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Client Testimonials
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North Shore
Veterinary Clinic
Surgery
When most people envision what occurs at a hospital, they typically imagine an examination with a doctor or a surgical procedure. An exam does not usually cause anyone anguish, but often people can be apprehensive when they hear "surgery." While true that surgery is usually the most involved medical procedure a pet can undergo, many steps precede it to ensure it is as simple and safe as possible.
Technically, surgery describes procedures in a range of complexity. It can be a simple removal of a small (2-3 mm) cyst on a shoulder to neutering (spaying or "fixing") to a thyroidectomy (removal of part or all of the thyroid gland) or more. Based on the complexity of the procedure, we need to determine an appropriate anesthetic (either general or local). Often we can remove a small growth on the surface of the body (depending on its location) by administering a local anesthetic. Many surgical procedures involve more complexity though. These surgeries require a general anesthetic.
For most pets, the only surgery they undergo is neutering. We routinely perform other surgeries as well: thyroidectomy, urolith cystotomy (i.e. bladder stone removal), lumpectomy (removal of a lump or growth on the surface or in the body), tooth extractions, laparotomy (i.e. "exploratory surgery"), ...etc.
There is a risk, however small, for any surgical procedure requiring anesthesia. (Even when you and I go to the dentist to have a filling put in, there is some small risk associated with the nitrous oxide they use.) Therefore, we will recommend blood screening to determine if any problems exist that cannot be determined from a physical exam. Based on what we find, we can modify our anesthetic protocol to minimize any potential risk. On the day of surgery, your pet receives a physical exam prior to administration of any anesthetic to ensure everything is still fine. If Dr. Johnson believes it is not safe to proceed, we will postpone surgery until a later date when your pet has improved.