SERVICES - SURGERY

What surgery services can Ashland Animal Hospital provide?

AAH's doctors are highly trained and have extensive experience in a variety of routine and specialized surgeries. Some of the most common surgeries include neutering, spaying, lump removals, cystotomy, and gastrointestinal surgery.

For more complicated surgical and orthopedic procedures, we have a board certified veterinary surgeon – Dr. Joel Woolfson – who operates out of our facility as needed. Dr. Woolfson also offers pre-surgical consultation appointments to discuss available options and procedures. As an alternative, we can send you to one of the referral hospitals in the area, who have board-certified specialists on staff.

Surgery sounds kind of serious. What will my pet go through?

First of all, your pet will get lots of love! Second of all, most pets will go home the same day of their surgery, so you won't be separated for long.

For most surgical procedures, we administer general anesthesia. In special circumstances, we may administer sedation with local anesthesia, for procedures such as small mass removals or biopsies.

If your pet is five years of age or older, we recommend pre-anesthetic lab work. In addition to anesthesia, your pet will be given an anesthetic sedative and pain medication. Most pets over five years of age will also have an intravenous catheter and fluids during their procedure.

During surgery, your pet will be attended to by the veterinarian and a trained technician. They'll be monitoring your pet visually and through various electronic monitors such as a pulse oximeter or EKG monitor.

Following surgery, your pet will be covered with a warm air-circulating blanket and then returned to his/ her recovery area when they are ready. We don't have a 24-hour-care facility, so most pets will go home the evening of their surgery.

Occasionally, when we feel a pet needs a little extra recovery time, we'll recommend that you take your pet to one of the several 24-hour care facilities in our area. Then, they may return to AAH in the morning for further care, depending on their condition.

Neuter or Spay

Thousands of unwanted puppies and kittens are euthanized at animal shelters every year. Neutering and spaying are routine surgical procedures that save lives.

What many people don't know is that neutering or spaying may reduce or eliminate the risk of serious illness in pets in later years. Please consider this option to protect your pet's health, help to prevent pet overpopulation, and to ensure its long and happy life with you and your family.