Surgical Services
Whether performing a routine veterinary surgery or an emergency procedure, you can have confidence that the doctors and staff at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital will work hard to ensure each procedure is thorough, complete with the utmost expertise, and is as stress-free as possible for you and your pet.
At Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital, we fully understand the decision to allow your pet to undergo surgery is never easy. To that end, we are happy to answer any questions regarding your pet’s surgery. In fact, a pre-surgical consultation is an essential part of the process. Additionally, our medical staff is happy to provide you with information on postoperative care to ensure a rapid return to your companion’s happy, healthy self.
Our Facilities
Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital’s state-of-the-art surgical facility ensures procedures are as safe and efficient as possible. Veterinary technology is advancing rapidly. The combination of these advancements and our expertise greatly reduce the risk for complications and allow us to perform surgical procedures quickly and accurately.
The veterinary team at Inver Grove Heights Animal Hospital can offer everything from routine soft tissue surgeries to orthopedic surgeries by Veterinary Surgical Specialists (VSS), and additional specialized procedures, such as analglandectomies by Dr. Ann Winsor and entropian, palate, and nares surgeries by Dr. Jim Winsor. Our goal is to provide the best doctors and care possible under one roof.
Pre-Surgery Exam
Before your pet undergoes any surgical procedure, a thorough examination takes place. This exam includes a pre-surgical blood screen, which, along with your pet’s anesthetic history, breed, preexisting conditions, and age, will be used to determine a unique anesthesia protocol. These tests have the added benefit of establishing a baseline for the comparison of future blood tests, should your pet require any.
Anesthesia
For most surgical procedures, anesthesia is required. While under anesthesia, your pet is continuously monitored by our staff and specialized anesthesia monitoring technology. Your pet’s blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and oxygen level are all tracked during surgery. We also use a temperature-controlled operating table to assist in maintaining constant body temperature during the procedure.
Pain Management
Just as with humans, pain has many negative effects on pets that go beyond physical discomfort. Pain after surgery can slow healing and worsen diseases like arthritis. Because our companion friends don’t understand why they are experiencing pain, pain can cause behavioral issues and interfere with the bond between you and your pet.
To minimize your pet’s discomfort, we typically use a combination of local anesthetics, NSAIDs, and narcotic pain relievers. The exact protocol is tailored to each animal and depends on a number of factors determined by the pre-surgery exam and during the procedure.
Postoperative Care
Just as with humans, pain has many negative effects on pets that go beyond physical discomfort. Pain after surgery can slow healing and worsen diseases like arthritis. Because our companion friends don’t understand why they are experiencing pain, pain can cause behavioral issues and interfere with the bond between you and your pet. To minimize your pet’s discomfort, we typically use a combination of local anesthetics, NSAIDs, and narcotic pain relievers. The exact protocol is tailored to each animal and depends on a number of factors determined by the pre-surgery exam and during the procedure.
