Surgery for Cats & Dogs in Santa Cruz
At Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists, our surgical center is a cutting-edge facility staffed by leaders in the field of veterinary surgery.
We provide a wide range of laparoscopic and orthopedic surgeries including total hip replacements, MLP and arthroscopic assisted TPLO procedures.
Veterinary surgeries are performed using the most advanced technology available, with fully-trained support staff available to our surgical patients.
Based on your pet’s problems, our surgical specialists perform a detailed examination and discuss recommended diagnostic tests, procedures, risks, and expected outcomes with you.
Board-Certified Veterinary Surgeons
To become a certified specialist, a veterinary surgeon must complete four years of additional training after graduating from veterinary school. This training consists of a one-year internship followed by a three-year residency program that adheres to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons' guidelines (ACVS).
What to Expect with Vet Surgery in Santa Cruz
At Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists, our surgical center is equipped with cutting-edge surgical instrumentation and equipment. Everything we do, every decision we make, is to ensure post-operative success for your pet.
- Anesthesia & Pain Management
Each patient has a customized anesthetic plan based on his or her specific condition. Each pet's overall cardiovascular health and lab work are taken into account.
We go above and beyond to ensure your pet is pain-free during and after surgery, frequently employing a multimodal approach (i.e. local anesthetic, epidural anesthesia, and systemic medications).
- Continuous Patient Monitoring
We use cutting-edge monitoring equipment (EKG, oscillometric blood pressure, arterial line, pulse oximetry, end-tidal CO2, etc.) to monitor your pet's vitals during surgery.
- Sterilization Techniques
All of our procedures are performed in a sterile environment. This means that our operating room has positive pressure airflow and that the room is cleaned after each procedure.
In addition, our surgeons use sterile preparation and full surgical attire (sterile gloves, surgical cap, surgical gown).
- Post-Operative Care
When the surgery is complete, your veterinarian will contact you to go over the procedure and plan.
Some pets can return home the next day, while others must stay overnight. It ultimately depends on the procedure's complexity and your pet's health.
We provide you with discharge instructions and answer any questions you may have when you arrive to pick up your pet.
Surgical Procedures
At Pacific & Santa Cruz Veterinary Specialists, we conduct a range of emergency and medical surgeries to help cats and dogs with various diseases, conditions or injuries. Our surgical team in Santa Cruz perform the following surgeries on a routine basis:
- Soft Tissue Surgery
Our surgeons perform soft tissue surgical procedures for cats and dogs that are suffering from ear, nose, and throat disorders.
We also can conduct these operations for hepatic, urogenital, oncological, cardiothoracic, gastrointestinal, skin disorders, and more.
- Orthopedic Surgery
Our surgeons use orthopedic surgery for dogs and cats with diseases and injuries in their bones, ligaments, joints, tendons, and other skeletal structures in your companion. Orthopedic surgery at our clinic will also include a complete orthopedic examination, including diagnosis of causes of lameness and pain.
Some of the specific conditions we use this type of surgery for include treatment of cranial cruciate ligament rupture, bone tumor removal, fracture repair of all types, hip dysplasia, joint dislocation repair, limb deformity correction, and more.
- Laparoscopic Surgery
Our surgeons often use laparoscopy for abdominal surgeries. Laparoscopy is a modern surgical technique in which abdominal surgeries are performed through small incisions, using a rigid scope with an integrated high definition color magnifying camera and fiber optic light source.
With laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon has enhanced visualization of the internal organs. High definition images allow the surgeon to view details undetected by the human eye, which ultimately leads to a safer surgery.