Surgical Services

In order to perform certain procedures, a general anesthetic will be used so that your pet is not conscious or in pain. Although it is sometimes alarming to have your pet go through a surgery, it is our goal to ensure your pet’s safety during all surgical procedures. We perform pre-anesthetic blood work and a thorough physical exam in order to determine if your pet is healthy enough for surgery as well as follow a strict anesthetic protocol for each surgery. As with humans, it is important to monitor any patient that is under anesthetic throughout the entirety of the procedure. Vital signs are monitored by one of our skilled technicians at all times so that our doctors can perform the surgery without endangering the patients essential organ values.

Some simpler procedures do not require a full submersion into anesthetic. We can perform these by using a local anesthetic that only affects the area we need to work on by removing pain and sensation instead of lapsing your pet into a fully unconscious state like in general anesthetic. If you have any questions regarding our anesthetic protocol, local anesthesia, or other concerns regarding your pet’s surgery, please feel free to give us a call.
 

Whether you have a male or female pet, it is important to know the benefits of these procedures. Both surgeries remove the capability of your pet to reproduce, protect from reproductive diseases, bacterial infections, and several types of cancer. These procedures also help reduce and even eliminate problem behaviors such as regular heat cycles, marking territory, humping, and fighting. By limiting and controlling the overpopulation of cats and dogs, we can also support our local animal shelters by reducing the number of homeless animals they care for.

Both spays and neuters are performed under general anesthetic, which removes all pain and consciousness for the duration of the surgery. For females, a spay procedure involves removing the ovaries and uterus entirely from the body while a male neuter procedure removes the testicles. Our doctors recommend considering a spay or neuter procedure for pets at six months of age, as this is the age that puppies and kittens reach reproductive maturity and can handle anesthetic at a greater capacity.

If you have questions regarding our spay and neuter procedures or want to decide the best choice for your pet, please feel free to call either one of our offices.

We are proud to offer laser surgery as a progressive new option for our clients who want the safest and least painful treatment for their pets. A laser is an intense beam of light. Using an instrument that allows it to be precisely controlled, the laser beam replaces the traditional scalpel. The benefits of Laser Surgery include less pain, bleeding, and swelling, as well as a reduced risk of infection and a quicker recovery. In many cases, laser surgery can be extremely beneficial over traditional surgery. Our veterinarians will discuss whether laser surgery is the best option for your pet.

Dental disease is one of the most common medical conditions seen by veterinarians. Specifically, periodontal disease is the inflammation or infection of the gums and tissues surrounding the teeth. This disease occurs when plaque and tartar build up and cause periodontal pockets or gum recession around where the tooth is attached. If left untreated, this infection can spread deeper and destroy the bone underneath.

Dental cleanings at Tri-County Veterinary Service are surgical procedures performed under general anesthetic. Our doctors and technicians professionally scale and polish your pet’s teeth and perform x-rays on any teeth that are showing signs of decay or that may be causing issues. Extractions are done on any teeth that the doctor deems harmful to your pet’s health in order to reduce further pain and infection.

The rate of tartar and plaque build up varies between pets, so the best way to know if it is time for your pet to have a dental cleaning is by scheduling a wellness exam. Our doctors can let you know how your pet’s dental status is at that time and determine when a dental cleaning would be appropriate.

Some surgical procedures are not just for routine maintenance. If your pet has eaten an object that they are unable to pass, has a mass that needs to be removed and biopsied, or has any other kind of operable condition, our doctors can perform soft tissue surgery to assist in the healing of these issues. Surgical corrections of ear hematomas, cherry eyes, nasal passages, and other conditions are also common at Tri-County Veterinary Service. These types of procedures are performed under general anesthetic and are selected from a range of treatment options as decided upon by our doctors at the time of diagnosis during an office visit.

Tri-County Veterinary Service is proud to offer orthopedic surgical corrections in-house. Whether your pet has leg fractures, a CCL (ACL) tear, a luxating patella (knee cap that displaces itself and does not remain in place without surgical correction), or any other bone and muscle condition, we can repair and help heal them. Some orthopedic conditions can be corrected externally with casts or splints, but many require a general anesthetic correction with plates, screws, and pins.For many of our orthopedic surgery patients, we offer laser therapy as a means of continuing the healing process and speeding up recovery. Any conditions that are outside of our range of in-house capability are referred to Ohio State University’s Veterinary Medical Center or another orthopedic specialist.