Some of Our Interesting looking Patients

Lotus, a Sphynx, came to our hospital this week to be spayed. As with any of our patients, special precautions were taken during her spay to ensure her surgery was done efficiently and safely. Because Sphynx cats have no pelt to keep them warm they huddle up to other animals or people to keep warm. Lotus came prepared with a fuzzy bed and blanket to keep her warm while she stayed with us.

Callie, A 12 week old Shar Pei, came for her first wellness visit this week. She is so adorable! As young puppies they have very deep wrinkles but as they mature, these wrinkles disappear.

Chewer Beware!!!

Like toddlers, pets have a tendency to chew and ingest various objects. This becomes a serious and potentially life threatening problem if the objects become lodged in the intestines or stomach. An animal who has ingested string or ribbon can develop a linear foreign body which is even more dangerous.

When objects are too large to pass, they usually obstruct at the stomach outflow or within the small intestine itself. With linear foreign bodies, the continual movement of the intestinal tract can literally bunch the intestines into an accordion-like mass.

Most patients with digestive foreign bodies exhibit vomiting. If the object has not fully clogged the intestinal tract the vomiting may be intermittent. With a complete blockage the dog or cat will not be able to keep anything down. The longer the blockage lasts the more critical the patients condition will become.

When the foreign body is a sharp object the risk of it perforating through the intestines or stomach is high. In the case the patients condition will become critical and fatal fast with infection.

This week two of our patients came in with these typical symptoms and upon radiographic evaluation the issue was very clear. Both dogs had ingested a foreign body.

The first patient a standard poodle, had clearly ingested a sewing needle and other questionable objects were noticed as well.

An emergency abdominal explore was immediately preformed and Dr. Zarif removed not one but 4 foreign objects! 2 socks, a wad of paper and the sewing needle.

Our second foreign body surgery was a little Jack Russel who ate a large screw. Radiographs were taken and it was clear another emergency exploratory surgery was necessary. During the surgery Dr. Burns retrieved not only the screw that had perforated through the intestinal wall. In the picture a rope toy was wrapped around the screw and a little yellow rubber toy.

We are happy to report that both patients doing well and recovering from their surgeries. Hopefully this wont be a reoccurring issue for either of them.

Laparoscopic Spay

What is a Laparoscopy?

Laparoscopy is a minimally invasive technique for viewing the internal structures of the abdomen. A laparoscope (camera) inserted through a small incision in the abdomen magnifies internal structures of the abdomen on a TV monitor for a more thorough examination. Additional small incisions are made to facilitate the use of surgical instruments. The most common application of the laparoscopy is biopsy. In recent years, laparscopy has been adopted as a less traumatic and less painful alternative to traditional spays.

Traditions Spays

In a traditional spay a 2" to 3" or larger incision is made in the abdomen through which the ovarian ligament is blindly torn from the abdominal wall. This tearing may cause bruising and post-operative pain. Traditional spays require significant tension on the ovaries and uterus which may cause trauma and bleeding. Traditional spays are typically performed as in-patient surgeries which require an overnight stay.

Laparoscopic Spays

When preforming a laparoscopic spay, the procedure is done through two or three tiny incisions in the abdomen, typically 3/16" in size. The procedure is performed with magnified views of the organs allowing for greater precision. The ovarian ligament is carefully cut and cauterized, rather than torn. Laparoscpoic spays offer patients up to 65% less pain, minimal recovery time and less trauma than traditional spays.

Advantages of Laparoscopic Spays over Traditional Surgery

• A recent study concluded laparoscopic spays caused less surgical stress and up to 65% less post-operative pain than a traditional open surgery.
  
• The entire surgery is performed through a few tiny incisions rather than a larger abdominal opening. Smaller incisions are less painful and reduce recovery time.


• Usually performed as an outpatient procedure so your pet recovers at home. Traditional open spays typically require an overnight stay.


• Laparoscopy allows for better visualization of abdominal organs.


• Controlled incisions eliminate pain and bruising caused by the tearing of the tissue associated with traditional spays.


• In larger breed dogs gastropexy can be performed at the time of spay.