Veterinary Surgery

What to Expect from Pet Surgery

We always keep you fully informed about why we recommend a surgical procedure and any post-operative care your pet will require at home. At our clinic, we adhere to strict surgical protocols.

Surgical Procedures

We perform medical and emergency surgeries at Animal Emergency Center of North Fulton to help treat disease and conditions in pets, as well as to repair injuries caused by trauma.

Our Roswell veterinarians perform the following elective and non-elective surgeries on a regular basis:

• Soft Tissue Surgery

  We provide soft tissue surgical procedures for pets who have suffered ear, nose, and throat injuries due to trauma such as a bite wound.

  These procedures can also be used to treat hepatic, urogenital, oncological, cardiothoracic, gastrointestinal, and skin problems.

• Gastrointestinal Obstruction

  Sometimes, foreign objects are ingested or can get stuck inside a cat's or dog's body.

  Whether your pet has eaten an object they shouldn't have or an accident has left them injured, we can perform gastrointestinal surgery to remove it.

• Bite 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. 

• Closed Luxation Reductions

  Closed luxation reductions (dislocated hips, elbows, toes, etc.) involve manipulating the joint back into place where it is then bandaged for stability.

  Splints may be placed to stabilize fractures until a primary veterinarian or a specialist can perform surgery.

• Splenectomy

  A splenectomy is the total removal of the spleen from the pet's body. The spleen is responsible for storing blood vessels and cleaning toxins from the blood. If damaged, it can bleed profusely into the abdominal cavity, causing anemia, low blood pressure, shock, and even death. Surgery is generally only performed if methods of repair are not sufficient.

• Emergency C-Sections

  During Cesarean sections, we surgically remove puppies or kittens from their mother's uterus.

  C-sections are typically performed when the mother is unable to give birth naturally.

• Bloat/GDV

  Stomach bloat, also known as gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV), is a condition in which the stomach of a dog becomes bloated with gas. The stomach may be distended with fluid or food in some cases.

  During surgery, the stomach is untwisted and attached to the right side of the body wall (called gastropexy) to prevent it from twisting again. Sometimes a portion of the stomach has died (necrosed) and needs to be removed. If the spleen has developed blood clots, it will be removed.

The Veterinary 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 ensure that you fully understand why we are recommending veterinary surgery and that you are comfortable making the decision to move ahead.

If your pet requires surgery, it will likely require anesthesia. Please download and fill out our anesthesia consent form prior to surgery.

Download Anesthesia Consent Form

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.