If your pet needs advanced surgery, then you can rest assured that he or she is in capable hands in our Surgery Department. Our team’s goal is to provide thorough pre-operative assessment, advanced diagnostic and surgical expertise, and compassionate post-operative care for all our patients.

Available Services/Technology:

• Anesthesia delivery and monitoring systems including blood pressure monitoring, pulse oximetry, electrocardiography, capnography, and mechanical ventilation
• Diagnostic services including in-house laboratory service, digital radiography, digital orthopedic planning and CT scan
• Fluoroscopy for intra-operative imaging
• Arthroscopy for minimally invasive joint procedures
• Fracture repair using a full range of implant systems including bone plating, interlocking nail fixation, and external fixation
• Post-operative care facilities include incubators, rewarming units, intravenous fluid pumps, and oxygen therapy when needed
• 24 hour post-operative care provided in collaboration with the hospital’s skilled and caring Emergency Department veterinarians and nursing staff and support team.

What to Expect:

If your pet is having surgery, he or she should not eat after midnight the evening prior to your pet’s surgery (unless your pet is diabetic or young, in which case, please feed them as per usual). However, he or she should have free access to water and should continue to receive any previously prescribed medications, unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian.

We understand that having your pet undergo a surgical procedure can be stressful. Rest assured that our hospital will keep your pet comfortable during and after surgery. The most common pain management techniques we use include:

• Constant rate infusions
• Injectable medications
• Nerve and joint block/local anesthetics
• Oral medications
• Spinal or epidural administration of analgesics

Emergency Advice Service for Clients

The Surgery Department offers an after-hours advice service for clients with pets recovering from surgery performed at our facility. Clients may contact the London Regional Veterinary Emergency and Referral Hospital at 519-432-3300 to provide the necessary information, and a veterinary technician from the Surgery Service will return your call within approximately one hour.

Commonly Performed Procedures:

• Orthopedic
  • TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) for Cruciate Ligament Rupture
  • Extracapsular Reconstruction for Cruciate Ligament Rupture (also known as lateral imbrication, fabella-tibial suture technique)
  • Patella Luxation Correction
  • Fracture Repair
  • Joint Reconstructions and Arthrodesis (Fusion)
  • Arthroscopic Surgery for OCD, Elbow Dysplasia, and Other Joint Conditions

• Soft Tissue
  • Tumour Resections
  • Abdominal and Thoracic Procedures
  • Corrective Surgery for Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome
  • Laryngeal Paralysis Surgery
  • Portosystemic Shunt (PSS) Surgery