Types of Surgery We Perform

• Orthopedic Surgery: VRC, established in 1972, was one of the first specialized veterinary hospitals in the country to offer advanced orthopedic surgery for pets. Our team has performed thousands of procedures and offers a multitude of cutting-edge surgeries to correct congenital conditions and repair injuries, including knee replacements, ACL repairs, bone and tendon avulsion repair, angular limb realignment, shoulder surgery, elbow surgery, and complicated fracture repair. As a complement to our orthopedic services, we offer comprehensive rehabilitation to help your pet return to optimal health.

• Minimally Invasive Surgery: Whenever possible, our veterinary surgeons employ minimally invasive surgical techniques involving the use of tiny, pencil-size cameras and instruments that are inserted through very small incisions (less than a half-inch). Minimally invasive surgery (MIS), also known as laparoscopy, thoracoscopy, arthroscopy, or “keyhole” surgery, is an advanced approach that reduces post-surgery recovery time, scarring, pain, and overall risk. Our surgeons have extensive training in MIS and a dedicated operating room that utilizes cutting-edge surgical equipment. Procedures can often be done on an outpatient basis or involve just an overnight stay.

• Arthroscopic Surgery: When it comes to arthroscopic (joint-related) surgeries, our veterinary surgeons believe in using minimally invasive tools and techniques such as tiny scope cameras that can be inserted via incisions of less than a quarter-inch to look inside of your pet’s joint. The images taken by these cameras can then be magnified in order to diagnose a problem quickly and accurately. These small incisions reduce your pet’s recovery time post-surgery, while also causing the least amount of scarring, pain, and overall risk to your pet’s health. Arthroscopic procedures are usually outpatient surgeries, or involve a simple overnight stay, so that your dog or cat can be back at home as quickly as possible to recover where they’re most comfortable. Our minimally invasive arthroscopic surgical procedures can be applied to a variety of concerns, such as:

  • Elbow dysplasia

  • Fragmented medial coronoid disease

  • Diagnosis of torn cranial cruciate ligaments

  • Ligament and tendon injuries

  • Removal of osteochondral fragments

  • Treatment of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) in shoulders, elbows, and knees

• Soft Tissue Surgery: Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and the most effective surgical techniques, the surgeons at VRC perform a wide variety of soft tissue surgeries, including abdominal procedures (gastrointestinal, spleen, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands, and urogenital procedures), upper airway surgery, skin and reconstructive procedures, surgical oncology, head and neck surgery, and hernia repair, among others. Our veterinary surgical department represents the founding pillar of VRC. Our doctors, anesthesia nurses, and nursing staff take great care to minimize pain and achieve the best surgical outcomes. We encourage families to visit as often as you like, and we are available to update you on your pet’s status 24 hours a day.

• Laparoscopic Surgery: Whenever we can, VRC’s surgeons choose minimally invasive procedures, such as laparoscopy, to get to the bottom of what’s ailing your dog or cat. Laparoscopy is an increasingly common diagnostic procedure where your veterinarian will make a small incision in order to inspect the abdominal cavity of your animal using a tiny fiber optic camera. Those pictures can be transmitted to a screen and magnified in order to see what’s really wrong. Sometimes a laparoscopic procedure may even be used to complete a surgery. The minimally invasive nature of the technique reduces the amount of trauma to your pet’s surrounding tissues and organs. It also means we can often perform this procedure on an outpatient basis or with a simple overnight stay for observation. It also reduces the amount of pain, recovery time, and risk of infection your pet will experience, as well as limiting their scarring and increasing their mobility. Faster healing and reduced pain and recovery time also mean we can prescribe your dog or cat fewer pain medications. Our surgeons utilize state-of-the-art equipment to investigate and treat abdominal diseases in your pet such as:

  • Bladder surgeries

  • Cholecystectomy

  • Gastropexy

  • Intestinal biopsies

  • Liver biopsies

  • Spaying female animals

  • and more…

• Thoracoscopic Surgery: When it is necessary to inspect or operate upon something in your pet’s chest cavity, we use an advanced and minimally invasive surgical technique known as thoracoscopy. Using a small fiber optic camera or scope, our surgeons can inspect internal organs and tissues and even perform specific procedures with only a small incision in your pet’s skin. This not only reduces pain and trauma for your pet but also allows for faster post-operative recovery time and decreases the likelihood of infection or other risk factors. Your pet will be more comfortable with fewer pain medications, and thoracoscopic procedures can often be done on an outpatient basis or with just an overnight stay. The use of state-of-the-art thoracoscopic techniques allows us to perform a variety of minimally invasive investigative and surgical procedures in the chest cavity including:

  • Diagnose Inflammation, Infection, Fibrosis, and Cancer

  • Remove Lung Tumors

  • Obtain Biopsies

  • Pericardiectomy

  • Inspect the Lungs, Pleura, Or Mediastinum

  • Thoracic Exploratories

  • And More…

Synovetin OA® is a unique way to treat arthritis in dogs. It’s not a daily NSAID pill or chew, and it’s not joint surgery. Synovetin OA is just one simple, safe, fast, non-surgical injection that gives your dog up to ONE full year of relief. Because Synovetin OA is dosed directly into the elbow joint, right where it hurts, it targets the source of the inflammation and pain that cause your dog to limp. And Synovetin OA is not absorbed into your dog’s body like traditional dog arthritis treatments, so you can be confident that it’s a safe and effective choice.

How Can I Tell If My Dog Is Suffering From Osteoarthritis Pain?

Many dogs suffering from OA pain are not treated, as owners often attribute decreases in activity or playfulness to old age. Although pets may sleep more and become less active with age, any change in activity level should raise a red flag and warrants a veterinary evaluation. Unfortunately, OA-related activity changes often occur gradually, and owners may not notice that their pet no longer plays and runs as they once did. Signs that may indicate your dog is experiencing OA pain include:

• Lethargy

• Difficulty rising

• Exercising only in short spurts

• Hesitation or refusal to jump onto furniture or go up and down stairs

• Grumpiness

• Limping or lameness