Surgery

Trust Your Pet’s Surgical Needs to Our Care

Your pet’s surgical needs are in the best hands with our board-certified surgeons in a state-of-the-art surgical suite equipped with the most advanced technology for optimal surgical conditions. We strictly follow AAHA guidelines when it comes to surgery procedures and care. Immediately accessible is our veterinary intensive care unit, which is ideal for post-op patients who require critical care or constant supervision.

Board-Certified Surgeons

As with most health-related fields, veterinarians can specialize in a variety of different disciplines, including surgery. These specialties are recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties and The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), which certifies veterinarians in large and small animal surgery. In order for a veterinarian to meet the requirements for becoming a specialist, they complete several years of additional training beyond veterinary school.

Why Does Certification Matter?

While most veterinarians are able to perform standard surgeries, delicate or more complex cases are ideally performed by a specialist, resulting in a more comprehensive, practiced, and overall higher standard of care.

Board-certified specialists are able to offer elevated expertise and cultivate the best possible outcome for your pet and their individual needs. Additionally, they work closely with primary care veterinarians to ensure an appropriate continuum of care.

Soft Tissue Surgery

Soft tissue surgeries for pets encompass a wide range of procedures that address various conditions not related to bones or joints. Some common soft tissue surgeries in veterinary medicine include:

Spaying and Neutering: These are routine surgeries performed to sterilize pets. Spaying involves removing the uterus and ovaries in female pets, while neutering involves removing the testicles in male pets.
Tumor Removal: Surgical removal of benign or malignant tumors present in different parts of the body. This includes skin masses, mammary tumors, or growths in organs like the spleen or liver.
Gastrointestinal Surgery: Procedures related to the digestive system, such as removing foreign objects from the stomach or intestines, addressing blockages, or repairing gastrointestinal injuries.
Urinary Tract Surgery: Operations to address urinary issues, including bladder stone removal, corrective surgery for congenital abnormalities, or addressing obstructions.
Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery: Surgeries to address issues such as ear canal ablation for chronic infections, brachycephalic airway syndrome correction in certain dog breeds, or surgical correction of congenital nasal abnormalities.
Soft Tissue Trauma Repair: Surgeries to repair wounds, lacerations, or injuries that involve the skin, muscles, or other soft tissues, including reconstructive surgeries.
Thoracic Surgery: Procedures involving the chest cavity, such as lung lobe removal, addressing heart conditions, or removing masses from the thoracic region.
Dental and Oral Surgeries: These include tooth extractions, oral tumor removal, or corrective surgeries for oral defects.

Endoscopic and laparoscopic

We also offer Endoscopic and laparoscopic surgeries. These are advanced techniques that offer minimally invasive options for various procedures.

Endoscopic Surgery: This involves using an endoscope, a thin, flexible tube with a camera and light, inserted through natural body openings or small incisions. It allows visualization of internal organs and structures without the need for extensive incisions. Endoscopic procedures can include examinations of the gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system, and urinary system, as well as obtaining biopsies or removing foreign bodies.
Laparoscopic Surgery: Laparoscopy utilizes small incisions and specialized instruments to perform surgeries within the abdominal cavity. This technique minimizes trauma to the tissues and results in quicker recovery times compared to traditional open surgeries. Common laparoscopic procedures in veterinary medicine include spaying, organ biopsies, and certain abdominal surgeries.

What Makes Surgery at Vida Veterinary Care – Denver Unique?

We understand that anesthesia and surgery can be a very scary thing for pet owners. That is why we have developed a surgical program that makes safety and successful outcomes our first priority.

Prior to surgery, patients undergo a pre-anesthetic exam and blood tests to ensure they are good candidates for anesthesia. Before, during, and after surgery, your pet is continuously monitored by our veterinarians and veterinary technicians to ensure he or she is responding appropriately to the anesthesia, other medications, and the surgery itself. Our monitoring equipment includes an ECG for heart rate and rhythm, oxygen saturation, temperature, and blood pressure.

Pain relief before, during, and after any surgical procedure has a profound impact on how well our patients recover. It also significantly affects their attitude and activity once they return home. When it is time for your pet to go home, we will address any questions or concerns you may have about surgery, including the effects of anesthesia, pain management, and post-operative care.

Our surgeries include:

A customized surgical plan that addresses your pet’s specific needs, from your pre-surgical consultation to discharge and aftercare education.
Pre-anesthetic blood work to evaluate kidney and liver function, electrolyte levels, red/white blood cell count, and platelet count to ensure the patient can safely undergo anesthesia.
Pre-surgical medication, including anti-anxiety and sedatives, to ensure your pet is completely relaxed and sleepy long before anesthesia is introduced.
The use of the safest injectable and gas anesthetics available so patients remain comfortably asleep. Patients are intubated to ensure effective anesthesia and oxygen administration.
Fluids to help maintain blood pressure levels and facilitate the elimination of the anesthesia when the surgery is complete.
An injectable antibiotic to ward off post-op infections when indicated.
State-of-the-art equipment to monitor your pet’s heart, lungs, oxygen saturation levels, temperature, and blood pressure.
A certified veterinary technician to monitor your pet throughout his or her surgical process, from anesthetic induction, throughout the surgical procedure itself, and during post-op recovery.
The continual presence of an experienced veterinarian to perform the surgery and address any medical complications that may arise.
Recovery from surgery in our comfortable and fully-equipped ICU with continuous monitoring.
Pain management before, during, and after your pet’s surgery, which often includes medications to take home to ensure your pet’s speedy and pain-free recovery.

At Vida Veterinary Care – Denver, you will always receive a customized estimate that details the costs of any surgical procedures. While our services are always priced competitively, these estimates allow our clients to see that not all surgical programs are equal in quality or safety. We feel that a lower price tag is not worth the risks associated with forgoing items such as pre-surgical blood work, pain medications, proper anesthesia monitoring, and other safety measures.

If you are considering veterinary surgery for your pet, please call 303-757-5638 or fill out our online scheduling form, to schedule a consultation appointment for your pet.