Veterinary Surgery

Surgical Procedures

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

Our Pico Rivera vets routinely perform the following elective and non-elective veterinary surgeries:

• Soft Tissue Surgery

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

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

• Spaying & Neutering

  When we spay or neuter a cat or dog, we surgically sterilize them to prevent disease and provide them with an extended life expectancy. 

• C-Sections

  During Caesarean sections, your cat or dogs surgeons in Pico Rivera remove puppies or kittens from their mother's uterus.

  C-sections are typically performed when the mother is unable to give birth naturally. 

• Mass Removal

  Cats and dogs can develop masses associated with the 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.

• Cruciate Ligament Repair

  If your dog has damaged or torn their cruciate ligament (often referred to as their ACL) they may require surgery to eliminate their pain and restore function to their limb.

  Tibial Plateau Levelling Osteotomy (TPLO) - This surgical procedure changes the dynamics of how your dog's knee functions. Part of the tibia will be removed and repositioned, allowing your dog to use the limb without having to use their torn ligament. 

  Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA) - TTA surgery also eliminates the need for the CCL ligament by cutting the top of the tibia, moving it forward, and then stabilizing it in its new position with a stainless steel metal plate. Learn more about orthopedic surgery.

• Wounds

  Wounds occur when living tissue has been cut, broken, burnt, torn, or otherwise damaged.

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

• Ear Crop

  These elective procedures are performed with the use of proper anesthetics and pain management. This procedure can be cosmetic but is intended to prevent injury to a working dog's ears. For example, hunting dogs can get their ears caught or bitten, which can lead to serious infections. 

• Dental Surgery

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

The Veterinary 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 veterinary surgery and that you are comfortable making the decision to move ahead.

If your pet requires advanced care or procedures that we do not offer such as orthopedic vet surgery, our vets will refer you to a veterinary surgeon near Pico Rivera, and work closely with your veterinary surgical specialist 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.