Veterinary Surgery

Surgical Procedures

At College Animal Hospital, we perform medical and emergency surgeries to help treat disease and conditions in pets or to repair injuries sustained through trauma.

Our San Diego vets routinely perform the following surgical procedures:

• Soft Tissue Surgery

  For pets suffering from disorders of the ear, nose, and throat, we offer soft tissue surgical procedures.

  These procedures are also available for hepatic, urogenital, oncological, cardiothoracic, gastrointestinal, and skin disorders. 

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• Orthopedic Surgery

  Orthopedic surgeries, such as TPLO and FHO, correct injuries and diseases of the bones, ligaments, joints, tendons, and other skeletal structures in your pet.

  We are proud to offer the services of a Board-Certified Orthopedic Veterinary Surgeon who travels to our location to preform these surgeries. 

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• Spaying & Neutering

  When we spay or neuter a cat or dog, we surgically sterilize them to prevent unwanted litters, as well as prevent certain cancers and extend their lives. 

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• Dental Surgery

  Our veterinarians perform dental surgeries for dogs and cats. These surgeries can range from tooth extractions to treatment for gum disease and jaw fracture repairs.

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• Ocular

  If your pet is experiencing pain, redness, or other symptoms in or around their eyes, they may need ocular surgery.

  Common ocular procedures for cats and dogs include eyelid tumor removal, ectropion surgery, entropion surgery, exenteration of the orbit and cherry eye surgery.

  If your pet requires a specialized procedure that we do not offer, our veterinarians will refer you to a specialist near San Diego and work closely with your animal surgeon to ensure that your pet receives the best possible care. 

• Mass Removal

  Like humans, cats and dogs can develop masses on their skin. Masses can also grow inside a body cavity and can be serious or life-threatening.

  Mass removal surgery is a fairly common procedure for both cats and dogs.

• Foreign Body

  Sometimes, foreign objects are ingested or can get stuck inside an animal's body.

  Whether your pet has eaten an object they shouldn't have or sustained an injury, we can perform foreign body surgery to remove it.

  Some cases may require specialized procedures or equipment are needed to perform pet surgery. If that is the case for your animal, your vet will refer you to a veterinary surgeon near San Diego and work closely with your veterinary surgeon to ensure that your dog or cat receives the very best care.

• Wounds

  A wound is when living tissue has been cut, broken, burnt, torn, or otherwise damaged.

  It's important that these wounds be cleaned, disinfected, and appropriately cared for by a qualified veterinarian as soon as possible. 

The Surgery Process

We understand that the prospect of bringing your pet in for surgery can be frightening. Please be assured that we recommend surgery only when it is in the best interests of your furry companion. 

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

If your pet requires advanced care, our vets will refer you to a veterinary surgeon near San Diego, and work closely with your vet surgeon to ensure that your pet receives the best possible care. 

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.