Surgery

Pre-operative exams and bloodwork. All pets receive a thorough physical examination and pre-operative bloodwork several days prior to a major surgery.  With the possible exception of cat neuters, all other surgeries are considered major. Our efforts prior to surgery, allow us to make the anesthesia and surgery as safe as possible.  Our comprehensive physical exam costs $62 and our standard pre-operative bloodwork costs $65!  At this visit we will explain how you should prepare your pet for surgery and discuss such things as withholding food, incision care, exercise instructions and bandage changes if necessary.  In some cases, we will encourage you to get your pet fitted with an Elizabethan collar so they can get used to it prior to the day of surgery.

Stress-free environment: We understand that surgery can be stressful for both the pet and the owner.  We take a unique approach to decreasing that stress. Unlike other clinics, we have you drop off your pet at a specific time the day of surgery so that no other pets are present and your pet is not waiting.  We also encourage you to bring your pet’s favorite toy or blanket to remind them of home.  During your first visit, we decide how we can make the day of surgery less stressful.  Most pets simply benefit from having their owners stay while the pre-sedation takes effect.  Some pets may need additional help using calming essential oils or behavioral modification agents.  In our stress-free office we diffuse calming essential oils and stream relaxing music which makes pets feel at home and relaxed immediately when they walk in the door.

State-of-the-art surgical facilities, equipment, and protocols:  Our surgical suite is a separate room with a sterile environment equipped with the latest equipment.  Our protocols are customized to the patient, not a one size fits all approach.   We use preoperative pain prevention to minimize the depth and maximize the safety of general anesthesia. The best anesthetics (balanced injections, propofol, isoflurane, regional nerve blocks) provide an extra margin of safety, especially for our older or high-risk patients. Our patients’ vital signs are monitored during all anesthetic procedures both directly by our staff and through the use of equipment such as continuous ECG, pulse oximetry, and respiratory monitors.

We Take Pain Seriously:  As we all realize, pain is a real physiological event that has negative effects on recovery and healing.  We anticipate your pet’s pain and use a variety of techniques to reduce pain.  One such example is the use of Cerenia (maropitant) to be given the night before your pet’s procedure.   This drug prevents the nausea following anesthesia and also helps to reduce pain. We use local anesthetics to block pain.   Your pet will receive additional pain medication during the procedure and during recovery.  Laser therapy is often used to facilitate healing and reduce pain at the incision site. Pain medication and anti-inflammatories are also sent home for recovery. We want your pet to rest comfortably during its recovery!

Constant monitoring:  Our intimate association with your pet begins when you walk in the door.  From that moment on, they are under our constant supervision and comforting care.  We customize each pet’s monitoring protocol based on their needs.  Nearly all pets receive intravenous fluids throughout their surgery.  Their blood oxygen levels, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and blood pressure are monitored and recorded every10 minutes.  Their body temperature is regulated using our warm air Bair Hugger system.

Recovery:  This is a particularly important time.  We are extremely vigilant to make sure your pet is recovering as expected. We have dedicated staff who will sit with your pet during recovery.  They assist in monitoring and ensure that your pet feels safe and secure as they wake up.  Patient safety and comfort is our main priority. Our experienced staff provides skilled pain management during and after all surgical procedures, ensuring your pet recovers smoothly and pain-free.  As soon as your pet is awake we will call you with an update on how their surgery went, along with a pick up time.

Personalized Discharge and Follow-up:  For most surgeries, it is important to keep your pet quiet, warm and confined for the first 24 hours after surgery. Depending on the type of surgery, 7-14 days of rest and recovery time are needed along with medication.  It’s important to watch your pet closely for redness and swelling at incision sites, and for any signs of discomfort. Some pets need to wear an Elizabethan collar or other form of collar to prevent licking of the incision.  The incision must stay dry for 14 days – no baths or swimming allowed.

If we feel your pet will need additional pain medication or antibiotics while it’s recovering at home, we will customize a protocol and fully instruct you on how to safely use the medications provided. You are always welcome to call when you have further concerns or questions. The day after the procedure, we will call you to find out how your pet is doing.

We provide a wide range of services.  We offer a standard list of surgeries, similar to most veterinary clinics but we also have access to a board-certified surgeon, Dr. Matthew Nicholson,  for more complicated procedures.  Below is a list of the types of surgeries performed in our wellness center.

Ovariohysterectomy (commonly known as a spay)  This is the removal of the ovaries and uterus of a female to prevent puppies.

Neuter   This is the removal of the testicles in a male.

General Skin and Soft Tissue Mass/Tumor Removal

Abdominal exploratory  This is typically performed to take biopsies of internal organs or to remove non-food items that have become stuck in the intestines or stomach.

Limb amputation

Cystotomy  This is performed to remove stones that have formed in the bladder.

Aural (Ear) Hematoma Repair

Soft Palate Resection and Stenotic Nares Repair

Entropion Repair

Orthopedic Surgery  This type of surgery includes:  TPLO, Patella Luxation Repair, Bone Pinning and Plating and many more procedures

We work closely with a Board-Certified Surgeon:

Veterinarians aren’t too different from human doctors. In general, there are doctors that help you with your everyday wellbeing and health, and then there are doctors who specialize in a specific aspect of medicine. In the same way, there are veterinarians who know something about everything, and veterinarians who know everything about something. A board-certified surgeon falls into this second group. In order to become board certified, a veterinarian needs to complete additional advanced training. Usually this involves a year-long internship and a three-year residency program. This time allows them to focus their abilities and offer the highest quality of care.

Board certified surgeons are able to see and treat complicated problems that require the expertise they’ve acquired through years of specialized surgical training. Furthermore, because they’re experts in their field, they can discuss options with you in order to find the right treatment for your pet and family.

Tally Oaks is excited to offer the services of Dr. Mathew Nicholson of Salutaris Veterinary Specialists. Dr. Nicholson is a board-certified surgeon who has extensive experience performing all types of soft tissue and orthopedic surgery.  If your pet needs a board-certified surgeon, Dr. Nicholson will come to Tally Oaks to perform the procedure and we will provide the pre and post operative care, as well as the anesthesia.

Dr. Nicholson is available to perform the following elective orthopedic procedures at TOVWC:

• Shoulder/Stifle/Tarsus OCD
• Elbow dysplasia
•  Proximal Abducting Ulnar Osteotomy (PAUL)
• OCD
• Coronoid disease
• Incongruence
• Angular limb deformity
• Tendon injuries
• Limb Amputations
• Needle arthroscopy

Considering surgery? Let us help. After we examine your pet we will provide a customized estimate.