Surgical Procedures atAnimal Hospital of Tiffin

Spay surgery involves the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus in the female so that they cannot have puppies or kittens. This is major abdominal surgery for your pet. Spaying stops messy heat, pesky males hanging around, and unwanted or surprise litters. It also prevents certain medical conditions such as uterine infections (pyometra) or tumors and reduces the chances and severity of mammary tumors – all of which can be deadly! The surgery should be done prior to the first heat to realize these benefits. This generally occurs around 6 months of age, depending on the breed. The high estrogen spike with a heat cycle or pregnancy is what sets up the female for health problems down the road. The surgery does not cause a personality change, and the slight tendency toward weight gain can easily be controlled by diet.

Female dogs generally go through a heat cycle or estrus every 6 months. The heat cycle may last several days or up to three or four weeks. She may become short-tempered or anxious during this time.

On the other hand, female cats come into heat cycles every three to four weeks during certain times of the year. They may show signs of nervousness and exhibit unusual behaviors such as rolling on the floor, furtively hiding, or wanting constant attention. They can also become quite vocal.

When your pet is spayed at Animal Hospital of Tiffin, it will undergo anesthesia with full anesthetic monitoring during the procedure. They will be placed into heated recovery and will spend one night in the clinic to ensure exercise restriction, as they may still be groggy after surgery. They will go home with pain medications and an e-collar (cone) to prevent them from licking their incision, along with instructions for strict exercise restrictions for the next 2 weeks. They will return to our clinic in 2 weeks for complimentary suture removal and incision inspection before being given the all-clear to return to normal activity. If you have any questions or concerns regarding surgery or would like to schedule surgery, please call us for more information.

Mass/Tumor Removal
Here at Animal Hospital of Tiffin, we perform mass removals of all shapes and sizes. With the surgical laser, we can control bleeding and swelling in areas of the body and with certain tumors that would otherwise present a challenge. We can tailor the surgery to fit your pet and always strive for a cosmetic outcome. We can remove masses that are cancerous or benign and send masses to a pathologist for further examination when needed. Masses are removed under general anesthesia with full anesthetic monitoring and heated recovery. We tailor our anesthetic and surgical plan to your pet based on medical conditions like heart or kidney disease. Your pet will have stitches after surgery and will spend at least one night with us following a mass removal. Depending on the location of the incision, your pet may go home with an e-collar (cone) to prevent licking of the incision. Sutures are removed after 2 weeks, and all patients are sent home with pain medications.

Aural (Ear) Hematoma
Cats and dogs can rupture blood vessels in their ear pinnae, which leads to swelling of the outside of the ear with blood and serum. This is often secondary to an ear infection or rough-housing with other pets. This requires surgery to drain and repair, which we offer. Pets are sedated, and a small drain is placed into the ear along with a bandage to keep the ear collapsed and allow the ear to heal cosmetically. Not correcting this condition will result in an ear abscess or a cauliflower ear that is irreparable.

Anal Gland Removal
We have the tools and the expertise to remove anal glands from both dogs and cats. This surgery is recommended for pets that have a history of painful, impacted, infected, or ruptured anal glands. Removing the anal glands completely will prevent these problems from recurring. By using the surgical laser for this procedure, we can control bleeding and swelling in the area following surgery. Call us today to schedule a consultation for your cat or dog with anal gland disease!

Perineal Urethrostomy (PU)
When male cats have repeated urinary blockages, we recommend surgical intervention, which involves rerouting the urethra to avoid the most narrow portion, where they frequently become blocked. This is a delicate surgery that Dr. Bob has been performing since 1976 with great success. This surgery can allow male cats to live more normal lives and prevent repeated urinary blockages.