Veterinary Surgery

Preparing for a C-Section

If it is possible to do so safely, you should consider bathing your pet in the days leading up to the surgery. It may be a while until you are able to do so again once the surgery is complete. Bathing your pet before the surgery also mean that she will already be clean for the surgery itself and once she begins caring for her new puppies or kittens.

Your pet may eat the night before a C-section, but not the morning of the procedure. Water is fine right up until your appointment, as are any medications your pet has to take along with a small amount of food to encourage her to take it. Make sure you discontinue the use of any topical flea or tick products in the week leading up to the surgery.

Your vet will provide specific instructions for pre-operation well in advance.

C-Section FAQs

Home Care After a C-Section

After a C-section, the new mother and her babies should be closely watched for the first 24 hours to make sure the babies are safe.

You will need to stay up overnight and place the puppies or kittens on the teats of your pet to make sure they feed. This will also help the mother's natural hormones to kick in and encourage her mothering instincts.

You should make sure the environment around the newborns and mother is warm and dry. Ideally, this involves lots of towels and a source of warmth that is safe for them to be around. Replace the towels as they become wet.

Make sure there is always food and water available, new mothers need up to 3 times their regular amounts of food and water to produce milk for their children.

Keep a close eye on the mother's surgical wound. Monitor for signs of infection like swelling or redness and make sure the area stays clean.

Keeping their bed clean will also reduce the risk of infection, as will checking the umbilical cords for redness or swelling.

Common Dental Conditions

Some common health issues which may require dental surgery to treat are as follows:

• Cracked or broken teeth
• Tooth decay
• Severe gum disease (periodontitis)
• Jaw fractures
• TMJ (temporomandibular joint) luxation or dysplasia
• Feline stomatitis

Dental Surgery FAQs

Home Care After a Dental Surgery

After dental surgery has been completed and your vet has decided they don't require any further in-hospital monitoring, it will be time for your pet to come home. 

Depending on the kind of dental surgery your pet underwent, they will have different needs. First and foremost, you should follow the post-operative care instructions provided to you by your vet. If you cannot remember, you can always contact them to ask.

Your pet may require pain relief and anti-inflammatory medications and will also need plenty of rest. As a rule, try and prevent your pet from undertaking too much physical activity for 48 hours after their procedure. 

And since dental surgery may make your pet's mouth sensitive and prone to injury or infection while it heals, it is important to follow your vet's instructions closely when it comes to feeding and watering your companion.

If your pet is not eating, is rubbing its mouth, or is showing signs of infection like swelling or bleeding, contact your Burlington Veterinary Emergency & Referral Hospital staff as soon as possible.

Symptoms of Eye Problems in Cats & Dogs

We can diagnose and treat the following symptoms:

• Pain
• Redness
• Increased Tear Production
• Visible Third Eyelid
• Corneal Cloudiness
• Dilated Pupils
• Obviously Enlarged Eye

Common Eye Problems in Pets

Some of the most common eye problems we treat include:

• Cataracts
• Scratches
• Abrasions
• Drainage
• Corneal Ulcers
• Infections
• Vision Loss

Ophthalmology FAQs

Common Orthopedic Conditions

There is a wide range of orthopedic conditions that affect cats and dogs. The following are among the most common:

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is the medical term for a hip socket that doesn't fully cover the ball portion of the upper thighbone, allowing the hip joint to become partially or completely dislocated. It is most common in German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers and other large breed dogs.

Total hip replacement is the most effective surgical treatment for hip dysplasia. The surgeon replaces the entire joint with metal and plastic implants, returning hip function to a more normal range.

Cruciate Ligament Tears

Torn cruciate ligaments in dogs, just like in people, must be surgically repaired to prevent arthritis. There are many different types of surgical procedures that can be used to repair this injury, and the type used typically depends on the size of the dog.

CCL surgery for dogs may include a number of different techniques that aim to provide stability to the joint.

Luxating Patellas

The patella (knee cap) lies in a cartilaginous groove at the end of the femur at the stifle. A luxating patella occurs when the knee cap moves out of its natural position. Knee cap problems are common in many dog breeds, both large and small.

Surgery is recommended for animals that have significant lameness as a result of luxating patellas, with the goal of keeping the patella in its appropriate location at all times.

Disc Disease

Just like humans, dogs can develop disc problems in their neck and backs. Breeds that commonly suffer from neck disc problems are Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Dachshunds and Lhasa Apsos. Large breed dogs are more likely to have chronic lower back issues. 

Dogs with advanced disc disease should have surgery as soon as possible. The sooner that surgery is done, the better the prognosis.

Orthopedic Surgery FAQs

Soft Tissue Surgery FAQs

Benefits For Cats

There are 6 key benefits of spaying or neutering your cat:

1. It curbs naughty behaviours, like spraying to mark territory.
2. Neutered cats are less likely to stray from home.
3. Your cat may become more affectionate.
4. It reduces the risk of your cat contracting certain diseases.
5. It decreases the risk of uterine infection in female cats.
6. It may decrease the risk of mammary (breast) cancer.

Benefits For Dogs

There are 5 key benefits of spaying or neutering your dog:

1. It reduces the risk of prostate and other cancers.
2. It reduces marking and spraying issues.
3. It stabilizes the mood of the dog.
4. It reduces the mating urge.
5. It can reduce sexualized behaviors.

Spaying & Neutering FAQs