Veterinary Surgery

What to Expect from Pet Surgery

Rest assured that we will always keep you informed about why we recommend surgery, and in regard to all post-operative care your pet needs once they are home. We practice stringent surgical protocols at our clinic.

Surgical Procedures

At Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital, we perform medical and emergency surgeries to help treat disease and conditions in pets or to repair injuries sustained through trauma.

Our O’Fallon vets routinely perform the following elective and non-elective surgeries:

• Soft Tissue Surgery

  For pets suffering from ear, nose, and throat issues or conditions, we offer various soft tissue surgical procedures.

  These procedures are also available for hepatic, urogenital, oncological, cardiothoracic, gastrointestinal, and skin disorders. 

• Spaying & Neutering

  When we spay or neuter a cat or dog, we surgically sterilize them to prevent unwanted litters of puppies or kittens, help protect them from disease, and provide them with a longer life expectancy. 

• Ocular

  If your pet is experiencing pain, redness or other symptoms in or around their eyes, they may need ocular surgery.

  Common ocular procedures for cats and dogs include eyelid tumor removal, cataract surgery, ectropion surgery, entropion surgery, exenteration of the orbit and cherry eye surgery.

  If your cat or dog requires a veterinary surgical specialist to perform the surgery, our veterinarians will refer you to a pet surgeon near O’Fallon and work closely with your animal surgeon to ensure that your pet receives the best possible care. 

• Wounds

  Wounds occur when living tissue has been cut, broken, burnt, torn, or otherwise damaged.

  It's imperative that these wounds be cleaned, disinfected, and appropriately cared for by a qualified veterinarian as soon as possible. 

• Orthopedic Surgery

  Orthopedic surgeries correct injuries and diseases of the bones, ligaments, joints, tendons, and other skeletal structures in your pet. Our vets commonly perform amputations and cruciate ligament repairs with TPLO surgery.

  If your dog or cat is suffering from a condition or injury that requires advanced specialized care your vet will refer your dog or cat to a vet surgeon near O’Fallon.

• Juvenile Pubic Symphysiodesis (JPS) Surgery

  Canine hip dysplasia is a developmental condition where the hip joint doesn’t form properly during a puppy’s growth, leading to looseness in the joint and, eventually, painful arthritis or degenerative joint disease. It most commonly affects large and giant breed dogs, such as German Shepherds, Retrievers, and Great Danes, though any breed can be affected. Hip dysplasia is primarily genetic but can be worsened by factors like diet, rapid growth, obesity, excessive exercise, and early spaying or neutering.

  Performed between the ages of 12-22 weeks, JPS is a minimally invasive surgery that closes a growth plate at the bottom of the pelvis. This results in selective growth of the pelvis and the hip cup (acetabulum) increasingly covering the ball (femoral head) as the puppy grows during the following 4–6 months. Patients may be able to go home the same day after this procedure.

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• Cystotomy

  Cystotomy is a common surgical procedure for companion animals. A cystotomy is a surgical opening created in the wall of the urinary bladder.

  They are often performed for bladder problems including removal of bladder stones, bladder tumors, and blood clots. This procedure also can be done to obtain a biopsy sample of the urinary bladder. 

  If your dog or cat is suffering from a condition or injury that requires advanced specialized care your vet will refer your dog or cat to a vet surgeon near O’Fallon.

• Dental Surgery

  Our veterinarians provide dental surgeries for dogs and cats. These surgeries can range from tooth extractions to gum disease treatment and jaw fracture repairs.

The Vet Surgery Process

We understand that the prospect of bringing your pet in for surgery can be frightening. Please be assured that we recommend surgery only when it is in the best interests of your furry companion. 

We will fully inform you about our recommendation for surgery, and make sure you are comfortable going forward with the decision.

If your pet requires advanced care, our vets will refer you to a veterinary surgeon near O’Fallon, and work closely with your vet surgeon to ensure that your pet receives the best possible care. 

Surgical protocols at our clinic include:

Pre-surgical assessments. We will confirm the specifics of the procedure, complete a physical examination of the patient, and make sure blood tests have been completed and reviewed by the vet in order to determine if your pet faces any risk of anesthesia-related complications.

Dedicated surgical suites. Surgeries are performed in a dedicated surgical suite. This room is kept completely sterile to prevent infection and cross-contamination.

Surgical attire. Our staff wears disposable caps and masks at all times when they are in the surgical suite. Those involved in the procedure itself will also wear sterile gowns and single-use gloves.

Sterile packs and equipment. We carefully clean, sterilize and wrap our surgical instruments and equipment prior to every surgery.