Surgical Services

Pet Surgery in Alliston and Angus

Our veterinarians can perform a wide variety of surgical procedures at both of our clinics. These surgeries can range from routine elective procedures to advanced surgical procedures. On a rare occasion, we may need to refer your pet to a board-certified veterinary surgeon to perform complex surgical procedures.

Anesthesia and Monitoring

Most surgical procedures require some form of anesthesia. Minor procedures may only require a sedative or local anesthetic, while the majority of surgical procedures require general anesthesia so that your pet is unconscious and does not feel any discomfort. We closely monitor all of our anesthetic patients using a combination of monitoring equipment and our highly trained veterinary technicians to continually monitor their vitals throughout the entire process.

Spay and Neuter

We recommend spaying or neutering your pets. It not only prevents unwanted pregnancy, but can also reduce their risk for diseases later in life. Spaying will prevent females from going into heat, eliminate the risk of potentially fatal infections in their uterus and can reduce the risk of developing a mammary tumour as they get older. In males, neutering can reduce or eliminate male characteristic behaviours such as marking, fighting and roaming, eliminate the risk of testicular cancer, and reduce the risk of prostate disease.

We recommend that female dogs and cats be spayed around 5-6 months, prior to their first heat. Male cats should be neutered between 7-9 months of age to avoid spraying, while male dogs should be neutered between 8-12 months of age, depending on their size. Studies have shown that male dogs have less orthopedic and arthritic conditions later in life if they're neutered later, such as 10-12 months. This is more important for large breeds.

Soft Tissue Surgery

Our veterinarians can perform a range of soft tissue surgeries (surgeries not associated with bone) at both of our locations. Lump removals are the most common soft tissue surgery we perform. Other soft tissue surgeries that we frequently perform are foreign body removals from the stomach or intestines, bladder stone removal, laceration and wound repairs, and preventative gastropexies (stomach tacking to prevent gastric dilatation and volvulus, common in some large breed dogs).

Dental Procedures

Dental disease is the most common health condition diagnosed in cats and dogs; most pets are showing some form of dental disease by the age of 3. Dental disease, when untreated, can lead to serious health conditions throughout your pet’s body. All of our dental procedures include a thorough oral health exam, routine cleaning to remove plaque and tartar, polishing to further reduce plaque and to remove stains, and a fluoride treatment to help prevent tooth decay. Tooth extractions may be necessary in pets with moderate to severe dental disease or in cases with tooth fractures, retained baby teeth or misaligned teeth leading to soft tissue trauma. General anesthesia is necessary for all dental procedures to allow thorough cleaning under the gums, to enable tooth extractions, to prevent discomfort and stress, and for safety.

Orthopedic Surgery

We can perform several orthopedic (bone) surgeries in our clinics, including bone fracture repairs, joint ligament repair procedures, and amputations. Some orthopedic procedures such as back surgery can be very complex and we occasionally have to refer these cases to board-certified orthopedic surgeons.

Laser Surgery

The Boyne Veterinary Clinic offers laser surgery as an option for its surgical procedures. The surgical laser is an instrument that precisely vaporizes and cuts soft tissue, providing an alternative option to the traditional scalpel blade. Laser surgery has been shown to decrease bleeding and pain associated with surgical procedures. The Angus Veterinary Clinic does not currently offer laser surgery; these patients will be referred to the Boyne Veterinary Clinic for their surgical procedure if laser is recommended or requested. If you are interested in laser surgery for your pet, please feel free to contact us for more information.

If you have any concerns, or your pet requires a surgical procedure, please call to schedule a consultation with one of our veterinarians.