Routine & Elective Surgery for Animals     

Routine and elective surgeries are performed in order to prevent future injury or disease as well as due to certain underlying conditions. Our experienced general practitioners perform a myriad of elective surgical procedures here in our state of the art surgical suite:

Spays, Neuters & Cryptorchid Testicle Retrieval

These sterilization techniques are used in order to provide population control, prevent unwanted behavior such as heat cycles in females and roaming in males, as well as decrease the risk of future medical problems such as infection and certain types of cancer. 

Spay

We offer two types of spays. Traditional spays are done as “open” procedures whereby a large incision is made into the abdomen and the entire uterus with both ovaries are removed. Research in the UK has shown that just as effective results can be obtained by removing the ovaries only (termed ovarectomy) and leaving the uterus in place. However, by removing the ovaries the sex hormone regulation is lost and these animals are at no higher risk compared to traditional spays for things such as: pyometra (uterus infection) and mammary cancer, the two most common reproductive diseases in intact animals. The best benefit of ovarectomy is that it can be performed via laparoscopy, thereby reducing pain and tissue trauma and allowing a much faster recovery and return to function. (Please see laparoscopy surgery section.)

Mass Removals

Cancerous masses are common occurrences in older cats and dogs. They come in two broad categories including benign (locally invasive but not typically able to spread to other areas), and malignant (locally invasive with the potential to metastasize or spread to other areas of the body). Both benign and malignant masses can be found anywhere on the body including on the skin, in the mouth and in the abdomen or chest. It is always recommended to sample a mass via fine needle aspiration or biopsy prior to removal so that it can be assessed and the procedure can be properly planned.

Gastropexies (stomach tacking to prevent bloat or GDV)

Large and giant breed dogs can undergo a stomach tacking procedure in order to reduce the risk of the GDV complex.

Foreign Body Removals from the Stomach, Intestines & Soft Tissues

Occasionally our pets eat things they shouldn’t. Not to worry, our highly skilled team has the ability to get them on the road to recovery.

Wound Care

Sometimes wounds are severe enough that they require surgical intervention.

Splenectomies (Removal of the Spleen)

The spleen is a blood filtering organ that can have numerous conditions affect it including: cancerous and non-cancerous masses, torsion (twisting on its axis and cutting off blood supply), and infections. Dogs can go on to live a normal life without a spleen and as such we sometime will advocate to have it removed.

Intestinal & Liver Biopsies

Small pieces of tissue can be obtained from the intestines or liver surgically in order to help diagnose and ultimately treat certain conditions.

Cystotomy (Bladder Stone Removal)

Surgery may be needed to remove stones within the bladder. However, this is just one aspect of bladder stones and once they are removed we aim to keep them out. After surgery we can help to develop a dietary and life-style plan in order to prevent the stone’s recurrence.

Ocular (Eye) Surgeries

Certain conditions require surgical intervention of the eyes. We also consult with ophthalmologists in the area to be sure that your pet is receiving the best care possible.

Dental Surgery

The mouth is a fragile place and can cause a lot of pain if left untreated. Our team of highly skilled doctors have pursued continuing education in order to be sure that your pets receive the highest of dental care. (Please see the dental section.)

Cesarean Sections (C-sections)

When there is a C-section at Advanced Animal Care of Colorado we take every precaution in order to minimize risk. This leads to high percentages of success. By utilizing specific anesthetic protocols, having the help of a large team (one team member dedicated to each puppy and two to the whelping mother), and coordinated efficiency, you can be sure that your puppies are in the right hands. (Please see the reproduction section for more information.)

Limb Amputations

Certain conditions require removal of one of the limbs. For us as people this can be a very concerning thing. However dogs and cats tend to do very well with only three limbs, just ask our clinic cat “Charlie” who you wouldn’t know the difference other than directly looking at the missing limb.

Have questions about any of these topics or ones you don’t see?  Please contact us for more information.