BECAUSE WE THINK YOUR PET DESERVES THE BEST, WE USE
STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT
for every procedure we perform here at Harlingen Veterinary Clinic. We perform various soft tissue surgeries for dogs and cats and make your pet’s comfort and safety a top priority.
Some surgeries are elective (optional), but offer health and behavior benefits, like spaying and neutering, but others are required to treat certain conditions. The following is a list of the most common soft tissue surgeries we perform at our veterinary clinic:
Spaying and neutering
Mass removal
Laceration repair
Ocular (eye) procedures
Emergency surgery
Here at Harlingen Veterinary Clinic, we use the latest in surgical technology, including a laser surgical instrument, for several procedures. You can learn more about laser surgery in the next section. If your pet needs hard tissue surgery, also known as orthopedic surgery, we can refer you to a board-certified veterinarian who can help.
Laser Surgery for Pets
Traditional surgery involves using a scalpel to cut or treat soft tissue. Laser surgery, on the other hand, uses light in the form of a laser as the instrument. Here in our clinic, we use this laser instrument for mass removals as well as ear, eyelid, and oral surgical procedures. Laser surgery provides several benefits for pets, including:
- Less bleeding: The laser instrument seals small blood vessels as it cuts, which doesn’t cause as much bleeding as scalpel surgery.
- Pain reduction: The laser beam seals nerve endings as it passes through the tissue, which minimizes pain and swelling for the patient.
- Reduced risk of infection: The laser beam destroys bacteria in the skin, which creates a sterilizing effect that decreases the risk of infection.
- Faster recovery time: Because there is a reduction in the amount of bleeding and pain as well as the risk of infection, the overall recovery time is quickened after surgery.
Pre- and Post-Surgical Expectations
We typically require that your pet is brought in for surgery on an empty stomach, as anesthesia can sometimes cause nausea and vomiting. That means, no food after midnight the night before surgery. Water can be given as normal. Once your pet is in our care, we’ll follow AAHA anesthesia guidelines, which require pre-anesthetic blood work. If we detect no reasons for concern in the results, we will proceed with administering the anesthesia and beginning the surgical procedure. We monitor the vitals and comfort level of every patient throughout surgery.
After surgery, it’s normal for your pet to be a little groggy and lethargic from the anesthesia. This could last for as many as 24 hours after pickup. We will provide you with pain medications and give you dosage instructions, which will also be printed on the label. We’ll also give you information about the incision and what to look for. If you have any questions or concerns during your pet’s recovery, give us a call.
