Surgery

General Surgery
Old Dominion Animal Hospital features a full-service surgical suite which looks and runs like a human hospital surgical facility. Our veterinarians are available to neuter your pets and are also able to perform Caesarean Sections, Fracture Repairs, Exploratories, Tumor Removals, and other surgical procedures as necessary.

Neutering your pet is an important part of pet ownership. Neutering will prevent unwanted litters of puppies and kittens. It may help curb unwanted behavioral problems. Lastly, neutering is important for your pet's health. Neutering may help to prevent reproductive diseases such as cancer.

Elective surgeries such as spays or neuters may be scheduled by our receptionists. Other surgical procedures may need to be scheduled in consultation with your pet's veterinarian. Most pets will be admitted to the hospital the morning of their surgery. It is important not to feed or provide water for your pet after 9 P.M. the night before surgery, unless you are directed otherwise. Some pets are required to stay overnight after surgery. Please arrange a discharge time, when you drop off your pet, so that your veterinarian will be available to discuss your pet's post-operative care with you. This discussion may include a conversation about pain management after surgery. Advances in pain medications for pets have made more options available, so there is no reason for your pet to suffer after their procedure.

Laser Surgery
Our staff will be happy to discuss laser surgery options with you. We are pleased to be among the first veterinary practices to offer laser surgery and so you can count on our experience. The laser can replace the scalpel and provides an alternative to traditional surgery. Laser energy does not crush, tear, or bruise because only a beam of intense CO2 contacts the tissue. Your pet will experience less bleeding, less swelling, and less pain post-operatively. The laser is very precise and reduces the risk of infection, aiding your pet's recovery.

Anesthesia
We use the safest anesthesia available, such as Sevoflurane, here at Old Dominion Animal Hospital. Your pet will receive a thorough physical examination before we administer any anesthetic, that way we can be sure there are not any obvious problems before surgery, such as a fever, anemia, heart disease, or dehydration. We can adjust the anesthetic, give IV fluids, or even postpone surgery if your pet is having problems.

Our in-house laboratory is equipped to quickly process pre-surgical blood profiles. All pets should have this blood test before surgery, because it gives the veterinarians a look at the health of your pet's liver and kidneys. It is these organs that handle the anesthesia.

Monitoring
We track all surgical patients with a Doppler heart monitor and a pulse oximeter. We keep an eye on your pet's heart rate, their respiration, their body temperature, and their blood oxygen levels during their surgery. After surgery your pets are kept under heating lamps to keep them warm, our surgical assistants stay with them until their breathing tubes are removed and they are fully recovered.