Surgery

APPOINTMENT

Here at Genoa Animal Hospital, our veterinarians perform routine and specialty surgeries in order to provide your pet with the absolute best care!

Routine Surgeries:

Genoa Animal Hospital continues to offer excellent general surgery services. Our routine procedures include spays, castrations, tumor removals, declawing of cats, tail docking, and dew claw removal. We use state of the art anesthesia, anesthetic monitoring systems, and a surgical laser on most procedures. Pre-anesthetic blood work, intravenous fluid support and pain management are done on all patients receiving general anesthesia. Most procedures can be done in an outpatient basis and do not require an overnight stay. Please call the hospital for any additional information.

Spay

Ovariohysterectomy is the medical term for spaying. It is the surgical procedure of removing the uterus and ovaries. This procedure is routinely performed at 5-6 months of age. Prevention of pregnancy, heat cycles, uterine infections, ovarian and mammary tumors, and some skin disorders are the main reasons for this surgery.

Tail Dockings

Surgical shortening of the tail can be performed in order to comply with breed standards (performed at 3-6 days of age). This is a routine veterinary surgery to improve the animal’s appearance. Tail docking might also be necessary to treat an injury or disease.

Feline Declaw

Onychectomy is the medical term for Declaw. It is the surgical removal of a cat’s nail bed (amputation of digit). The surgery can be performed on the front paws, rear paws, or all 4 paws. Procedure is routinely performed at 5-6 months of age. Recommended for indoor cats only!! Procedure eliminates the cat scratching at items in your house and people. The surgical laser is used on all declaw procedures to reduce bleeding and postoperative pain.

Neuter

Castration is the medical term for Neutering. It is the surgical removal of the testicles. This procedure is routinely performed at 5- 6 months of age. This surgery is performed to eliminate sexual activities and render the pet sterile. It can also reduce the tendency to roam, fighting, aggression, and some diseases of the testicles and prostate gland.

Dew Claw Removal

Dew Claws are the small nails located on the inside of the front paws and occasionally the rear paws. Since these claws do not touch the ground, they do not wear down. If not regularly trimmed, they may curl and or grow into the foot. The Dew Claws are prone to injury because of their location. This procedure can be performed at 3 – 6 days of age, at the time of spay or castration, or at a later date if the pet is having repeated problems.

Specialty Surgeries:

Entropion Repair

Entropion is a rolling inward of the eyelids. It may cause the eyelashes to rub against the sensitive front layer of the eyeball (cornea) and is often uncomfortable or painful. It can also cause serious eye damage. Surgical correction of the inward roll is the treatment of choice.

Laser Surgery

In order to provide our clients with the highest quality services, a surgical laser is available. The application of the laser is only needed for specific types surgery. Below is a list of all of the benefits that pet laser surgery has over the scalpel include:

Less pain

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The laser seals nerve endings as incisions are made. Therefore, there will be less pain after surgery.

Less Bleeding

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The laser seals small blood vessels which results in less bleeding. Also, quicker procedures and minimal trauma to surrounding tissue. Therefore, causing less swelling.

Quicker Recovery

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Both of these reasons will lead your pet to feel less discomfort post surgery. Returning to being his/her spunky self sooner.

Cherry Eye Repair

The gland of the third eyelid lies within the substance of the third eyelid and occasionally protrudes over the free edge of the third eyelid. As a result, the exposed, sensitive tissue becomes very irritated and inflamed, causing considerable discomfort. The reddened, swollen tissue resembles a cherry; hence the common name of this condition. Since this glad produces up to 30% of the tear film, specialty surgery removal is not advised. A surgical procedure to return the glad to its normal position is the treatment of choic

Ectropion

Ectropion is the turning out (eversion) of the eyelid. This repair can cause irritation because it exposes the sensitive inner lining of the eyelids and eyeball to irritants. It also allows drying of the eyeball due to increased tear evaporation. It may also prevent efficient spreading of the tears during the blink reflex. Causes include inherited factors, birth defects and injuries. Surgical correction of the eversion is the treatment of choice.

Other Specialty Surgeries

Stenotic nares
Perineal urethrostomy for male cat urinary obsrtuctions.
Ear canal resections
Eyelid tumor removal and reconstruction
Bladder stone removal
Intestinal foreign body removal
Gastropexy for the treatment and prevention of “bloat” in large breed dogs

Otoscopy

At Genoa Animal Hospital, we offer a new procedure that can significantly help in the treatment of ear infections. Otoscopy, or as we commonly refer to it as “ scope cleaning”, is a procedure that can significantly help in the treatment of ear infections. A scope cleaning involves passing a fiberoptic scope down the ear canal allowing deep cleaning of the canal all the way to the ear drum.

Otoscopic exam must be done under a small amount of sedation because of the close proximity to the ear drum.

This is typically an outpatient procedure. The procedures are performed in the morning and patients can usually go home in the afternoon. A doctor consultation and home care instructions are scheduled at pickup.

Common Questions

How is this procedure done?

A fiberoptic otoscope is placed in the ear canal and a cleaning tube is guided by the scope to thoroughly clean the canal all the way down to the ear drum. Sedation is required because of the depth of the cleaning.

Why is it better to clean the ears with the otoscope?

Without the scope, the ear canal cannot be cleaned all the way to the ear drum. Only by using the scope can the whole ear canal be flushed cleaned.

Why is such a thorough cleaning important?

Any debris that is left when manually cleaning can serve as the source for continuing or repeat ear infections. By using the scope, this source can be removed, potentially reducing the risk for repeat infections.