Surgical Services

Through the use of cutting-edge technology and the most up-to-date equipment and instruments, the surgery suite at Harmony Animal Hospital is designed to accommodate surgical procedures from spays and neuters to more complicated soft-tissue and emergency surgeries. We know that surgical procedures can be stressful for both you and your pet. We use state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, modern anesthetic procedures and a staff of trained, experience technicians, all of which make your pet's surgical procedure as safe and comfortable as possible. When inhalation (gas) anesthesia is required, we use the same up-to-date anesthetics as human hospital use. Many procedures are performed using advanced laser surgical equipment (read more below).

Our veterinary surgeons are capable of performing a number of surgeries, from routine procedures such as spay/neuters and mass removals to more complicated surgeries, including eye surgeries, cystotomies, exploratory abdominal surgery, splenectomies, and gastrotomies, to name a few. If necessary, your pet also has access to a board-certified veterinary surgeon for consultations.

Before Surgery All pets respond differently to anesthesia. Before surgery, your pet undergoes a thorough physical examination. Laboratory tests may be performed to identify any existing medical conditions. This information is used to identify any pre-existing conditions that may complicate the use of anesthesia. We develop an anesthetic protocol that is unique to your pet and tailored to your pet's individual needs. Our veterinarians are assisted by certified and experienced veterinary technicians and assistants who have decades of experience and receive continuing education on a regular basis. Working alongside the surgeons, they keep a very close watch on our patients and the monitoring equipment.

During the surgical procedure we routinely use equipment to measure oxygen concentration in the blood with a pulse oximeter. We use heated surgery tables to keep your pet warm and comfortable during each procedure. ECG (electrocardiograph), blood pressure, core body temperature and other vital signs are continually monitored with advanced electronic equipment during your pet's entire anesthetic period. Fluid therapy is also often utilized. All of these safeguards help to provide a faster and more comfortable recovery. After surgery, your pet is continually monitored until he or she is fully awake. In the vast majority of cases, your pet will leave the hospital alert and fully ambulatory.

Pain Management & Comfort of Your Pet

You pet's safety and comfort during surgery are very important to us. At Harmony Animal Hospital, we utilize a series of anesthetic protocols and pain management guidelines designed to keep your pet comfortable and free of stress during surgical procedures. Pets experience the same degrees of pain as people do following surgery, but they cannot express it to us. Therefore, pain management must be strategically planned and tailored to your pet's procedure and implemented to minimize the degree of pain your pet experiences.

Pain management is an important part of our procedures and we provide intensive after-surgery assessment and management. All surgical patients receive pain medication following surgery. Pain control medication will usually be dispensed to your pet to help control pain in the post-operative period, and these instructions should be followed, even if your pet doesn't "seem" like he or she needs it. Good pain management helps speed healing and recovery! We encourage you to discuss pain management options with our veterinarians as well as any questions you may have about your pet's surgery and post-surgical recovery.

Laser Surgery

Harmony Animal Hospital offers laser surgery as an exciting option for safer, more comfortable treatment. In many procedures, the laser can replace the scalpel and provide a better alternative to traditional surgery.

Why laser surgery? • Less Pain - The laser seals nerve endings as it "cuts." As a result, your pet will experience less pain and be more comfortable post operatively. • Less Bleeding - The Laser seals small blood vessels during surgery. This speeds many procedures, reducing the time your pet needs to be under anesthesia, which further reduces possible complications. • Less Swelling - Laser energy does not crush, tear or bruise tissue because the only thing that touches your pet is an invisible beam of light.

• Reduced risk of infection - As the laser removes diseased tissue, it seals the skin and reduces the amount of bacteria present.
• Precision - The laser can remove unhealthy tissue while minimizing adverse effects to healthy surrounding tissue.
• Quicker return to normal activities - Healing is rapid and there is less post-operative discomfort and a better course of healing.

What types of surgical procedures?

The laser is ideal for a wide variety of surgical procedures for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, exotics, horses and other pets. Laser surgery is commonly used in soft-tissue surgical procedures. Your veterinarian will be able to tell you if your pet's procedure can benefit from laser surgery. Common procedures include:

• Spays, neuters, cat declaws
• Oral/dental procedures
• Mass removals/dermatology

How does a Laser work?

The way a particular laser works is determined by the specific wavelength of light that it produces. For example, the most commonly used surgical laser is a CO2 laser which produces an invisible beam of light that vaporizes the water normally found in the skin and other soft tissue. Because the doctor can precisely control the laser, only a thin layer of tissue is removed, leaving the surrounding areas unaffected.

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