Which veterinary surgery is right for your pet?
There are 71 million pet owners in the United States, according to a National Pet Owners Survey, who love their pets as if they were their own children. Sadly, sometime those pet owners are faced with having to put their pet through surgery, sometimes elective for the good of the animal, and occasionally under emergency situations.
There are roughly 86,000 veterinarians in the States, many who are qualified veterinary surgeons with extensive training who can handle almost any problem a person or their pet can come up with.
Veterinary surgeons are veterinarians who specialize in animal surgery, although most vets can perform the simplest procedures. Among surgeons, there are vets who have specialized in a niche, such as cats, dogs, or horses and birds. These specialists have done extensive research and study into the anatomy and well being of their particular animal specialty, and therefore may be more knowledgeable than a general practicing vet.
According to Veterinary Specialty Organizations, the most common type of surgery is to spay or neuter the animal. This fairly simple procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis in most cases, and under general anesthesia. Almost any vet can perform this surgery, which prevents the animal from reproducing.
As pet populations increase and people turn the animals out on the street, spaying and neutering becomes very important. Many animal shelters have relationships with veterinary surgeons that spay and neuter all animals before they are adopted. Animal shelters have firsthand experience with out of control pet populations, and vets are on the front line in that battle.
Another popular surgery that is elective among dog owners is to clip ears and/or tails. This practice has some controversy as animal rights activists claim it's cruel. However, generations of animals have shown no adverse reactions to clipping, and so it remains the pet owner's choice. Discuss the surgery with the vet to determine the best way to manage pain after surgery.
Declawing cats or onychetomy is another controversial surgery. This surgery removes the front claws from indoor house cats to save furniture and scarring on playful hands. The argument is again, it's cruel, but for pet owners who dote on their cats, it's a personal choice. As long as the felines stay indoors, there doesn't seem to be an adverse reaction to the surgery.
VPI Insurance reports the most common surgery performed by vets is removing items from the stomach. Dogs, cats, and birds will ingest almost anything. Those items can get caught in the intestinal tract and require surgery to remove. Pet owners who see their pet ingest anything besides food need to keep a careful eye on the animal to make sure it passes. Anything lodged in the intestines can cause backup, build up and distress, and could even be worse. Most animals pass items within 24 hours, but if it remains longer, let your vet know so they can x-ray and determine a course of action. Better to keep small tasty looking items out of reach and avoid the mess altogether, but if your animal does chow down a few bottle caps or balloons, know that your veterinary surgeon is qualified to get it out.
Vets are animal lovers, as dedicated to the care and well being of their patients as the owners. If you are considering an elective surgery, talk to your veterinary surgeon about the options, and get all of your questions answered. A vet can give you the answers you need to help you make an informed decision that’s best for the pet and the owner. A highly trained and qualified pet surgeon is great to have in case of emergencies too.
When a pet owner is faced with an emergency, a veterinary surgeon can help ease their mind and handle any problem an owner or their pet can create. Contact a veterinary surgeon listed on this site to set up a consultation, or to discuss your concerns about your pet. Don’t wait for an emergency, call today and start building a relationship that will last.