Surgery - Anesthesia & Patient Monitoring at Henderson Animal Hospital
When pets need surgery, our skilled veterinary surgeons take all the necessary steps to maximize outcomes and promote animal comfort and safety. We invite you to learn about the veterinary surgery services we offer at Henderson Animal Hospital in Winnipeg, MB, and discover what you can do to support your pet before, during, and after an operation.
Common Types of Pet Surgery We Offer
When caring for sick and injured pets, our Winnipeg veterinarian team always looks for the most cost-effective and least-invasive strategies to help animals feel better and improve their quality of life. In some cases, pet surgery is a necessary and beneficial part of an animal’s plan of care. Here are some of the most common types of pet surgery we perform at our Winnipeg animal clinic:
Spay & Neuter Surgery
Spay and neuter procedures are done to make animals unable to produce offspring. These surgeries are essential for preventing pet overpopulation. Spay and neuter also offer specific health benefits to cats and dogs, such as the reduced risk of certain types of cancers.
Soft Tissue Repair
Pets can sustain major wounds from car accidents, animal bites, and other environmental hazards. Soft tissue surgery is often necessary to clean, trim, and close these wounds in order to optimize healing and prevent complications.
Orthopedic Repair
Orthopedic surgery can help manage injuries and diseases affecting an animal’s musculoskeletal system, including broken bones, luxating patellas, hip dysplasia, and ACL tears. These injuries and diseases, which can greatly inhibit an animal’s mobility and comfort, typically develop due to trauma, genetics, or even age-related “wear and tear.”
Eye, Ear, and Dental Surgery
Health conditions affecting an animal’s ears, eyes, nose, or throat often benefit from surgical intervention. For example, infected teeth (dental abscesses) can cause a great deal of pain and feeding difficulties for an animal, so our Winnipeg veterinarian team will often recommend surgical extraction of the damaged tooth as a primary treatment.
Tumor Removal
Surgical removal is often the recommended approach for addressing abnormal growths that develop in a pet’s body, including their skin. Removing these growths can prevent worsening problems and improve the animal’s appearance and mobility, especially if the growth develops near a joint or in the animal’s mouth.
Internal Organ Surgery/Abdominal Surgery
Surgery is often indicated in animals who have health problems affecting their internal organs, such as digestive tract obstruction (e.g., after swallowing something they shouldn’t have) or heartworm infestation.
Caring For Your Pet Before and After Surgery: Advice from Our Winnipeg Veterinarian Team
It’s normal to feel a little nervous when your pet needs surgery. Our Winnipeg veterinarian team is here to help you and your pet feel as prepared as possible for any upcoming procedure, and we pledge to provide exceptional care for your animal before, during, and after their operation. Here’s how:
Before Surgery
Our Winnipeg veterinary team will meet with you to discuss your pet’s plan of care and go over the risks and benefits of your pet’s surgery. We’ll answer all your questions and give you detailed instructions on how to get your animal ready for their procedure. For example, we may ask you not to feed your animal within twelve hours of surgery.
During Surgery
Your pet’s safety and comfort is our top priority at all times! To keep your animal calm and pain-free during surgery, we’ll most likely give them general anesthesia, a type of medication that makes them temporarily unconscious. Your pet will be closely monitored by our skilled surgical team to ensure their safety.
After Surgery
Your pet may need to stay in the hospital for up to a day or so following surgery. This way, we can continue monitoring them closely and ensure there are no complications from the anesthesia or the procedure itself.
When it’s time to take your beloved companion home, we’ll make sure you’ll know exactly how to care for your pet! Specific instructions may include things like:
- How to administer any medications
- How to keep any incisions clean and dry
- How to limit exercise during the recovery period
- How to recognize signs of complications like bleeding or infection
The most important thing to remember: call us at any time with questions or concerns. We are always here for you and your pet!
