SURGICAL CARE AT CONSTANT COMPANION ANIMAL HOSPITAL

Almost all pets will undergo surgery at some point in their life.  For many pets, that starts at a young age with a spay or neuter procedure. However, there are many other reasons your pet may need surgery including things like the removal of intestinal obstructions, removal of skin tumors, and, management of bone and joint injuries. We work hard to provide a facility and environment that is prepared to handle your pet’s surgical care in a safe and effective manner.

Anesthesia is monitored with the newest and most capable machines making anesthesia as safe as possible – surgical patients will regularly be monitored with – electrocardiogram (EKG), heart and respiratory rate, non-invasive blood pressure, pulse oximeter (monitors oxygen saturation in blood), end-tidal CO2, and temperature

• Your pet will have someone with them from the time they go to sleep to the time they wake up.

SOME COMMON PROCEDURES

Please read below to find a list of some common surgical procedures we perform.  This is not a complete list – if your pet needs a procedure that you don’t see listed, please ask. There is a good chance that we can help!

SPAY AND NEUTER SURGERY

Sterilizing your puppy or kitten will help them live a better life. The many benefits range from decreased risks of some cancers to behavioral modification. Spay and neuter surgeries will also help cut back on unwanted litters that can produce more pets that may never find a permanent home. Contact Constant Companion to set up a consultation for your puppy or kitten to discuss their options.

We recommend a spay or neuter surgery for your pet at about 5 to 6 months old. However, all pets are unique and certain breeds may benefit from a different timeline. For example – we prefer to wait a little longer on large breed male dogs, assuming they do not begin showing unwanted testosterone-driven behaviors such as urine marking and aggression.

Other reasons for delaying a pet’s spay or neuter surgery may include abnormalities in either a physical exam or lab work.

Here is what you can expect:

• Aggressive behavior in males is lessened, as well as the urge to roam and mark their territory with urine
• Females will not go into heat cycles, which result in frustrated behavior and bleeding in dogs
• The risk of breast cancer is decreased in females spayed before their first heat cycle
• The risk of uterine disease and ovarian cancer is completely eliminated in spayed females

Spay and neuter procedures are considered routine procedures, but they are still surgeries that involve some risk and time to recover. We take every precaution to ensure your pet is in safe hands when they are with us, but when you take them home, we have a few care tips for you to follow.

• Care Tips for Your Pet
  • Give your pet a quiet place to rest away from other animals such as a crate or confined space
  • Be patient while your pet recovers from anesthesia – they may be groggy and lose their appetite for up to 24 hours after surgery
  • Keep your pet from licking or scratching at the incision
  • The healing process can take up to 10 days – check the incision to ensure it is healing properly (no unusual swelling and no discharge)
  • Prevent your pet from exercise such as running and jumping
  • No swimming or bathing for 10 days

DENTAL AND ORAL SURGERY – We perform a wide variety of dental and oral surgical procedures. Dental disease is very common in pets, and surgery (primarily extraction of teeth and removal of small growths) sometimes is necessary to restore the mouth to good health.

SOFT TISSUE SURGERY

Soft tissue surgery encompasses most surgeries that don’t involve bones or joints.

We provide a wide range of soft tissue procedures including:

• Anal Sac Removal (yes, those things are nasty and can be safely removed) 
• Cherry Eye Repair
• Correction of Eyelid Abnormalities 
• Gastropexy (stomach tacking – recommended in deep-chested large breed dogs)
• Growth Removal
• Intestinal Surgery (removal of foreign objects or tumors) 
• Spay and Neuter
• Urinary Tract Surgery (bladder stones removal) 
• Wound and Laceration Repair 

ORTHOPEDIC SURGERY

Orthopedic surgery involves the surgical treatment of bone and joint injuries.

Some orthopedic procedures include:

• ACL Repairs / ACL Surgery
• Correction of Patella Luxations 
• Femoral Head & Neck Ostectomy (FHNO)

If you have ANY questions – do not hesitate to contact us!