Services
The Small Animal Surgery Service at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre provides a range of soft tissue and orthopedic surgical procedures for small animals.
Procedures
Elective procedures
Small animal patients undergoing elective surgical procedures usually stay at the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre for one to three days. When possible, the surgical team also offers minimally invasive surgical alternatives.
- Canine and feline spays (ovariohysterectomy/ovariectomy)
- Canine and feline castration
Orthopedic surgery
The WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre provides a range of orthopedic surgeries for small animal patients.
- Simple and complex fracture repair: bone plates, interlocking nail, linear and circular external fixators
- Cranial cruciate ligament stabilization: tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO), lateral suture repair
- Patellar luxation repair
- Arthroscopy: medial coronoid disease (elbow dysplasia), osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), meniscal tear
- Hip dysplasia surgery: triple pelvic osteotomy, femoral head and neck excision (FHNE), total hip replacement
- Neurosurgery: intervertebral disc prolapse, spinal fractures, tumours, spinal instability
- Corrective surgery for growth abnormalities
- Limb-sparing or limb amputation surgery
Soft tissue surgery
The WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre provides a range of soft tissue surgical procedures for dogs, cats and other small animals.
- Gastrointestinal surgery: removal of foreign bodies and other causes of obstruction, bloat (gastric dilation volvulus or GDV)
- Minimally invasive abdominal and thoracic surgery: laparoscopy and thoracoscopy
- Surgical oncology: tumour removal and reconstruction
- Abdominal surgery: liver lobectomy, liver shunt attenuation, gallbladder removal, splenectomy
- Cardiothoracic surgery: patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), surgical esophageal disorders, pacemakers, lung lobectomy
- Reconstructive surgery after major trauma
- Upper airway surgery
Cardiology and neurology
The WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre does not have board-certified specialists in neurology and cardiology on site.
Incoming cases are managed by the VMC's small animal medicine and small animal surgery teams.
After Care
Rehabilitation
WCVM pet rehabilitation programs are available for small animals that are recovering from orthopedic surgery or other procedures.
Our Team
The WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre's clinical team members are dedicated, compassionate people with specialized training and a diverse range of experiences. In addition to providing our patients with high-quality care and support, we are helping to train Western Canada's next generation of veterinary professionals.
What to Expect
While the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre shares many similarities to other veterinary hospitals, there are some differences that may have an impact on your appointment.
Appointments and Referrals
Animal Owners
Contact us to make an appointment. If you are a new client, please click below to find information about our location, parking and what to expect during your animal's appointment.