While surgery can be scary for you as a pet owner, we are not a high volume spay and neuter clinic. We take every step necessary to make sure your pet is carefully monitored and safe while under anesthesia. Prior to surgery, your pet will undergo a full physical examination, blood tests, and a pre-operative evaluation. During surgery, patients are carefully monitored using an EKG and pulse oximeter. A veterinary technician is responsible for monitoring throughout the entire procedure while a doctor focuses on your pet.
From spays and neuters, to bladder stone surgery and mass removals to more complicated procedures, our veterinarians are experienced and capable of taking care of most all of your pet’s surgical needs. We will take the time to discuss each procedure with you and when necessary, make the appropriate referral for you. Every pet will also go home with the appropriate pain medications so that your pet will be as comfortable as possible after surgery.
Surgeries Performed
- Spays & Neuters: Most people neuter their animals because they are concerned with unwanted puppies and kittens, but there are many health benefits to neutering, especially with female animals. On average, neutered animals live longer, and have significantly decreased risks for certain types of cancer and diseases that are otherwise common in intact animals. If you have any questions or concerns about getting your pet neutered, please talk to one of our doctors.
- Orthopedic Procedures: Leg Amputations, Tail Amputation, Dewclaw Amputation, Digit Amputation
- Soft Tissue Surgeries: Bladder Surgery, Aural Hematoma Repair, Mass Removal, Abdominal Exploratory, Intestinal Resection and Anastomosis, Inguinal and Umbilical Hernia Repair, Pyometra Surgery, Splenectomy, Vulvoplasty
- Ocular Surgery: Enucleation, Entropion Correction, Eye-lid tumor removal, Third-eyelid flap
- Cesarean Sections
- Laceration Repair
Pre-Surgical Instructions
To limit the risk for anesthetic complications, we ask that these pre-operative instructions are followed:
- No food or water after 10 PM the night prior to surgery
- If your pet is on medication, ask a veterinarian for advice on what medication to give on the day of surgery
Surgical admission can take up to 20 minutes to complete. Please allow for this time when bringing your pet in for surgery. You will be assigned an admission time when you schedule surgery. Please arrive promptly at your assigned time for prompt service.
Dental Prophylaxis
Here at Chestertown Animal Hospital, we have a dental suite equipped with digital dental x-rays, state of the art dental surgical instrumentation and anesthetic monitoring. Our veterinary oral surgeons are not only skilled clinicians but are also highly trained in dental procedures, having obtained advanced oral surgical training with the Dr. Ira Luskin’s Animal Dental Training Center in Baltimore, MD.
Early signs of dental disease can include foul odor from the mouth, licking of the teeth or gums or a change in appetite. Severe dental disease results in bacteria attacking under the gum line and loosening the tooth. A diseased tooth may become loose, fall out, or abscess.
Dental cleanings under anesthesia are the only way to ensure a complete cleaning and evaluation of your pet’s teeth. While asleep, your pet will receive:
- Complete oral examination
- Comprehensive dental cleaning and polishing using a state-of-the-art dental delivery system (Midmark VetPro 1000)
- Minor oral surgery including, but not limited to, tooth extractions, fistula repairs and removal of oral tumors (when necessary)
- Comprehensive pain management before, during and after any oral procedure that may produce discomfort
The dental cleaning includes scaling, polishing and evaluation of every tooth, like a dental cleaning you would receive. After a dental cleaning, every pet goes home with a report detailing the findings of the cleaning and any other dental procedures.