Advanced Surgical Services in Charlottesville, Virginia

Soft tissue surgery focuses on treating issues such as tumors, masses, and problems with internal organs. Some of our soft tissue specialty services include:

• Gallbladder Mucocele
• Liver Lobe Removal
• Spleen Removal
• Oncologic Procedures
• Lung Lobe Removal
• Wound & Reconstructive Surgery
• Portosystemic Shunts
• Laryngeal Paralysis

From their wagging tails to active legs and paws, a lot can go wrong with your pet’s bones, ligaments, and tendons. Our orthopedic services include:

• Cranial Cruciate Ligament Injury Repair
• Patellar Luxation
• Achilles Tendon Injury
• Canine Hip Dysplasia
• Double Pelvic Osteotomy (DPO)
• Femoral Head and Neck Ostectomy (FHO)
• Elbow Dysplasia
• Canine Unicompartmental Elbow (CUE)
• Fracture Repair

Neurological procedures can provide the best possible outcomes for conditions with the brain, spinal cord, or nerves. Some of those include:

• Intervertebral Disk Herniation
• Lumbosacral Stenosis
• Spinal Fractures

A surgical procedure isn’t always warranted, which is why we offer several minimally-invasive procedures. These include:

• Arthroscopy
• Laparoscopy
• Thoracoscopy
• Synovetin OA

Additional information on surgical procedures not listed above can be found on the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) website. If your pet is going through a specific procedure and you’d like to learn more about it, the ACVS is a great resource.

Consultations with our board-certified surgeons on non-emergent procedures are available Monday through Friday. These consultations are typically 45 minutes long. Our surgeons will take this time to review your pet’s medical history and perform a physical exam before discussing treatment options.

Emergent surgery cases will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and will be seen by a surgeon as soon as possible.

After completing your consultation with one of our Diplomate surgeons, here are a few things you can expect after scheduling surgery at Virginia Veterinary Specialists:

We will call you the day before the scheduled surgery to remind you of a few things.

• Drop off is usually between 7:00–7:30 a.m., except on Mondays, which is between 7:30–8:00 a.m.
• No food after 10:00 p.m. the night before surgery. Water throughout the night is fine.
• Please bring any medications your pet is on in their prescription bottles.
• Depending on which medications your pet is on, the surgeon may want you to give your pet their medications the morning of surgery. (It is fine to give medications in a small treat, such as a piece of cheese or spoonful of peanut butter.)

When you arrive on the morning of your pet’s surgery, a member of our surgery team will meet with you. You will be asked to fill out a prerequisite form to list the surgery being performed, the affected limb (if applicable), and other medical questions pertaining to your pet. You will also be given a folder containing basic information on the procedure being done.

Every folder will contain information about post-operative care, including:

• While your pet is in the hospital—Tech who admitted your pet, surgical assistant for the procedure, and overnight Tech.
• Basic care of the incision
• Signs to look for if your pet is in pain—Canine
• Signs to look for if your pet is in pain—Feline

If your pet is having an orthopedic procedure performed, the folder will also include:

• Instructions on how to sling walk your pet (dogs)
• Instruction on how to perform physical therapy on the affected limb
• Bandage care (if your pet is going home with a bandage on)
• Rehab for spinal injuries (if applicable)

Once you pick up your pet after their surgery is completed, a surgery team member will review post-operative instructions on proper aftercare with you. They will also happily answer any questions you may have.

The discharge instructions will include incision care, feeding requirements, activity restrictions, physical therapy, medications, and a recheck schedule

*Rechecks for surgical procedures are included in the cost of the surgical procedure. Medication refills are not included. This does not include any appointments/treatments/diagnostics with another department at VVS.