A Guide for Dog Owners on Typical Surgical Procedures

Just like it would be for a human family member, any surgical procedure for your pet might raise concerns. Most pets will have at least one surgical procedure, ranging from basic procedures to severe, life-saving crises. Most veterinarians who dedicate their time to caring for animals perform surgery several times weekly. Knowing if your pet needs general or specialty surgery is vital for making decisions.

Here are the most frequent surgeries only a qualified veterinary surgeon should do.

Common Elective Pet Surgery Procedures

Elective surgeries are optional procedures that pet owners seek. They consist of specific dental procedures and operations like neutering and spaying.

Spay

Spaying, often called “fixing,” involves performing surgery to remove all or a portion of the reproductive organs from a female dog. Ovariectomy and ovariohysterectomy are the two forms of sterilization treatments used on dogs. Ovariectomies remove the ovaries. A spay, often called an ovariohysterectomy, involves the removal of the uterus and ovaries. Both treatments make a female dog incapable of conceiving and going into heat. For any veterinary concerns, visit Ruckersville Animal Hospital.

Neuter

Vets conduct neutering, called castration, to remove the testicles from male canines. Since the testicles are external to the scrotum, it requires less intrusion than spaying. A single skin incision is made after the dog is given general anesthesia, but occasionally one or both testicles will not drop and stay in the abdomen. Since testicles that are left in the abdomen might develop cancer, an exploratory procedure is required.

Dental Extractions

It’s necessary to remove a dog’s diseased teeth. The dog can eventually be freed from the illness once a bad tooth has been extracted and the region has been cleared of infectious material with the help of veterinary dentistry. Further to being unpleasant, infections caused by periodontal disease raise the risk of infection in the body’s main organ systems should bacteria from infected teeth reach circulation. 

Benign Skin Growths

Vets will recommend the removal of a tumor if it is painful or uncomfortable or if test results point to a possibly malignant growth. Tumors can only be eliminated by removing at least some of the skin around them. Following the growth’s removal, it may be sent to the lab for a diagnostic confirmation to determine whether the entire tumor was removed.

Common Urgent Care Pet Surgery Procedures

Urgent care falls into the ambiguous category, including emergency treatment and regular veterinary visits. Urgent care should be sought for medical crises that call for quick attention but aren’t always life-threatening.

ACL Repair

This procedure involves cutting the cruciate ligament in a dog’s knee. The fact that this is by far the most frequent surgical procedure performed by vets suggests that if your dog needs an ACL repair, a veterinary surgeon should carry out the procedure. Experience is always necessary for a successful outcome.

Fractures and Dislocations

A surgical and management option exists for almost all fractures and other orthopedic injuries, and most are amenable to several different therapies. Unusually, a condition could be given that is not theoretically repairable, regardless of how horrible it may appear. This is especially true concerning fracture repair.

Stomach Surgery

Bowel obstruction, or when the stomach or intestines are obstructed partially or entirely, is a common reason for concern in all dogs. Various issues are brought on by obstructions, including reduced blood circulation and the inability of food and fluids to move through the GI tract. Foreign bodies cause bowel obstructions most often. Nevertheless, some typical intestinal obstructions to watch out for in elderly dogs are lumps or tumors.

Post-Surgical Care

Your pet may be affected by the anesthesia drugs for a few days after the procedure and the after-effects of the surgery itself. Give your pet a calm and comfortable place to recover, and keep small children and other pets away for the first few days.

Your dog could be prescribed oral painkillers or other drugs after surgery. If you have been told to give your dog any medicine, please review the label carefully and make sure you deliver all medication as directed. Your veterinary team will advise you on any other instructions that are needed.