Small Animal Surgery
Soft Tissue Surgery
Soft tissue surgery is best described as surgery on the skin, muscle or inside the abdomen or the chest. At WestVETS, we are fully equipped to perform simple to advanced surgical procedures.
The most common surgery procedures performed include but are not limited to:
- Lump removals
- Wound repairs
- Abdominal surgery
- Caesareans
- Routine desexing
- Bladder stone removal and other urinary tract procedures
- Intestinal foreign body retrieval
Aside from performing routine desexing procedures, lump removals and wound stitch ups, our experienced veterinarians will often perform more technically demanding procedures.
- Intestinal obstructions – Some things were never meant to be passed. In these situations, they need to be surgically removed and, in some cases, damages sections of intestine need to be removed.
- Gastropexy – To prevent stomach twisting in cases of gastric dilatation.
- Gastric Dilatation and Volvulus (Bloat) – an emergency where the stomach dilates and twists, cutting off blood supply to the stomach.
- Entropian surgery – to correct eyelid deformities.
- Caesarean – Both emergency and elective caesareans.
- Perineal urethrostomy – to resolve recurring urethral obstruction.
- Axial pattern flaps – for large wound defects often associated with large cancer removals.
Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic surgery is surgery on the bones, joints or associated tendons or ligaments. It includes, but is not limited to, procedures such as fracture repairs, luxating joint repairs and cruciate ligament repairs, all of which are regularly performed in our hospitals by our experienced vets.
Together with our experienced veterinarians, our skilled surgical nurses and our hospitals’ fully equipped surgical suite, we are able to perform many orthopaedic procedures to the highest of standard without referral to a specialist clinic.
Orthopaedic Surgery Procedures performed are;
- Cranial Cruciate Ligament Surgery
- Medial Patella Luxation
- Hip dislocation
- Fractures
Surgery for CCL (Cranial cruciate ligament) disease
Cranial cruciate ligament rupture and cranial cruciate ligament disease
WestVETS offers a complete range of treatment options for CCL disease, from diagnosis, advice on pain management and chondroprotective agents to surgical options for all breeds and sizes. We are proud to offer Extracapsular lateral suture (DeAngelis), Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) and Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO) at competitive prices. Our goal is to make advanced Cranial Cruciate Ligament surgery more accessible to more dogs with CCL disease.
With regards to which procedure is best, this will generally be decided based on patient size, activity levels and financial considerations. There is growing evidence to support TPLO as the gold standard procedure for cranial cruciate ligament tears with better return to function, lower rate of post-surgical/late meniscal tears and less progression of osteoarthritis over time. This is the most widely performed technique used in Referral Specialist centres in Australia.
Recovery is generally very good with patients able to weight bear within days, and as part of our inclusive weekly post operative checks and rehabilitation guidelines, we encourage gradually increasing leash walks with many patients having excellent mobility by 6 weeks post-surgery.
We aim to be as transparent on costs as possible, with estimates tailored to each patient based on size, what diagnostics have already been performed and what medications patients are already on. We aim to provide estimates that cover all expected requirements from admission to discharge, including take home medications, weekly follow up checks and 6 week post-operative X-rays.
Visiting Veterinary Surgery Specialists
We are proud of our state-of-the-art facilities, highly skilled veterinary surgeons and nursing staff, however sometimes complicated cases do arise that may require referral to a specialist for surgery or on-going treatment. We have visiting Specialist Surgeons, Ophthalmologists, Cardiologists and Ultrastanographers that regularly visit our hospitals and are always available to work with us within our own hospitals.
Our veterinarians will assess each case individually and provide the best advice and treatment options for you and your pet.
