Vet Surgeon Services in Blountville

What to Expect from Vet Surgery

We always keep you fully informed about why we are recommending a surgical procedure and regarding any post-operative care your pet will need at home. We practice stringent surgical protocols at our clinic.

Surgical Procedures

At Airport Pet Emergency Clinic, we perform emergency surgeries to help treat critical conditions in Blountville pets or to repair injuries sustained through trauma.

Our Blountville vets routinely perform the following surgeries:

• Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV)

  Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) is a serious condition for dogs and is fatal if left untreated. Commonly referred to as "bloat," GDV occurs when a dog's stomach fills with gas, food, or fluid and subsequently twists.GDV develops without warning and can progress quickly.

  Our team at Airport Pet Emergency Clinic is experienced in handling GDV emergencies. Stabilization of your dog is paramount and often begins with intravenous fluids and oxygen therapy.

  Surgery involves full exploration of the abdomen and de-rotation of the stomach. Additionally, the viability of the stomach wall, the spleen, and all other organs will be determined. Once the stomach is returned to the normal position in the abdomen, it is permanently fixed to the abdominal wall (gastropexy)

• C-Sections

  A caesarean section, or C-section, is major surgery performed to remove puppies from the uterus. This is most commonly performed as an emergency procedure when there is difficulty with natural birth.

  During Cesarean sections, we surgically remove puppies or kittens from their mother's uterus.

• Laceration Repair

  A laceration is a wound produced by the tearing of body tissue. Unlike an incision with smooth edges, a laceration is often jagged and irregular. Surgical repair of a laceration is indicated whenever the laceration occurred recently and is large enough to warrant sutures. 

  If your pet has suffered a trauma, puncture wound or bite and is in need of laceration or abscess repair, our experienced and talented team will effectively evaluate and treat your pet to minimize additional risks and keep pain under control.

• Spendectomy

  The spleen is responsible for storing blood vessels and cleaning toxins from the blood. If damaged, it can bleed profusely into the abdominal cavity, causing anaemia, low blood pressure, shock and even death.

  Splenectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of the spleen. This procedure is often combined with exploratory abdominal surgery, in which all of the abdominal organs are inspected and biopsies are collected if needed.

• Foreign Body

  Sometimes, foreign objects are ingested or can get 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.

  In order to gain access to the foreign body, the surgery is performed by making an incision into the abdomen. Once your veterinarian has entered your pet's abdomen, a full assessment of the abdominal organs will be performed.

• Amputation

  An amputation is a surgical procedure where a pet’s limb is removed. Our emergency vet may recommend amputation if your pet has sustained a severe injury after being hit by a car or during an accident. This emergency procedure could save a pet's life. 

• Diaphramatic Hernia Repair

  Diaphragmatic hernia is a disruption of the diaphragm which allows abdominal organs to migrate into the chest cavity. Often the result of blunt trauma to the abdomen, such as motor vehicle accidents. 

  The only treatment to repair the diaphragmatic hernia is surgery. Surgery is performed on an emergency basis if the stomach is herniated into the chest cavity and becomes distended with gas. This can prevent lung expansion and cause respiratory distress. 

• Abdominal Exploratory Surgery

  An abdominal exploratory is a surgical procedure involving the opening of the abdominal cavity and examination of a dog’s abdominal organs.

  If deemed necessary, other surgical procedures such as splenectomy, biopsy, cystotomy, ovariohysterectomy or enterotomy may be performed. 

The Surgery Process

We understand that the prospect of your pet experiencing emergency veterinary surgery can be frightening. Please be assured that we recommend surgery only when it is necessary and in the best interests of the pet's health. 

We will ensure that you fully understand why we are recommending surgery, and that you are comfortable making the decision to move ahead.

At Airport Pet Emergency Clinic, we use stringent surgical protocols to provide a wide range of surgical procedures for cats and dogs.

Surgical protocols at our clinic include:

Pre-surgical assessments. We will confirm the specifics of the procedure, complete a physical examination of the patient, and make sure blood tests have been completed and reviewed by the vet in order to determine if your pet faces any risk of anesthesia-related complications.

Dedicated surgical suites. Surgeries are performed in a dedicated surgical suite. This room is kept completely sterile to prevent infection and cross-contamination.

Surgical attire. Our staff wears disposable caps and masks at all times when they are in the surgical suite. Those involved in the procedure itself will also wear sterile gowns and single-use gloves.

Sterile packs and equipment. We carefully clean, sterilize and wrap our surgical instruments and equipment prior to every surgery.