Veterinary Surgery

Veterinary Surgery covers operative procedures on soft tissue and, in many units, on the musculoskeletal system, for dogs, cats and other companion animals. Soft-tissue surgery includes spays and castrations, removal of skin and mammary tumours, gastrointestinal surgery for foreign bodies or obstructions, bladder surgery, hernia repair, caesarean section and complex wound closure after trauma. Orthopaedic surgery addresses fractures, cruciate ligament ruptures, patellar luxation and dysplasia, and some centres also offer minimally invasive surgery.

An owner reaches veterinary surgery either as a planned step, for a neutering or a problem found at a check-up, or as an emergency, after an accident, a serious bite, gastric torsion or a swallowed object. In both cases preparation involves a pre-operative consultation, blood tests and assessment of anaesthetic risk, and recovery calls for wound care, pain relief, restricted movement and follow-up visits. The better you understand these steps beforehand, the smoother the time at home goes.

When you choose a surgical service, check how the operating theatre is equipped, whether inhalation anaesthesia and monitoring of vital signs are used during the operation, how pain is managed before and after, whether there is hospitalisation for observation, and what experience the team has with the type of procedure you need. Ask how many procedures of this kind the team does in a year and who calls you if a complication develops overnight. The cost includes the pre-operative consultation, tests, anaesthesia, the procedure itself, consumables, hospitalisation and re-checks; for any planned operation ask for a written estimate and ask what happens if complications arise.

Follow the fasting instructions before anaesthesia, prepare a quiet, confined space at home for recovery and a collar or body suit that stops the animal licking the wound, and do not resume long walks or jumping until the check-up that confirms healing. Use this directory to find clinics offering veterinary surgery in your city, compare equipment and availability for planned or emergency procedures, and open each page for contact details, a map and reviews before booking a surgical consultation.