Hospital to learn more about our Surgery service or arrange a consultation. Please have your veterinarian forward relevant medical records, laboratory results, and imaging for review.
