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Soft Tissue Surgery
Overview
Soft tissue surgery is any surgery non-joint or bone related, and can include ear, nose and throat, cardio-thoracic, hepatic, gastrointestinal, urogenital, skin reconstructive and oncological surgeries. If soft tissue surgery is recommended for your pet, we will do everything possible to keep them safe and comfortable before, during, and after the surgery.
Similar to humans, once your beloved pet is diagnosed by your family veterinarian with a condition that requires an advanced surgery, your pet may need referral to a board-certified veterinary surgeon (DACVS-SA), just as a human would be referred to a board-certified human surgeon.
A board-certified small animal surgeon has completed a rigorous training program comprised of four years of undergraduate studies, four years of veterinary school, at least one one-year internship, and a three-year small animal surgical residency. They must publish an original publication and pass the American College of Veterinary surgeons (ACVS) board exam. Upon passing the national exam, they receive Diplomate status, signifying his/her expertise in surgery. At this time, he/she can officially be called a veterinary surgeon.
You want your pet’s surgeon to have the initials DACVS-SA!
A variety of Soft Tissue Procedures are available, including but not limited to:
Head and Neck
Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome Repair (soft palate, stenotic nares, everted laryngeal saccules)
Ear surgery (TECA, Polyps, Ventral Bulla Osteotomy)
Tonsil surgery
Tongue surgery
Oral surgery (Mandibulectomy/Maxillectomy)
Laryngeal paralysis
Esophageal surgery (PRAA, esophageal diverticula)
Salivary mucocele
Thyroid and Parathyroid gland removal
Abdominal/Perineal
Anal gland masses
Anal sacculectomy for anal sac infections/impactions/abscesses
Biopsies
C-section
Gall Bladder disease
Gastrointestinal surgery (foreign body, tumors)
GDV (gastric-dilatation volvulus)
Hernia repair
Kidney disease (Nephrectomy)
Liver surgery (biopsy, portosystemic shunts, tumor removal)
Lower urinary tract disease (cystotomy, ectopic ureters, urethrostomy)
Pancreatic surgery
Perineal urethrostomy
Splenectomy
Skin
Reconstructive surgery (skin grafts and flaps)
Tumor removal
Wound management and repair
Thoracic
Cardiac surgery (PDA)
Chylothorax
Pericardectomy
Lung disease (bullae, cancer, torsion)
Rib Resection
Pleural port placement
Thoracotomy
Orthopedic Surgery
Overview
Orthopedic surgery treats bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles—areas in which your pet may feel pain in from a variety of conditions. If veterinary orthopedic surgery is recommended for your pet, we will do everything possible to keep them safe and comfortable before, during, and after the surgery.
A variety of Orthopedic Procedures are available, including but not limited to:
Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO) for CCL rupture
TPLO is recommended for any dog bigger than the standard purse
Patella Luxation
Fractures
Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy (FHNO; FHO)
Hip Reduction for Luxated Hip
Tendon and Ligament Injuries
Why would my pet need orthopedic surgery?
Orthopedic surgery can help animals who suffer from joint problems, torn ligaments, broken bones, and can even help correct congenital problems. Most orthopedic surgery is focused around the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL), sometimes referred to as the Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).
When should I seek orthopedic care for my pet?
Pay attention to the way your pet is moving around, any unusual changes may mean they have an orthopedic condition.
Typical symptoms of an orthopedic disorder include difficulty getting up, favoring a leg intermittently when walking, limping - swelling in the leg, stiffness or decreased activity level. If you notice any of these problems, you should take your pet to our facility for an examination.
How are typical orthopedic injuries treated?
Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
Tibial plateau leveling osteotomy is used to repair a torn ligament by changing the dynamic of the animal’s knee. The ligament becomes irrelevant to the stability of the knee by counteracting the force that caused the ligament to tear. The reconstructive surgery cuts the tibia bone, rotates it, and becomes held in place with metal plates. This is an extremely effective long-term solution for the injury.
Luxating Patella Surgery
Patellar luxation is a dislocated knee cap and most commonly seen in small breed dogs. Most patellar luxation occurs when the patellar displaces from its normal position to the inside of the knee. Pets with this condition may have an intermittent non-weight bearing lameness and you may even hear a popping noise in their knee. There are many ways to treat this from a simple knee brace for a Grade 1 luxation, to realignment surgery for lower grade luxations. Bring your pet in so we can determine the best way to treat the luxation.
Fracture Repairs
A fracture is a break in the bone or cartilage and can be repaired from simple external splinting to more advanced internal plating. Fractures are typically caused by trauma, a disease or tumor in the bone, or stress applied to a certain bone.
Our veterinarians adhere to the highest level of care standards for all surgical procedures. Our highly skilled doctors place the utmost emphasis on pain management to ensure your pet is safe and comfortable throughout the treatment process. Using advanced technology, your pet's vital signs are monitored by our veterinary technicians, who will remain with your pet through recovery.
Why choose Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital of Wichita?
Our beautiful, new facility has fully equipped surgical suites. We have a fully equipped intensive-care-unit (ICU) and surgical recovery unit so that we can attend to your pet’s every need.
We formulate an anesthesia plan that is tailored specifically to your pet's condition and monitoring before, during, and after surgery, just like a human hospital!
We have a team of highly qualified surgical nurses and our board-certified surgeon will provide the best surgical care to your pet.
Our hospital is open 24/7 and will provide care to your pet and treat your pet as if he/she were ours! Your pet is never alone!
We have an experienced team of emergency doctors and emergency nurses who will provide the care that your pet deserves.
Before your pet goes home, we will thoroughly review instructions for care at home, and they will be typed out in 1-3 pages. If you have any questions or concerns, call us!
We will also ensure that we provide reliable follow-up and communication with your family veterinarian.
Still have questions concerning your pet’s condition and surgery?
Contact a member of our surgical team (316) 262-5321