One of my resolutions for the new year is to spend more time involved with
client education. I have pledged to spend more time writing (e mails as
well as educational handouts; I also am currently working on a book on
veterinary medicine and care of exotic pets).
Over the years veterinary surgery is one topic that many people have
expressed interest in ...the procedures performed as well as the techniques
and instruments used to perform them.
Here at Priest Lake we perform a variety of routine surgeries as well as
non elective or special surgeries and procedures. Examples of routine
surgeries include pet spays and neuters. Specialized surgeries include
things such as eye surgery to correct lid problems, facial fold surgery
(plastic surgery) for breeds such as sharpeis and chows, dental and gum
surgery, tumor and mass removals, endoscopic surgery (biopsies) , and
orthopedic surgery (ie broken bone repair, cranial cruciate knee
surgery, patella or kneecap surgery). I personally have removed a variety
of foreign objects that pets have mistaken for their regular
cuisine!...specifically, silk flowers, hickory nuts (very popular), sticks
(another hot item last year), toy balls, sewing needles, fishing lures,
golf balls, and underwear.
We also perform a variety of surgeries on exotic pets. For example, many
ferrets require surgery to remove cancerous adrenal glands. We spay and
neuter rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, and other small exotic pets. Dr.
McCollum even did a c-section on a huge albino python snake!
The instruments that we use on these surgeries are the same ones that are
used in human hospitals. We sterilize these instruments for every surgery
at very high temperatures and pressures to insure that your pet receives
top notch quality care during and after surgery.
In addition to using sterile instruments, our doctors "scrub in" before
each surgery and put on a sterile gown, sterile gloves, a surgical mask and
surgical hat. Surgical drapes are used just like in human surgery to
provide a sterile surgical field.
Highly trained and experience veterinary technicians and assistants monitor
anesthesia during and after all surgical procedures. We employ the use of
high tech circulating water heating pads, pulse oximeters (to monitor
percentage of oxygen in the system as well as heart rate), EKG's, Ellman
electrocautery, fluid infusion pumps and forane anesthetic (among the
safest available in veterinary medicine). No surgery or anesthetic
procedure is ever risk free (on pets or humans), but by performing
pre-surgical blood testing and by following the stringent procedures that I
have outlined here, we can minimize the risks and side effects to a
comfortable level.
Attached is a photo of a typical surgery (dog spay) which illustrates the
surgical suite and methods employed. Let me know if you would like to hear
more about surgery or any other topic.
