Surgeries

Oncologic Surgery

The Soft Tissue Surgery Service performs a variety of procedures to remove tumors in small animals, including tumors within body cavities, oral tumors, and tumors of the skin and musculoskeletal system. In order to provide the best possible care for your pet, we cooperate closely with the Oncology Service to devise and implement an effective and reasonable diagnostic and treatment plan.

In order to plan surgical removal of a tumor, surgeons often utilize advanced imaging procedures such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both of which are available in-house at the ISU Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center.
 

Advanced Wound Care

The Soft Tissue Surgery Service manages traumatic wounds, often in close cooperation with the Emergency and Critical Care Service. It also performs reconstructive procedures following traumatic wounding of skin or excision of large tumors.

Cardiothoracic Surgery

The Soft Tissue Surgery Service is responsible for operating on animals with diseases affecting the thoracic cavity. This covers a wide variety of problems including congenital and acquired conditions of the cardiovascular system, lungs, and chest cavity, as well as the esophagus.

Some specific surgical conditions include:

  • Patent ductus atreriosus (PDA)
  • Persistent right aortic arch (PRAA) division
  • Lung lobectomy
  • Pericardiectomy

Gastrointestinal Surgery

Many types of gastrointestinal conditions may  require surgical treatment. Some of the most life threatening include gastric dilitaiton and volvulus (GDV) and intestinal obstruction. The ISU-LVMC is open 24 hours a day and surgery can be performed at any hour of the night to treat emergency cases.

Other gastrointestinal surgical conditions include:

  • Gastric dilitation/volvulus
    • Minimally invasive gastropexy
  • Gastric and intestinal foreign bodies
  • Intussusception
  • Porto-systemic shunt (PSS)
  • Cholecystectomy (gall bladder removal)
  • Subtotal colectomy for feline megacolon
  • Anal sacculectomy