Veterinary Surgery

Surgical Procedures

At Saint John Animal Hospital, we perform medical and emergency surgeries to help treat disease and conditions in pets or to repair injuries sustained through trauma.

Our Saint John veterinarians routinely perform the following elective and non-elective surgeries:

• Soft Tissue Surgery

  Soft tissue surgery covers a range of ear, nose, and throat procedures as well as mass removals and treatment of flesh wounds. Almost all surgical procedures not covered under the heading of orthopedic surgery may be considered soft tissue surgery.

  Soft tissue surgery also includes procedures for hepatic, urogenital, oncological, cardiothoracic, gastrointestinal, and skin disorders. 

• Spaying & Neutering

  Spaying and neutering are very common surgical procedures performed to sterilize pets, prevent disease, and provide dogs and cats with an extended life expectancy. 

• C-Sections

  Cesarean sections are performed to surgically remove puppies or kittens from their mother's uterus. C-sections are typically performed when the mother is unable to give birth naturally. 

• Ocular Surgery

  Ocular surgery is performed to treat eye conditions in dogs and cats. Common ocular surgeries include eyelid tumour removal, cataract surgery, ectropion surgery, entropion surgery, exenteration of the orbit and cherry eye surgery. 

• Mass Removal

  Masses can also grow on or just under the skin or inside a body cavity. While some masses may be removed for aesthetic purposes, other masses can be serious or even life-threatening.

• Foreign Body Removal

  Sometimes, foreign objects are ingested by pets and become stuck inside a cat's or dog's body. Whether your pet has eaten an object they shouldn't have or an accident has left them injured, we can perform foreign body surgery to remove it.

• Wound Repair

  Wounds occur when living tissue has been cut, broken, burnt, torn, or otherwise damaged. It's imperative that these wounds be cleaned, disinfected, and appropriately cared for by a qualified veterinarian as soon as possible in order to avoid infection and other complications. 

• Dental Surgery

  Our veterinarians provide dental surgeries to relieve pain and restore good oral health to dogs and cats. These surgeries can range from tooth extractions to gum disease treatment.

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The Surgery Process

Before any surgery, we will complete a thorough pre-surgical assessment. This includes a physical examination of your pet as well as blood tests to determine if they face any risk of anesthesia-related complications.

During each surgery, a dedicated nurse will administer anesthesia and continuously monitor your pet using electronic patient monitoring equipment. Pain management will also be provided. 

Post-operative monitoring and pain management are our priorities following surgery. Your veterinarian will also provide thorough instructions for at-home care.

Sterilization Protocols

Surgical protocols at our clinic include dedicated surgical suites which are kept completely sterile to prevent infection and cross-contamination.

Our staff wear sterile attire at all times when they are in the surgical suite, and we carefully clean, sterilize and wrap our surgical instruments and equipment prior to every surgery.