We are proud to be the first veterinary hospital in the United States to provide laser surgery for your pet. Laser surgery is an innovative procedure used in pet surgery that results in:
- reduced pain,
- reduced bleeding, and
- reduced swelling.
All of these benefits are during and after your pet's surgery. Your pets are counting on you to learn more about laser surgery.
Laser Surgery for Pets: Overview
Traditional surgery uses a scalpel or scissors and can bruise or crush your pet's soft tissue. A powerful, focused laser beam has the distinctive ability to quickly destroy unhealthy tissue and make precise incisions.
Using a laser minimizes the pain, swelling, and bleeding that is often associated with surgery. The laser beam concurrently kills any bacteria in its path. Also, during laser surgery, only one single intense beam of laser light makes contact with the tissue. This dramatically reduces the risk of potential post-operative infection. While cutting, ablating, or coagulating tissue, the laser seals capillaries, small blood vessels, lymphatics, and nerve endings. Sealed nerve endings mean more comfort for your pet after surgery. Sealed lymph vessels mean less swelling after surgery.
With laser surgery, the surgeon can adjust the laser beam's size and power to achieve the desired degree of control over the tissue removal process. The laser is equally adept at incisions, excisions, and ablations.
Your pet's health is as important to us as it is to you. We are pleased to offer laser surgery as an exciting new option for safe, comfortable treatment. Simply put, laser surgery is highly beneficial for you and your pet. For more information, call Warwick Animal Hospital in Newport News, VA, today (757-595-3337).
Laser Surgery for Pets FAQs
Q. Why laser surgery?
A. Less pain – The laser seals nerve endings as it cuts, so your pet may require less anesthesia during the operation, reducing the risk of complications. There is also a reduction in pain after surgery.
Less bleeding – The laser seals small blood vessels during surgery.
Less swelling – Laser energy does not crush, tear, or bruise because there is no physical contact with the tissue, and it seals off lymphatic vessels.
Q. What does this mean for your pet?
A. Reduced risk of infection – The laser sterilizes as it removes diseased tissue, killing bacteria that cause infection.
Precision – The laser can remove unhealthy tissue without affecting or removing surrounding healthy tissue.
Quick return to normal activities – Healing is rapid, and there is only minor post-operative discomfort.
Laser procedures reduce the trauma to your pet, improve healing, and may shorten the time spent in a veterinary hospital.
Q. Are lasers new?
A. No. Laser technology is a proven method that has been utilized for more than 20 years. Medical doctors have used lasers to help thousands of people. We are pleased to be the first veterinary hospital in the United States to offer your pet this advanced technology. We have many years of experience performing laser surgery.
Q. What types of procedures can a laser perform?
A. A laser is ideal for a wide variety of surgical procedures for dogs, cats, and exotics . Laser surgery can correct many common conditions such as cysts, tumors, warts, and infections that may occur around the eyes and ears, in the mouth, and anywhere on the skin. Specialized internal procedures are also possible. Specific procedures, such as cat declaws and cancer surgery, are so much more humane when performed by laser that we will only perform those procedures with laser. Our veterinarians will be able to tell you if your pet's procedure can be achieved with laser.
Q. What is a laser?
A. A laser is a device that generates an intense beam of light at a specific wavelength.
Q. How does a laser work?
A. Our patients are treated with a carbon dioxide (CO2) laser, the most widely used type of medical laser globally. CO2 lasers produce an invisible beam that vaporizes the water commonly found in the skin and other soft tissue. Because the laser beam can be precisely controlled, it removes (or cuts) only a thin layer of tissue at one time, leaving the surrounding areas unaffected. This level of control allows our veterinarians to be extremely precise in every laser surgery procedure.
To find out more about laser surgery for your pet or to schedule an appointment, call Warwick Animal Hospital in Newport News, VA, today (757-595-3337). Our friendly staff looks forward to speaking with you and providing your pet the absolute best care.