Surgical Procedures For Dogs and Cats

When your pet needs surgery, it may feel overwhelming. But don’t worry, surgery in veterinary medicine has come a long way, and there are many modern options that make surgery easier for your furry friend. Our team at Westgate Pet Clinic is experienced with performing veterinary surgery on cats and dogs and is here to guide you throughout the process!

Common Surgical Procedures

Our veterinarians routinely perform the following cat and dog surgery:

Pet Endoscopies

An endoscopy is a procedure that lets your vet look inside your pet using a small camera. It’s perfect for checking out areas like their stomach, intestines, or even the lungs—without the need for a big incision. This method is great for diagnosing problems like constant vomiting, coughing, or tummy troubles.

Because vet endoscopies are less invasive, your pet will have an easier recovery and feel less discomfort. If our veterinary team thinks an endoscopy is necessary but doesn’t have the equipment, we may refer you to a veterinary surgical specialist who can perform the cat or dog endoscopy procedure.

Mass Removals

Finding a lump on your pet can be scary, but not all bumps are bad! Mass removal surgery is all about getting rid of unwanted lumps, whether they’re on your pet's skin or deeper inside their body. After removing the mass, it gets tested to see if it’s benign (harmless) or malignant (cancerous).

In many cases, our highly-trained vets can handle mass removals. However, if the mass is in a tricky spot, our team may recommend a specialist to remove it safely and effectively.

Soft Tissue Surgery

Veterinary soft tissue surgery involves working with your pet’s organs, muscles, or other soft areas. This can include surgeries for things like bladder stones, hernias, or intestinal issues. These surgeries help fix internal problems your pet might have going on that can’t be solved with medication alone.

While our vets can take care of many of these surgeries, we may refer you to a specialist if the cat or dog soft tissue surgery involves more sensitive or complicated areas.

Laparoscopic Surgery

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgery option for pets. Instead of one big cut, the vet makes a few tiny incisions and uses a camera and small instruments to perform the surgery. This method is used for a variety of procedures and helps your pet recover faster and with less pain.

Our veterinarians may refer you to a vet surgeon trained in laparoscopic techniques if they think it's the best route for your pet.

Laparoscopic Spay Procedures:

With the traditional ovariohysterectomy, a single incision is made along the abdominal midline, large enough to be able to reach and remove both ovaries and the uterus. Typically, the recovery from this surgery requires restricted activity for 10-14 days and pain control for 5-7 days after the procedure. 

With laparoscopic ovariectomy, two small, approximately 1 cm (3/8 inch) incisions are made along the midline of the abdomen, through which two small ports are placed. The abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide, allowing space to operate. One port allows the introduction of a fiber optic laparoscope through which the organs of the abdomen can be seen magnified on a video monitor. The second port is a working port, through which instruments can be placed to remove the ovaries. Electro cautery is used to close and cut the blood vessels leading to the ovaries and each ovary can be removed through the working port incision. Additionally, other organs of the abdomen including the uterus, urinary bladder, intestines, stomach, liver, kidneys and spleen can all be visualized during this procedure allowing identification of unexpected abnormalities.

Because of the small size of the incisions, there is much less pain after a laparoscopic ovariectomy, and patients recover very quickly. Exercise is restricted for two days after the day of the surgery and animals rarely need more than 24 hours of pain medication. Owners of patients have compared recovery to that of a dental cleaning.

Laparoscopic Gastropexy:

A gastropexy is when the stomach gets tacked to the abdominal wall.  The purpose of this procedure is to prevent the dog from developing a gastric dilatation and volvulus (a GDV, or twisted stomach).  If a dog develops a GDV, this is an emergency condition.  Dogs can die quickly if the stomach completely twists cutting off the blood supply to that organ. 

In this condition, first the stomach gets bloated with gas, and then it can twist upon itself.  Dogs that have a GDV typically look like their stomach is swollen and they are very lethargic and painful. 

If you have a deep chested dog, particularly a Great Dane, you should discuss with your veterinarian the option of having a gastropexy performed. 

Traditional gastropexys involve making a mid-line incision through the abdominal skin and muscles to access and tack the stomach.  With a laparoscopic gastropexy, this procedure can be done with several small incisions, speeding the time to recovery. 

Laser Surgery

Veterinary laser surgery uses a focused beam of light to cut or remove tissue. It’s ideal for delicate work, like oral surgeries or removing small skin growths. Cat and dog laser surgery usually means less pain, less bleeding, and a faster recovery for your pet.

Pet Surgery in Minneapolis

Veterinary medicine has a ton of advanced tools to help your pet heal safely and quickly from surgery. Whether your pet needs a mass removed or a more specialized procedure like laser surgery, we’ve got you covered. And if your pet needs more advanced care, we’ll make sure you’re connected with the right specialist.

If you have questions or concerns about the surgical procedures we offer at Westgate Pet Clinic, call us at (612) 925-1121 or book an appointment online below!