Your Pet's Surgery
Our Advanced Surgical Capabilities
Whether performing a routine surgery or an emergency procedure, you can have confidence that the doctors and the entire staff at Bryan Road Animal Hospital will work hard to ensure each procedure is thorough, done with the utmost expertise, and is as stress-free as possible for both you and your pet.
At our O'Fallon, Missouri veterinary hospital, we fully understand the decision to allow your pet to undergo surgery is never an easy one. To that end, we are happy to answer any questions regarding your pet's specific surgery. In fact, a pre-surgical consultation is an essential part of the process. Additionally, it is our priority to provide you with information on postoperative care to ensure a rapid return to your pet's happy, healthy self.
Bryan Road Animal Hospital is well-equipped to perform most minor and major surgical procedures from spays and neuters to more complicated soft tissue and orthopedic surgeries. Generally, surgeries involve anything related to trauma, oral or dental, ear, skin masses and tumors, eye, stomach, intestine and colon, reproductive, urinary, endocrine (hormonal system, thyroid), lymphatic, cancer surgery, intestinal foreign bodies, surgical biopsy, and orthopedic surgery.
Specific surgeries we perform include ear crops, brachycephalic airway surgeries (including stenotic nares reduction), elongated soft palate reduction, laryngeal saccuole removal (commonly performed on bulldogs), and cherry eye surgery. We work with an experienced orthopedic surgeon who performs most orthopedic surgeries, including fracture repair and TPLO (a common procedure to repair canine ACL injuries).
Your Pet's Pre-Surgical Examination
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, pre-existing 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 at Bryan Road Animal Hospital
For most surgical procedures, anesthesia is required. While under anesthesia, your pet is continuously monitored by a trained veterinary technician 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 a constant body temperature during the procedure.
Pain Management for Your Pet's Comfort
Like humans in pain, pets in pain experience more than only physical discomfort. Pain after surgery can slow healing and worsen diseases like arthritis. And pain can cause behavioral issues, such as aggression, anxiety, and depression, and interfere with the bond between you and your pet.
To minimize your pet's discomfort, we usually recommend a combination of local anesthetics, NSAIDs, and narcotic pain relievers. The exact protocol is tailored to each pet, and depends on a number of factors that are determined by the pre-surgery exam and the procedure.
Postoperative Care and Healing
The amount of time your pet will need to be monitored after surgery varies. In some cases, pets will need a brief stay at our veterinary hospital in O'Fallon; in others, they can be sent home the same day. When your pet is discharged, your veterinarian will provide you with information on proper home care after surgery.
If your pet is prescribed medication, we will make sure you understand how and when to administer it. We will also be available to answer questions after your pet arrives home. Contact us at (636) 272-3900 with any questions or concerns following surgery and we will be more than happy to help you.
For more information about Bryan Road Animal Hospital's comprehensive veterinary surgical options for your St. Charles pet, please call (636) 272-3900.