Surgery

When we deem it most beneficial for our patients, our veterinarians make use of the CO2 Surgical Laser. The surgical laser allows very precise cutting of the tissue, which cannot be achieved with a regular scalpel. Benefits include reduced blood loss, reduced postoperative swelling, reduced postoperative pain and overall, an easier recovery.

For some procedures, your pet will need to be administered general anesthesia, so that he or she will be unconscious and not feel pain. Many pet owners worry about their pets being administered general anesthesia. We can assure you that modern anesthesia is safe, and to lower any risk, we perform a physical examination and run blood work ahead of time to catch any underlying health issues. In addition, we follow a specific anesthetic protocol, including monitoring vital signs during the procedure, to ensure the safety of our patients. We begin most general anesthetic procedures by administering a sedative to help the pet relax and decrease any anxiety and pain. We then administer an intravenous drug to provide complete anesthesia and place a breathing tube into the patient’s trachea (windpipe). To maintain the state of unconsciousness, we deliver a gas anesthetic in combination with oxygen through the breathing tube. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns about your pet receiving general anesthesia or about the procedure for which your pet is scheduled.

Spaying, a surgical procedure performed with the pet under anesthesia, involves removing the ovaries and uterus of a female dog or cat. The procedure, which prevents female animals from becoming pregnant and reproducing, can help your dog or cat live a longer, healthier life, and will not change your pet’s personality. By spaying your female pet, you’re protecting her against potentially deadly diseases, including bacterial infections, reproductive tract diseases, and several types of cancer. You also won’t have to worry about her going into heat, and therefore avoiding the mess that often accompanies the heat cycle in female dogs and the pacing and crying that happens with female cats. In addition, spaying your pet will help control the dog and cat overpopulation problem, keeping more animals out of shelters. To set up an appointment, discuss any concerns regarding the decision to have your pet spayed, or to learn more about this procedure, please call or visit our clinic.

Neutering, a surgical procedure performed with the pet under anesthesia, involves removing the testicles of a male dog or cat. The procedure, which prevents male animals from reproducing, can help your dog or cat live a longer, healthier life, and will not change your pet’s personality. By neutering your pet, you’re reducing or eliminating his risk for prostate and testicular cancer, as well as sexually transmitted diseases. Neutering will also reduce or eliminate undesirable and embarrassing behavior, including roaming, fighting, humping, and spraying. In addition, neutering your pet will help control the dog and cat overpopulation problem, keeping more animals out of shelters. To set up an appointment, discuss any concerns regarding the decision to have your pet neutered, or to learn more about this procedure, please call or visit our clinic.

We perform many types of soft tissue surgeries at our clinic, that is, surgeries that are not associated with bone. These surgeries can provide many benefits to pets. Soft tissue surgeries include but are not limited to:

• Removal of skin growths
• Removal of cancer
• Obtaining biopsies
• Removing intestinal and stomach foreign bodies and blockages
• Removal of bladder stones
• We use our CO2 laser to perform this surgery, due to its many benefits both during surgery and post-surgical recovery.

For many reasons, declawing a cat is not performed at Community Veterinary Clinic. Declawing involves amputating the last phalanx on the toes of cats, which for humans means cutting off the tips of all your fingers and toes at the last knuckle, the one with our nails on them. This can lead to arthritis, chronic nerve pain, and alter and reduce their quality of life in general.

There are many alternatives to this procedure, from training and behavior techniques to trimming nails to providing suitable places for cats to satisfy their natural instinct to use their claws.

Two resources we recommend for more information are as follows:

Why does my cat scratch?

Indoor Pet Initiative by Ohio State’s College of Veterinary Medicine