Pet surgeries can range from common – like spay/neuters and suturing lacerations – to unusual or critical, such as repairing a ruptured bladder or performing orthopedic reconstruction following traumatic injury. Western Carolina Regional Animal Hospital & Veterinary Emergency Hospital has the facility, equipment and experience to help maximize successful outcomes for our surgical patients. We have invested in a fully equipped surgical suite including sophisticated surgical, anesthesia and monitoring equipment as well as “positive air pressure” to prevent circulation of air from other areas into the suite.

State of the Art Surgery

Anesthesia

All of our surgical patients receive pre-anesthetic blood testing to identify potential complications so the anesthetic protocol can be modified if necessary. The advanced anesthesia we use facilitates “quick down/quick up” for our surgical patients. Throughout surgical procedures your pet will receive continuous monitoring of vital signs.

Soft Tissue Surgeries

Both Emergency and Primary Care veterinarians perform soft tissue surgeries. Examples of time-critical emergency soft tissue surgeries include cesarean sections for difficult births; repairing lacerations from fights or car injuries; and surgery to relieve gastric dilation-volvulus (bloat). Examples of Primary Care soft-tissue surgeries include removal and biopsy of masses and removal of foreign bodies.

Emergency laceration repair in treatment area.

Dr. Rosen in surgery.

Orthopedic Surgeries

As with human medicine, orthopedic surgeries can usually be scheduled, even in the case of a traumatic injury. In addition to traditional orthopedic surgeries to repair broken bones, Western Carolina Regional Hospital & Veterinary Emergency Hospital has invested in sophisticated equipment for joint repairs such as Tibial Tuberosity Advancements (TTA) repair for ruptured knee ligaments.

Dr. Rosen in Knee Surgery.

TTA surgical repair model.

Minimally Invasive Surgeries

In some cases, endoscopic procedures offer a minimally invasive alternative to surgery.

Some examples are:

• Removal of foreign bodies that have not yet entered the small intestine
• Exploratory procedures and biopsies
• Ear treatment

Because minimally invasive endoscopic procedures avoid incisions, they allow faster recoveries with less pain.

Removing foreign object with endoscope.

Sheet removed by endoscope.

Post-Operative Recovery

Following surgery, patients recover in either our Intensive Care or Hospital Wing, where we begin pain management to assure our patients are as comfortable as possible through their recovery. Professional veterinary staff are on site 24/7/365  to provide continuous monitoring and care for hospitalized patients.

Case Studies

Please visit our selection of case studies to see some of our surgical successes:

• Caesarean section
• Spiral femur fracture repair
• Endoscopic foreign body removal
• Continuity of care