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(847) 966-3080
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Learn More About:
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.
