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Surgeries

At the Vet

Surgeries and medical procedures requiring the use of anesthesia can come with risks.  These risks are carefully managed by experienced staff and trained surgeons.  We offer pre-surgical exams and blood work to screen for potential health issues that may inhibit the procedure from being performed. 

 

Your pet's well being is our top priority. 

Due to the intubation process for the anesthesia, we require all patients to be fasted overnight for surgical procedures.  This means no food or water after 9:00 PM.

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Patients are dropped off on the morning of the procedure, after signing final paperwork.  You will be contacted by the surgical technician after the procedure to notify you when your pet will be able to be released back home.

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We understand the stress and worry you experience when leaving your pet somewhere other than home.  We want to assure you that your trust in our staff to provide a safe experience for your pet is appreciated.

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Upon pick-up, we will read through the post-procedure care instructions with you to ensure you thoroughly understand your responsibilities.

Spay & Neuter

Spaying or neutering your dog or cat will reduce common problems such as:

  • For female dogs: Pyometra, or uterine infection, is a potentially life-threatening condition which can cost thousands of dollars to treat. Occurrence is 100% preventable if your pet is spayed.
     

  • There are more puppies and kittens overpopulating shelters than there are people willing to provide them with love and care. Sadly, many are euthanized.

  • Over one half of all mammary tumors are malignant and can spread to other areas of the body. Early spaying, prior to your pet beginning its heat cycles, significantly reduces the incidence of tumor formation.

  • Testicular cancer can be eliminated and prostatitis, an infection causing malignant or benign swelling of the prostate, can be greatly reduced with early neutering.

  • Unwanted behavioral problems such as dominance aggression, marking territory and wandering can be avoided with early spaying/neutering.

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Spays & Neuters

Scheduled as early as 6 months.

Ovariohysterectomy / Orchiectomy

 

A typical "spay" or ovariohysterectomy involves the removal of the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and uterus of the pet, resulting in sterilization, loss of heat cycle, and reducing breeding instinct related behavior.   This procedure is not recommended for dogs who are experiencing a heat cycle.  An appointment can be made 2 weeks post-cycle.

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A typical "neuter" or orchiectomy involves the removal of the testes of the pet, resulting in sterilization and reducing male breeding behavior. If your pet is afflicted with cryptorchidism (the failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum), an abdominal or inguinal exploratory surgery may be necessary for the removal of the testes.

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Cherry Eye Tucks & Removals

Scheduled as recommended by a veterinarian.

Prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid

A small gland is present on the back side of the third eyelid, the side that lies against the eye.  This gland can sometimes enlarge and protrude to become visible.  This gland is responsible for about one third of the eye's watery tear production.  So, the preferred treatment is to surgically replace or "tuck" the gland back into place.

Surgical removal is considered as a last resort if replacement techniques fail or if the gland has been prolapsed for a time where the gland is no longer functional.

Bladder Stone Removal

Scheduled as recommended by a veterinarian.

Cystotomy

Bladder stones are the physical aggregate of minerals and other substances in the bladder.  Depending on the type of stone that is present, there are different treatment options.  Unfortunately, calcium oxalate stones cannot be dissolved with dietary changes or medications.  The only effective treatment is surgical removal.

Pyometra

Emergency

Pyometra

A pyometra is a severe infection of the uterus with purulent discharge.  The recommended treatment is surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus (ovariohysterectomy).  Most pets also require fluids and antibiotics prior to and after surgery.  If left untreated, the infection can quickly become fatal.

Mass Removals

Scheduled as recommended by a veterinarian.

Mass Removal

Surgery is the most common treatment option if your pet is diagnosed with masses.  A surgical removal involves removing a large area of normal tissue around the tumor, if possible.  By taking wide margins, the goal is to eliminate the possibility of the tumor reoccurring.  To determine the success of the removal, we send the sample to a pathologist.  The pathologist will perform a biopsy, or analysis of the tissue, to determine the width of margins, type of cells, and possibility of metastasis.

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All biopsy results will be reviewed with a veterinarian in person.  We will not discuss results over the phone.

Entropion Repair

Scheduled as recommended by a veterinarian.

Entropion Repair

If your pet is diagnosed with entropion, an inward rolling of the eyelid, a surgical procedure is usually recommended to repair the eyelid(s).  If the patient is young, a simple tacking with suture may be all that is required to allow time for the patient to grow into the facial skin.  Otherwise, parallel elliptical incisions are made and the skin between the incisions is removed.  Once sutured, the eyelid will roll outward, correcting the entropio

Aural Hematoma Repair

Scheduled as soon as possible.

 

If your pet is diagnosed with an aural hematoma, or an accumulation of fluid or blood in the ear flap, surgical repair may be recommended.  We employ an incisional drainage technique that involves making incisions along the hematoma and draining the fluid buildup.  The incisions are then sutured, and the ear is bandaged.  Suture removal will be necessary 10-14 days post-procedure.

 

Laceration Repair

Emergency

 

Your pet may receive lacerations from any number of sources, but the procedure to repair is relatively the same process.  The affected area is shaved, cleaned, and evaluated.  Major bleeding is controlled and stopped.  Damaged tissue is removed, and the wound may be sutured to heal properly.  Antibiotics and pain-management medication may be sent home as well.  Follow-up appointments will be necessary to determine the success of the repair or if adjustments need to be made.  A surgical drain may be employed for larger or deeper wounds as to disperse any fluid buildup.  Sutures and drains will need to be removed by a veterinarian or technician.

 

Orthopedic Surgeries

Scheduled with traveling specialist.

Cruciate repairs, patella luxation repairs, plating broken bones, plating growth deformities

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Dr. Dave Clark is a traveling, board-certified surgeon who is referred to with difficult cases.  If you are referred to Dr. Clark by one of our veterinarians, one of our technicians will be your point of contact.  They will set up your consultation and surgery here at our facilities, as well as monitor your case.  You and your pet will be able to maintain your comfort by staying here, instead of being referred out to another, unknown hospital. 

Emergencies

After hours

Unfortunately, Titan Veterinary Services is not a 24-hour animal hospital and you may have off-hour situations arise where surgery is critical for your pet.  We understand the stress and emotions of those scenarios and we would like to assure you that the following 24-hour hospitals are well respected here.

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Ocean State Veterinary Specialists

(401) 886-6787

1480 South County Trail

East Greenwich, RI 02818

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Mass-RI Veterinary ER

(508) 730-1112

477 Milford Road

Swansea, MA 02777

 

Emergencies
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