Surgical Services for Dogs & Cats
At Smith Veterinary Hospital, we perform elective and non-elective surgical procedures to help treat health conditions that can impact your cat or dog's health and life, both now and in the future.
Before surgery is considered, we use thorough diagnostic imaging and testing to explore less invasive treatment options. When we recommend a surgery for your pet, it's because it will be the most effective method of treating your pet's medical condition.
We'll talk you through everything you need to know about your pet's upcoming procedure ahead of time. We want to be sure that you fully understand why we are recommending a particular surgery for your pet, and that you are comfortable making decisions about their health.
Our veterinary team knows that any surgery, no matter the reason or expected outcome, may cause you to worry. We are here every step of the way, working with your pet's best interests in mind and their safety at the forefront of everything we do.
Surgical Procedures Offered at Our Hospital
Our Thornhill veterinarians routinely perform the following elective and non-elective surgical procedures for cats and dogs:
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Soft Tissue Surgery
Soft tissue surgery covers a range of ear, nose, and throat procedures as well as mass removals and treatment of flesh wounds.
Other areas that soft tissue surgery covers include hepatic, urogenital, oncological, cardiothoracic, gastrointestinal, and skin disorders.
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Spaying & Neutering
Spaying and neutering are very common surgical procedures performed to sterilize pets. These surgeries can help prevent disease potentially extending their life expectancy.
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C-Sections
C-sections (Cesarean sections) are a surgical procedure used to remove puppies or kittens from their mother's uterus. This is needed in situations where the mother is unable to give birth naturally.
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Ocular Surgery
If your cat or dog requires ocular surgery, it means they have a condition that affects the eye. Some of the most common ocular surgeries include eyelid tumour removal, cataract surgery, ectropion surgery, entropion surgery, exenteration of the orbit and cherry eye surgery.
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Mass Removal
Masses are growths of tissue that can occur nearly anywhere on the body, either beneath the surface of the skin or internally. While some masses may be removed for aesthetic purposes, other masses can be serious or even life-threatening.
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Foreign Body Removal
A foreign objects is any non-food item that becomes stuck in a cat or dog's body, either through ingestion or other means. Regardless of cause, foreign objects pose a very serious threat to your pet's health and longevity, and must be removed as soon as possible. Our veterinarians can perform foreign body surgery to remove the object and help the healing process begin.
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Wound Repair
A wound occurs when the skin of your cat or dog has been damaged in any way, including cut, scratched, burned and more. These wounds must be cleaned, disinfected, and appropriately cared for by a veterinary professional as soon as possible to avoid infections.
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Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgeries are performed to correct injuries and conditions of the bones, ligaments, joints, tendons, and other skeletal structures in pets. Two of the most common veterinary orthopedic surgeries include tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO) and femoral head ostectomy (FHO).
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Dental Surgery
Dental surgeries at our animal hospital are used to relieve pain and restore good oral health in dogs and cats. Some of the dental surgeries that we often perform include tooth extractions, gum disease treatment and jaw fracture repairs.
The Surgery Process
When you bring your companion in for surgery, our team will follow a series of steps to cover all aspects of care.
The first step is to perform a thorough evaluation of your cat or dog. This includes a physical examination of your pet as well as blood tests to determine if they face any risk of anesthesia-related complications.
Once the initial examination is complete, a member of our veterinary team will administer anesthesia and pain medications and continuously monitor your pet using electronic patient monitoring equipment.
Post-operative monitoring and pain management are our priorities following surgery. You will also be provided with complete care instructions to ensure an optimal outcome for your furry friend.
Sterilization Protocols
We will provide a safe environment to help protect the health of your beloved loved one. We achieve this using strict sterilization protocols.
Surgical protocols at our hospital include dedicated surgical suites which are kept completely sterile to prevent infection and cross-contamination.
Our staff wear sterile attire at all times when they are in the surgical suite, and we carefully clean, sterilize and wrap our surgical instruments and equipment before every surgery.