Our closed surgical suite is outfitted with modern equipment for AAHA standard patient monitoring.  We are able to perform complex surgical procedures including cruciate and fracture repair, mass removals, gastropexies, and exotics surgery.​

Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL) Tears

​The cruciate ligaments are two bands of fibrous tissue inside the stifle (knee) that create a hinge between the femur and tibia.  The ligaments criss-cross inside of the joint and allow the knee to flex, restricting side-to-side motion.  Unfortunately, stifles lack 'interlocking' bones, like hips or elbows, making them more injury-prone. 

When the CCL is torn, each step causes the tibia to thrust forward like an opening drawer from underneath the femur.   The sliding motion causes damage to the cartilage and bones inside of the joint, and makes the knee feel unstable and painful.  Your veterinarian will check for this instability through a physical exam - sometimes mild sedation or radiographs (x-rays) are needed to confirm the diagnosis.

 To restore use of the joint, surgical stabilization is recommended. Performing surgery as quickly as possible will reduce pain and permanent joint damage. In some circumstances, conservative management may be the only treatment option available.

When surgical stabilization is opted for, an owner is faced with a plethora of options.  The tibial plateau leveling osteotomy, or TPLO, has historically been promoted for use in active large breed dogs or dogs with excessive tibial plateau slope.  This surgery involves specialized equipment and is typically performed by a boarded veterinary surgeon, or DACVS.  

Some dogs may be candidates for a less invasive method for stabilization. Instead of cutting the bone, a SwiveLock Bone Anchor Stabilization passes a synthetic ligament-like biomaterial called FiberTape through a drilled hole in the tibia, to a bone anchor placed in the femur. Fibertape is a Kevlar-like material that acts as an artificial stabilizing ligament. As this material has very little stretch to it, this method is more secure and lasts longer than other forms of lateral suture repairs.

No one procedure is perfect for all cases and all situations.  We are happy to discuss options and schedule a consultation to help you decide on the right treatment plan.

Other surgical procedures include:

A Total Ear Canal Ablation or TECA is used to describe a procedure used to manage severe canal or middle ear disease in dogs where other methods of treatment have failed. The full name of the procedure is Total Ear Canal Ablation with Lateral Bulla Osteotomy (TECA + LBO) but most surgeons use the term TECA for convenience.  Many pet owners expect their dog’s hearing to be reduced after surgery, due to the removal of the ear drum. Suprisingly, this is not always the case. In many cases, the ear canal is so diseased by the time a surgery such as TECA is being considered, owners notice little change in their dog’s ability to hear after surgery. You can learn more about the TECA procedure here.

An anal sacculectomy is a surgery performed on pets with a history of anal sac infection, or cancer within the glands of the anal sacs. Signs that your pet may have a problem include licking around anus, chasing the tail, scooting, reluctance to sit or general discomfort.  Reocurrent abscesses or impactions can occur when the anal sacs do not empty well. Each infection may cause progressive scarring and narrowing of the ducts, leading to even more frequent occurrences. This procedure is delicate and specialized, and should only be considered when traditional therapy has failed. You can learn more about anal sac disease and the sacculectomy procedure here.

 The term luxating means 'out of place' or 'dislocated'. Therefore, a luxating patella is a kneecap that moves out of its normal location. Pet owners may notice a skip in their dog’s step or see their dog run on three legs. Then suddenly they will be back on all four legs as if nothing happened. Surgery should be performed if your dog has recurrent or persistent lameness or if other knee injuries occur secondary to the luxating patella. Grade I patellar luxations are not usually surgically repaired, but Grades II-IV are. To learn more about patellar luxation and repair, check out the article here.  

The bladder collects urine from the kidneys and contracts to expel its contents during urination via a tube called the urethra.  In some cats, mucous plugs, crystals and stones can become lodged in the urethra of a male cat, which results in urinary obstruction - and if severely or repeatedly blocked, a perineal urethrostomy may be recommended. The perineal urethrostomy essentially removes the narrow terminal portion of the urethra located within the penis.   Urinary blockage is an emergency; therefore, it is essential to have this condition treated immediately. You can read more about this procedure here.