If your pet needs emergency surgery, we are here for you! Please call us immediately if you suspect your pet needs emergency surgery.

Trauma/Wound care

Injuries from animal attacks, roadkill or other trauma should be treated immediately by a veterinarian. The patient is initially examined to ensure that there are no other signs of systemic disease, such as internal bleeding or broken ribs. Often, the wound seen on the surface is only the tip of the iceberg and there is much more extensive tissue damage in deeper layers. These wounds must be treated surgically to remove gross contamination and non-viable tissue without a good blood supply. Patients are usually anesthetized or sedated and the wounds are surgically explored to assess the extent of damage, washed with sterile fluids, and sometimes drains are placed to prevent infection or abscess formation. Some wounds heal better if left open to heal by secondary intention and require monitoring by a veterinarian to change the dressing or repeat surgical procedures.

Extraction of foreign bodies

Pets with a recent history of ingesting foreign materials, such as cloth or plastic toys, may have profuse vomiting and decreased appetite due to intestinal obstruction. Intestinal obstruction can often be diagnosed by abdominal radiographs, blood tests and/or abdominal ultrasound. Once the obstruction is identified, emergency surgery is necessary to remove the foreign body and relieve the obstruction. In some cases, patients require supportive care and fluid support prior to surgery. Exploratory abdominal surgery is performed, and the surgeon will identify the involved area of the bowel. Often, the foreign body can be removed by making a small incision in the bowel (enterotomy) or by removing a small section of the involved bowel (resection and anastomosis).

Urinary obstruction

Cats with a recent history of straining to urinate, blood in the urine, failure to urinate or vocalization during urination should be examined urgently by a veterinarian. Some cats suffer flare-ups of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), which is a multifactorial disease that causes inflammation of the urethra and difficulty urinating. These patients can often be treated medically and with changes in diet and environment to reduce stress, at least temporarily. In other cases, cats experience urethral obstruction due to stones or grit and have a very enlarged and hard bladder due to the inability to urinate. These patients can often be systemically ill and have severe electrolyte disturbances that must be corrected immediately. Cats with urinary calculi or grit need to be urgently deobstructed by passing a urinary catheter under anesthesia. The urinary catheter is usually kept in place for 24-48 hours during hospitalization to ensure that the urinary obstruction does not recur. Cats are usually monitored in the hospital for 12-24 hours after removal of the urinary catheter prior to discharge.

Enucleation

Enucleation is the surgical removal of the eye. It is most often performed on blind and painful eyes that do not respond to treatment. In appropriate cases, enucleation offers a humane alternative to constant pain, the threat of neoplastic metastasis, or euthanasia of an otherwise healthy animal. Emergency enucleation may be necessary after severe trauma resulting in perforation of the eye or damage to the lens, often as a result of a cat scratch, dog bite or traffic accident. Enucleation requires general anesthesia and may require an overnight stay in the hospital. Elderly dogs may require intravenous fluids during the procedure to reduce the risk of kidney complications and to maintain blood pressure and hydration.

Pyometra

Pyometra is a condition affecting unspayed bitches, in which the uterus becomes infected and causes a potentially fatal disease. If pyometra is not treated, and quickly, the bacteria in the uterus will produce toxins that will most likely be fatal to the bitch. If there is discharge from the cervix or a swollen abdomen in an older dog that has not been spayed, these are indicators that diagnostic testing should be done to confirm if a dog has pyometra. Diagnosis would include blood tests, a urinalysis and an x-ray or ultrasound of the abdomen to see if the uterus is enlarged. In surgical treatment of pyometra, the uterus and ovaries are removed (also known as "spaying"). This procedure is more complex than spaying a healthy bitch because, in most cases, the infection has already greatly weakened the bitch. Antibiotics and intravenous fluids are also administered to the bitch when this method is used.

Cesarean section/Dystocia

A cesarean delivery is a major surgical procedure. It involves the surgical removal of kittens or puppies from your cat or dog's uterus. C-sections are usually performed in emergency situations, when an animal has been in labor for too long or is otherwise unable to give birth naturally. Signs that may indicate labor difficulties and the need for emergency care include the following:

- Weak contractions for 2 or more hours without delivering a puppy or kitten.
- Your bitch or cat has been actively pushing for 30-60 minutes without delivering a puppy or kitten.
- Symptoms of illness include fever, pain, bloody discharge and vomiting.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT DURING THE IMMEDIATE RECOVERY PERIOD?

The anesthesia should wear off shortly after the procedure. By the time most cats or dogs have returned home, they will have fully recovered from the effects of the anesthesia; however, recovery may take up to 6 hours. During the recovery period, keep a close eye on your pet to make sure it is not harming itself or its new babies. Make sure your pet is fully awake and alert and has started caring for her young before leaving her alone with them. Your new mom should start eating within hours of returning home. Make sure she only ingests a small amount of food or water at a time, but offer it to her every 15 minutes to half an hour for the first 24 hours after surgery. However, if she eats or drinks too much, she may vomit. During the nursing period, your pet will need a lot of food. During the first week after surgery, he will need about 1.5 times his usual food, and after a month he should be eating 2 to 3 times more than usual. Also make sure she receives a higher quality diet so that both she and her new pups receive sufficient nutrition. Monitor your pet for signs of fever, poor appetite, swollen mammary glands and swelling or discharge at the incision site. Watch puppies or kittens to make sure they are feeding well, gaining weight, are not restless and do not have dark-colored urine.

Contact us immediately for any of the emergencies listed above and breathe easy knowing that, in the event of an emergency, your beloved pet will be expertly treated and cared for by an experienced team of veterinarians who love them as if they were their own!