Our dedicated, innovative surgical suite allows for a wide variety of surgical procedures. During every animal’s surgery, we adhere to AAHA standards to provide the highest level of quality care for each and every pet. We were the first veterinary hospital in Williamsburg to offer a CO2 surgical laser as an option for our patients.
Prior to Your Pet’s Surgery
Make sure your pet has no food after 10 p.m., but water is okay. If you animal has eaten after 10 p.m., we will delay the surgery until later in the day or reschedule the surgery for another day. When you bring your dog or cat in for surgery, our veterinarians and staff perform a pre-surgical exam and pre-anesthetic blood work. Your pet receives an intravenous (IV) catheter and IV fluids to properly hydrate his or her organs. All instrumentation is properly sterilized in our autoclave.
During the Procedure
A dedicated, trained veterinary assistant uses our computerized monitoring equipment to assess your animal’s temperature, heart and respiratory rates, oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange, blood pressure, and EKG readings. Your pet’s comfort is our utmost concern, so we keep your dog or cat comfortable with a warm water recirculating blanket. Some animals are able to recover in our temperature-controlled incubator.
Pain Management
Since we know that animals experience pain and discomfort in much the same way that humans do, we ensure that pain management is a core component of every dog or cat’s surgical protocol. We provide pain alleviating medication during and after the procedure.
Recovery
When your pet is moved to recovery, a veterinary assistant calls to update you about your pet’s procedure and confirms your pick-up appointment. During this appointment, the veterinarian discusses the surgery, reviews post-operative instructions and medications, and answers any questions you may have. Once you’re home with your animal, we call you to make sure your pet is doing well and to answer any additional questions you might have.
Laser Surgery
Our veterinarians use a laser during many surgeries such as spaying and neutering and tumor or mass removals, and it is the only method we use to perform feline declaws. Dogs, cats, birds, and a variety of other animals are able to benefit from the numerous properties that the laser provides, including:
- Reduced bleeding—Traditional surgery uses a blade to cut, while the CO2 laser uses an intense light beam, sealing blood vessels as the incision is made. This reduces bleeding and the amount of time your pet is under anesthesia.
- Reduced inflammation—Since the laser beam is used to penetrate the tissue, physical contact with a scalpel blade is not required. This diminishes tissue damage and bruising that would otherwise occur and makes post-surgical inflammation nearly nonexistent.
- Reduced pain—The CO2 laser seals the nerve endings as it passes over the tissue, significantly reducing post-operative pain for your pet.
- Reduced infection—The laser kills bacteria, which reduces the risk of infection after surgery.
- Increased precision—The CO2 laser’s beam is so precise that our veterinarians can selectively remove a few cells at a time, offering a much higher level of accuracy than that of traditional surgery.
Orthopedic Surgery
If your pet has orthopedic injuries, such as luxating patellae (dislocated kneecaps) or cruciate ligaments tears, we give your pet an initial exam, take X-rays, and devise a treatment plan. We consult with you about all the available options. After the procedure, we provide pain management and discuss follow-up care including rehabilitation at St. Francis Pet Resort & Rehabilitation Center.
Outside Referrals
With four veterinarians at Godspeed Animal Care, we have a lot of expertise to cover almost any situation. However, there are times when we do refer our clients to other veterinarians, depending upon your pet’s needs and where you live. These veterinarian hospitals include:
- VRCC Manakin-Sabot
- The Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Care Center
- Dogwood Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Center
- Bay Area Veterinary Surgery
- Animal Eye Care
For the best in veterinary surgery that is catered to your pet’s individual needs, contact Godspeed Animal Care today.