Surgery

Surgical Procedures in a Fully-Equipped Surgical Suite

We offer laser surgery, soft-tissue surgery, and some orthopedic procedures.

Our clinic has a fully equipped surgical suite, including laser surgery. Our veterinary surgeons are assisted by a highly trained technical staff. Routine soft tissue as well as orthopedic surgeries, including anterior cruciate ligament rupture and luxating patellas, are performed.

The safest injectable and inhalant anesthetic agents available are used. Pre-anesthetic laboratory tests are performed routinely to minimize surgical risks. Patients are monitored closely by our technical staff and continuous pulse oximetry.

To learn more about the specific procedures we perform, click on the toggles below.

Spays

When and why should I spay my dog or cat?

Cedar Way Veterinary Clinic recommends spaying your dog or cat at 6 months of age. In addition to preventing accidental pregnancies, there are several health and behavioral benefits listed below:

  • Eliminate heat cycles – along with the bleeding and the unwanted male visitors
  • Eliminates unwanted pregnancies
  • Eliminates uterine and ovarian cancer

Click here for details.

Neuters

When and why should I neuter my dog or cat?

Cedar Way Veterinary Clinic recommends neutering your dog or cat at 6 months of age. In addition to preventing accidental pregnancies, there are several health and behavioral benefits listed below;

  • Decreased urine marking
  • Decreased desire to roam
  • Decreased signs of aggression especially towards other dogs
  • Reduction of prostate disease, perianal tumors and perineal hernias in dogs
  • Reduction in mounting behavior
  • Eliminate unwanted pregnancies
  • Eliminate testicular cancer

Click here for details.

Laser Surgery

Your pet’s health is as important to us as it is to you.

We are pleased to offer laser surgery as an exciting new option for safe, comfortable treatment. In many procedures, the laser can replace the scalpel blade and provide a better alternative to traditional surgery.

 Why laser surgery?

  • LESS PAIN – Laser energy seals nerve endings as it moves through the tissue. Your pet feels
    less pain post-operatively.
  • LESS BLEEDING – The laser seals small blood vessels during surgery, which allows us to
    perform surgeries with extraordinary precision.
  • LESS SWELLING – Laser energy does not crush, tear or bruise because only a beam of intense
    light contacts the tissue.
  • Laser technology reduces the trauma to your pet and improves recovery.

 What does that mean for my pet?

  • Reduced risk of Infection – The laser sterilizes as it removes diseased tissue, killing bacteria
    that can cause infection.
  • Precision – The laser can remove unhealthy tissue while minimizing adverse effects to healthy
    surrounding tissue.
  • Quick return to normal activities – Recovery is quicker and there is generally less postoperative discomfort.

 Are lasers new?

Lasers have been successfully used in humans for over 30 years. This human experience is proving to be beneficial for pets and their owners. We are pleased to be among the first veterinary practices to offer laser surgery specifically for pets.

 What types of procedures can a laser perform?

A laser is ideal for a wide variety of surgical procedures for dogs and cats. We use laser for many common procedures such as spays and neuters. We only do feline declaws with the laser.

Other conditions including cysts, tumors, and warts are also benefited by the use of the laser. Other specialized procedures such as stenotic nares and elongated soft palates are also benefited by the laser.

Ask us what procedures your pet can benefit from the use of the laser.

 What is a laser?

A laser is a device that generates an intense beam of light at a specific wavelength.

 How does it work?

The way our laser works is determined by the specific wavelength of light that it produces. Our CO2 Laser produces an invisible beam of light that vaporizes the water normally found in the skin and other soft tissue. Because we can precisely control the laser, only a thin layer of tissue is removed, leaving the surrounding areas unaffected.

 Laser Surgery means:

LESS PAIN
LESS BLEEDING
LESS SWELLING

Ask if your pet’s surgical procedure can be done with a laser! Call us today!

Feline Declaw

When and why should I declaw my cat?

Having your cat declawed is a personal decision. Cedar Way Veterinary Clinic recommends performing the declaw procedure at the time of spaying or neutering (at 6 months of age), although it can be done at any age.

We would like to see all cats for spaying/neutering and declaw be at least 4 pounds in weight or 4 months old. A declaw by itself can be done at any age. Animals over 1 year of age tend to have longer recovery times and an increased risk of complications.

Click here for details.

Knee Surgery

Anterior (Cranial) Cruciate Ligament Rupture

The knee is a fairly complicated joint. It consists of the femur above, the tibia below, the kneecap (patella) in front, and the bean-like fabellae behind. Chunks of cartilage called the medial and lateral menisci fit between the femur and tibia like cushions. An assortment of ligaments holds everything together, allowing the knee to bend the way it should and keep it from bending the way it shouldn’t.

There are two cruciate ligaments that cross inside the knee joint: the anterior (or, more correctly in animals, cranial) cruciate and the posterior (in animals called the caudal) cruciate. They are named for the side of the knee (front or back) where their lower attachment is found. The anterior cruciate ligament prevents the tibia from slipping forward out from under the femur.

For more details, click here.

Medial Luxating Patella

The medial luxating patella, commonly called a trick knee, is an extremely common problem in toy breed dogs. An owner typically notices a little skip in the dog’s step. The dog may even run on three legs, holding one hind leg up, and then miraculously be back on four legs as if nothing has happened.

In fact, something has happened: the kneecap (patella) has slipped out of the smooth groove in which it normally rides up and down. It has slipped medially, which is to say towards the opposite leg, as opposed to laterally, which would be away from the dog entirely. With the patella dislocated (or luxated) medially, the knee cannot extend properly and stays bent. Hopefully, the patient will be able to slip the kneecap back where it belongs and be back to normal in only a few steps. For some dogs, getting a kneecap back where it belongs and normal extension of the rear leg is a mere dream only attainable with surgical correction.

For more details, click here.