Complete Surgical Services for Pets
Surgery may be recommended for a wide range of reasons – from routine spay and neuter procedures to emergency intervention that might save your pet’s life. Explore our full range of surgical services to discover exactly what we offer at Highland Animal Hospital.
General Surgery
Your pet’s health and safety are incredibly important to us. We understand a family pet undergoing surgery is difficult, even for routine procedures.
Here at Highland Animal Hospital, we would never operate on your pet without first taking the time to explain exactly why we believe it is necessary. That is why prior to any surgery, we make sure you are familiar with all the procedure details you pet will experience.
Our veterinarians do their utmost to ensure your pet is as comfortable as possible. Our doctors and nurses administer a personalized anesthetic and pain-management plan for each pet who undergoes surgery.
From the moment your friend is anesthetized to the moment they is in the safety of your arms, our nurses will be monitoring and recording every vital sign.
Our surgical suite is well equipped with the tools to track your pet’s blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, oxygen saturation, and respiration rate. Our veterinarians are experienced in a plethora, with high-quality instruments at their disposal.
If a case arises where your pet requires a procedure beyond our expertise, we will refer you to the help of board-certified specialty hospital.
Pre-Surgical Assessment
Prior to your pet’s procedure, we’ll perform a comprehensive physical exam and pre-surgical blood work. These findings, as well as your pet’s medical history, breed, pre-existing conditions, age, and past anesthetic history will allow our clinical team to devise a safe and personalized anesthesia protocol for your pet.
Anesthesia & Monitoring
The reason we go through the lengths to create and adhere to a strict anesthetic plan for each individual pet is to keep our promise to ensure every animal’s health and safety. At Highland Animal Hospital, this involves precise anesthetic administration and cardiovascular monitoring, access to advanced equipment, and strict adherence to protocols.
While under anesthesia, our experienced team of veterinary technicians will closely monitor your pet with a full range of monitoring tools to track your pet’s body temperature, blood pressure, oxygen level, heart rate, and respiratory rate. Your pet is safe in our hands.
Pain Management
At Highland Animal Hospital, we believe it is our job to go above and beyond to ensure that your pet is not only healthy, but comfortable and lively as well.
Pain hurts, there’s no getting around that. However, many pet owners are unaware that pain can also slow healing, decrease activity, lead to aggressive behaviors, and cause anxiety and depression. In addition, pain can also add to the effects of arthritis and certain cancers, and hurt the overall bond between you and your pet.
In order to live up to our beliefs, our hospital utilizes a multi-modal protocol to make sure our patients experience the lowest level of pain possible. What this means is that we will take full advantage of all the tools at our disposal, including local anesthetics, anti-inflammatory medications, and pain relievers.
In addition to standard pain management protocols, we also provide drug-free therapies such as laser therapy to further support and promote healing.
Post-Operative Care
When your pet is ready to leave our hospital, we will provide you with all the post-operative details so you can continue to properly care for your pet at home. Please feel free to call us with any question or concerns you may have.
Soft-Tissue Surgery
Generally, soft-tissue surgery includes any procedure not treating the bones or joints. Our medical team commonly performs an array of soft-tissue procedures including:
- Mass Removal. Recommended for hernias, cysts, tumors, and other abnormal lumps and bumps. Removing masses protects pets against cancer by preventing spread, growth, and malignancy.
- Urinary Tract Surgery. Removes the pain and discomfort of bladder stones, and treats infections.
- Basic Abdominal. Involves spay/neuter procedure, which is recommended for most pets.
- Wound Reconstruction. Aids trauma and lacerations.
Spay/Neuter Procedure
Spay/neuter procedure benefits pets and pet owners alike. At Highland Animal Hospital, we recommend MOST pets be spayed or neutered to maximize health, improve behavior, and promote happiness. We will evaluate your pet’s age, breed, and lifestyle when determining the best time to perform this important procedure.
Spaying a Female Pet Prevents
- Unwanted litters
- Messy, heat cycles
- The urge to roam
- Aggressive behaviors
- Mood changes
- Mammary and uterine diseases and infections
Neutering a Male Pet Prevents
- Aggressive behaviors
- The urge to roam
- Testicular cancer
- Enlarged prostate
Foreign Body Removal
It’s not uncommon for pets to eat things they shouldn’t: socks, toys, string—you name it. Still, consuming a foreign body is a grave concern, as everyday objects can block the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and lead to serious medical issues. The size of the object and weight of your pet largely determines the likelihood of an object safely passing through the GI tract.
If you suspect your pet has consumed a foreign body, we urge you to call us right away. This is for your pet’s safety!
Symptoms of GI obstruction include
- Loss of Appetite
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Inactivity
- Pain in the Abdominal Region
- Weakness
- Pale Gums
- Abnormal Stools
Oral Surgery
Oral surgery is recommended for pets diagnosed with advanced dental disease, broken teeth, and oral tumors that cannot be treated with other therapies.