Your Pet's Surgery
We are trained, skilled and experienced veterinary surgeons. We approach this aspect of our profession with a deep sense of compassion for all animals.
The staff at Animal & Bird Hospital of Del Mar understands that the decision to allow your beloved companion to undergo surgery is never an easy one. We strive to ensure your pet's procedure is as comfortable and stress free as possible.
Perhaps the most important pre-surgical step we take is to discuss with you why we believe a particular procedure is necessary and what it entails. We also provide information on proper postoperative care and answer any questions you may have so that you feel comfortable knowing you are making the right choice for your pet.
While under anesthesia your pet will be cared for by a well-trained and experienced veterinary technician using our monitoring system, which tracks blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, and oxygen level.
We believe it is in the best interests of our clients' pets for us to offer as wide an array of surgical services from our facility as possible. It is important for you and your pet to receive care in a friendly and welcoming facility from people you both have come to know in order to reduce stress and promote healing.
Soft-Tissue Surgery
From simple skin mass removals to more complex liver, spleen and intestinal surgery, we have the expertise and equipment to meet all soft tissue surgical needs.
Orthopedic Surgery
Animal & Bird Hospital of Del Mar is fully equipped to perform most common orthopedic procedures including fracture repairs, joint surgery, bone biopsies, etc. We also can offer in-hospital referral with a board-certified veterinary surgeon to perform complicated orthopedic surgeries, such as TPLO procedures, to correct damaged cruciate ligaments.
Spay & Neuter
Each day 70,000 puppies and kittens are born in the U.S. As long as these birth rates continue there will not be enough homes for these animals. As a result, every year 4 to 6 million animals are euthanized.
Spay and neuter your pet! In addition to saving lives, spaying and neutering can also drastically improve your pet's health and life expectancy. The idea that pets become fat or lazy when they are spayed or neutered is a myth. Sterilized pets lead healthier, longer lives. Spaying a female eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the risk of breast cancer. Neutering a male reduces the risk of prostate disease and testicular cancer. Neutering also makes your pet more affectionate and less likely to roam, get in fights, or become lost.
Oncology
The word cancer strikes fear in all of us; however, with new advances in veterinary medicine many pets are living longer with a greatly improved quality of life.
Successful cancer treatment often lies in early detection. Early detection can be difficult at times as cancer may not only present itself as a lump on the skin, but may develop inside the body. If this occurs, a examination can often discover the tumor. If left undiagnosed, the disease may not be noticed until clinical symptoms develop.
Treatment also depends on the type and location of the cancer. If possible, surgical removal of the tumor is recommended. Some types of cancer are responsive to chemotherapy, which include a variety of oral and injectable drugs. Dogs and cats tend to tolerate chemotherapy well and do not often develop side effects similar to humans.
Our veterinarians are thoroughly trained in this discipline.
Anesthesia
The doctors at the Animal & Bird Hospital of Del Mar are well-equipped to perform most minor and major surgical procedures from spays and neuters to more complicated emergency, orthopedic and soft tissue surgeries. Ensuring the health and safety of your pet during surgery is of the utmost importance to us and requires an anesthetic and monitoring regimen that adheres to the highest principles and ideals of veterinary medicine.
Prior to surgery, your pet receives a thorough physical examination to identify any existing medical conditions that might endanger your pet's health. Because not all problems can be detected on examination, we also suggest preanesthetic blood and urine testing. These tests not only give us a more complete picture of your pet's health, but also allow us to tailor an anesthetic regime that is specific for your pet.
We use state-of-the-art anesthetic machines offering both isoflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia. Please discuss these options with our staff. We also utilize a variety of anesthetic monitoring devices including Doppler blood pressure monitors, respiratory monitors, and other cardiac monitoring equipment. We also employ the use of various warming devices to keep your pet warm and cozy during anesthesia.
We utilize a multi-parameter monitoring and anesthesia care. We provide your pet access to state-of-the-art anesthetic administration and cardiovascular monitoring equipment and protocols by our skilled professionals. We use ISO, SEVO, Propofol and other injectable anesthetics.
Pain Management
Pain management is an important part of our pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative anesthetic and medical protocol. All surgical patients, including those undergoing routine procedures such as ovariohysterectomy or castrations, receive pain control medications. We urge you to discuss operative pain management options with our staff.
Pain has many other detrimental effects on the body. Pain slows healing, decreases activity, causes behavior changes (such as aggression, anxiety, and depression). Pain worsens diseases like arthritis and potentially some cancers. It interferes with the bond between you and your pet.
For acute and chronic conditions, we use NSAIDS (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), oral and injectable analgesics and offer a wide variety of natural supplements to keep your pet comfortable.
Postoperative Care
As your pet is being discharged from the Animal & Bird Hospital of Del Mar, we provide you with detailed information on how to properly care for your pet at home after surgery. We are also happy to answer any questions or concerns that may arise once you get your pet home.