814-273-1081
Our veterinarians adhere to the highest level of care standards for all surgical procedures. Our highly skilled doctors place the utmost emphasis on pain management to ensure your pet is safe and comfortable throughout the treatment process. Using advanced technology, your pet's vital signs are monitored by our well trained veterinary technicians, who will remain with your pet through recovery.
After performing a complete examination and reviewing your pet's medical state, we will discuss treatment options that may include surgery and put together a plan that suits the needs of both you and your pet.
If surgery is recommended, you can feel comfortable knowing that our doctors will provide appropriate pain relief so that pain is identified and treated if present. Visual assessment and recording of vital signs is done by one of our trained veterinary surgical technicians. A technician is present during the entire surgery and recovery process to maintain the safety and comfort of your pet. We believe that keeping our patients safe and comfortable before, during and after surgery is of the greatest importance and an essential component of your pet's care.
Our clinic has a state-of-the art surgical suite where our veterinarians perform all common procedures, including:
Repair of Ruptured Cranial Cruciate Ligament (ACL) by TightRope Ligament Replacement Just as in the human knee, the most critical stabilizing structure in the canine knee is the cranial cruciate ligament (CCL). The primary function of the CCL is to prevent forward thrusting motion and inward rotation of the tibia during weight bearing and to prevent hyper-extension of the knee. When the CCL is ruptured or partially torn, the abnormal, forward thrusting motion and inward rotation of the tibia during weight bearing results in an unstable, painful knee and ultimately, in debilitating, degenerative arthritic changes in the knee joint.
The newest procedure for repairing a ruptured CCL by ligament replacement is the TightRope Ligament technique. This procedure has been proven in over 200 knees and has been shown to be highly effective.
The TightRope CCL technique is minimally invasive, and more cost effective in comparison to the TPLO or TTA. The data suggest that TightRope can be successfully performed in medium, large and giant breed dogs resulting in outcomes which are comparable or better than TPLO or TTA. A MiniTightRope is also available for toy and small breeds.
The TightRope CCL counteracts the forward tibial thrust and inward rotation resulting from CCL damage, while providing optimal joint range of motion. This procedure mimics the natural cruciate ligament functions, perhaps better than any other procedure developed to date.The TightRope Ligament is produced by Arthrex Vet Systems. It is an ultra-high strength, flat, smooth, braided, ribbon-like ligament composed of a multi-stranded long chain ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) core with a braided jacket of polyester giving it unsurpassed strength, virtually eliminating ligament breakage. The ligament provides an ultimate load of 225 lbs, approximately three times the strength of 80# nylon ligaments currently in use for CCL replacement. This procedure provides our clients another option when a less invasive, less radical and somewhat more cost effective procedure that does not cut bone is desired by the pet owner. A tunnel is drilled in the femur beginning at a very precise anatomical point on the inside of the bone, at an upward angle, exiting on the inside surface of the shaft of the femur.
A second tunnel is drilled in the tibia beginning at a very precise anatomical point on the inside of the tibial crest in a downward direction, exiting on the inside surface of the shaft of the tibia. The TightRope Ligament is passed from inside to outside through the femoral tunnel, then from outside to inside through the tibial tunnel. The stainless steel tibial toggle button is then turned 90 degrees to the ligament, placed against the surface of the tibia, and the TightRope Ligament is pulled taut through the tibial tunnel. The TightRope Ligament is then pulled taut through the femoral tunnel eliminating all “slack” in the ligament. The stainless steel femoral button is then slid down the ligament until it is snug against the surface of the femur, the ligament pulled tight and anchored in this position by tying it down against the femoral button. The ligament is now in place, very secure and mimics very closely the function of the natural cranial cruciate ligament. The TightRope Ligament now in place. Note that the TightRope Ligament is placed under the long digital extensor tendon, allowing it to function normally and to prevent any damage to the tendon.
Following release from our hospital, your pet must be strictly confined to leash activity only for a period of twelve weeks and the use of stairs must be eliminated. If entry to the home involves several steps, it is advisable to construct a temporary ramp for your pet to use. Jumping up on and down from furniture must also be eliminated. Until your suture removal visit, strict exercise restriction is required and your pet should be taken outdoors on a leash only as necessary for eliminations. When not directly with your pet it is advisable to separate your pet from other pets in the household and confine him or her to a small room or crate. It is advisable to keep an Elizabethan collar in place to prevent chewing of the incision until sutures are removed.
After sutures are removed, we will be meeting at specified intervals throughout the twelve week convalescent period to monitor your dog’s progress and advise activities that are appropriate for your pet’s recovery. Leash walking will be gradually reintroduced, swimming may be implemented and range of motion exercises may be reviewed. Laser therapy is also available to relieve pain and inflammation and accelerate healing.
Surgical removal of a limb. Following anesthesia, the pet is placed on a surgical table, with the leg in question exposed. The hair is clipped around the shoulder or hip area, depending on the leg to be removed. The skin is scrubbed with surgical soap to disinfect the area and a sterile drape is placed over the surgical site. A scalpel is used to incise the skin around the area of the shoulder or hip. In the foreleg removal, the leg can be removed at the level of the shoulder or the leg and shoulder blade can be removed. This will vary depending on the reason for leg removal and cosmetics. For the rear leg, removal is commonly done at the upper 2/3 of the femur, leaving a stump of the leg. In some situations, the leg is removed at the hip joint.
After determining the site of leg removal, the skin is incised. The muscles, nerves and blood vessels are also incised, after being ligated (tied off) if necessary. In the case of the foreleg, the leg is either removed at the shoulder joint or the leg and shoulder blade are removed together. In the case of the rear leg, the humerus is cut with bone wire or a bone saw. Muscle is used to fold over the rough edge of the bone.
Sutures (stitches) that dissolve over time are used to close the muscles and deeper tissue layers. The outer layer of skin is closed with sutures or surgical staples; these need to be removed in about 10 to 14 days.
Surgical correction or removal and resectioning of damaged intestines. Following anesthesia, the pet is placed on a surgical table, lying on his back. The hair is clipped over the middle of the abdomen and the skin is scrubbed with surgical soap to disinfect the area. A sterile drape is placed over the surgical site. A scalpel is used to incise the skin at the middle of the abdomen, and then the abdominal cavity is opened. The intestines are isolated and evaluated. The section of diseased or damaged intestine is detected. On either side of the damaged intestine, large clamps are used to close off the healthy parts of the intestine to prevent leakage of intestinal contents into the abdomen. The damaged section of intestine is then removed with a scalpel or surgical scissors.
At this point, there is a section of intestine missing and the healthy edges need to be sutured together. Using absorbable suture, the healthy sections of intestines are sutured together and the area is tested to make sure there are no leaks. A section of omentum (the lacy membrane that cover the intestines) is wrapped around the incision site to help protect against leaks. The abdominal incision is then closed with one or two layers of self-dissolving sutures (stitches). The outer layer of skin is closed with sutures or surgical staples; these need to be removed in about 10 to 14 days.
Following anesthesia, the pet is placed on a surgical table, placed on advanced monitoring systems, and the video otoscope is installed into the effected ear or ears to identify the problem area(s). Once identified, using the scope your veterinarians can completely flush the ear canal, clear obstructions, masses, polyps, etc. using the scopes instrument channel we can even manually retrieve wax blockages and obtain tissue samples for testing. High resolution images can be taken for you the client to see the issues with your own eyes.
The Arthrex 5 mm Bio-Corkscrews are threaded bioabsorbable suture anchors featuring a braided suture eyelet molded into the implant. This is a patented design that eliminates eyelet degradation concerns and loss of fixation strength during the critical tissue healing period. The low coefficient of drag between the suture eyelet and the attached suture improves the performance of sliding knots and eliminates abrasion to the attached suture. The Bio-Corkscrew is ideal for open or arthroscopic soft tissue to bone repairs and comes preloaded with two #2 nonabsorbable sutures.
Surgical TechniqueThe Bio-Corkscrew is inserted into bone following pilot hole preparation. A Bio-Corkscrew Punch is initially malleted at a 45 ̊ “Deadman’s” angle and advanced until the laser line is below the bone surface.
In situations when dense cortico-cancellous bone is encountered, the pilot hole is further prepared by hand with the Bio-Corkscrew Punch/Tap until the laser line of the Punch/Tap is threaded below the bone surface. The Bio-Corkscrew is then inserted into the pilot hole until the laser line on the driver shaft is below the bone surface.
Removal of eye lashes (or distichia) on the inside of the eyelid. Some asymptomatic dogs with short, fine distichia may require no treatment at all, and some may be managed conservatively, especially those with mild clinical signs. Observation is commonly recommended for American cocker spaniels because they are often very tolerant of their extra eyelashes. Ophthalmic lubricant ointments may be used to protect the cornea and to coat the lashes in an oily film. Lubricants are most often chosen when mild tearing is the only clinical sign exhibited by the dog, if the lashes are few in number or short and fine in texture, or if the animal is not a good candidate for general anesthesia and surgery.
Surgical correction is undertaken to remove the lashes and kill the hair follicles if the dog is obviously bothered by the lashes, or if they are causing corneal changes. There is no single ideal surgical procedure available, as the hair follicles can be very difficult to kill. If only one or two lashes are present, then that portion of the eyelid may be surgically removed. If multiple eyelashes are present, then cautery of the meibomian glands or freezing of the glands with cryotherapy may be chosen. Care must be taken with both procedures so that excessive scarring of the eyelids does not occur. Regrowth of hairs is a common problem and may necessitate repeated surgeries. Eruption of new hairs at new locations may also occur.Camboro Oncall Solutions 8pm-Midnight, Weekends 2pm - Midnight (814) 734-1628.
