Soft tissue surgery
Patent Ductus Arteriosis (PDA)
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a congenital abnormality that arises when the fetal ductus arteriosus (DA) fails to close. Left-to-right or right-to-left (less common) shunting of blood usually occurs as a result. PDA occurs in approximately 1 in 1000 dogs and is one of the most common congenital heart defects diagnosed in dogs. PDA is rare in cats, occurring in approximately 2 in 10,000 cats.
Soft tissue surgery
Hepatobiliary Neoplasia
(Hepatocellular Carcinoma)
Hepatocellular tumors arise from hepatocytes. Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common primary hepatic malignancy of the dog. It is less common in the cat. Metastatic rates are relatively low, although rates are higher with nodular and diffuse forms. Metastasis occurred in < 5% of patients in one report. Another report on necropsy samples demonstrated a 36% metastatic rate. Most occur as solitary nodules in left-sided liver lobes. They tend to be soft, fragile tumors.
Hepatocellular adenoma (i.e. hepatoma) is a benign hepatocellular tumor that is commonly found as an incidental finding in dogs at necropsy. In the cat, it occurs more often than hepatocellular carcinoma. Hepatomas are usually well circumscribed and sometimes pedunculated. They can occur as solitary nodules or in multiples. They tend to be fragile and rupture or bleed easily. Differentiation from nodular hyperplasia and regenerative nodules can be difficult. Hepatomas can become extremely large. Clinical disease is associated with compression of other organs, hemorrhage from rupture, and paraneoplastic hypoglycemia
Orthopedic surgery
Total Hip Replacement (THR)
Canine THR is a surgical procedure in which the arthritic hip joint is replaced with a new prosthetic ball (femoral head) and socket (acetabulum). THR can be performed on dogs ranging from five through 170 pounds, and also on cats.
It is the only treatment that fully restores life-long mobility and prevents recurrence of hip dysplasia; the leading cause of hind-leg lameness in dogs.
Orthopedic surgery - CCLR
Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
A tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) is a method of repairing a cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in a dog. A CCL tear in the dog is similar to an ACL tear in humans. It can be an abrupt tear during trauma or strenuous activity, as often occurs in people. However, it can also be a slow deterioration of the ligament over weeks or months, potentially affecting both stifles (knees). Following a CCL tear, the limp is usually quite severe. While some improvement may occur with time, surgery is the best method of treatment for a dog with a CCL tear.