Surgery Management and Care
At Sunstone Veterinary Specialists, we are here for you and your animal companion. Whether your pet has a torn ligament or needs a complex spinal injury, we strive to provide you and your pet with the exceptional care and attention that you both deserve. Our veterinary surgeon, Dr. Su is experienced in completing a wide range of surgical services, including:
- Cranial cruciate ligament stabilization (CCL surgery)
- TPLO
- Patella luxation repair (MPL, dislocating/floating kneecaps)
- Management of elbow dysplasia
- Management of growth deformities
- Trauma
- Management of hip dysplasia
- Intervertebral disk disease (herniated disk)
- Head and neck surgery
- Gastrointestinal surgery (digestive organs)
- Hepatobiliary surgery (liver and gallbladder)
- Urogenital surgery (surgery and reproductive organs)
- Cardiothoracic surgery (lungs and heart)
- Wound management
- Surgical treatment of cancer of all types
Dedicated to Individualized Care
At Sunstone Veterinary Specialists, we understand that each surgery requires an individualized approach. Whether it’s a growth removal or a complex orthopedic surgery, Dr. Su and her team strive to find the best plan for you and your pet.
Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgery is any surgical procedure that fixes or stabilizes injuries to the bones, joints, tendons, ligaments, or muscles. The type of surgery recommended will depend on multiple factors, including your pet's diagnosis, overall health, and the complexity of the condition.
Dr. Su offers a wide range of orthopedic surgeries, including:
-
TPLO cranial cruciate ligament stabilization
A type of CCL surgery that improves knee stabilization in injured pets. -
Patella luxation repair, or MPL
An orthopedic surgery that stabilizes dislocating or floating knee caps. -
Growth deformity surgery
A range of surgeries that correct abnormal growth patterns in cats or dogs. -
Trauma-related surgery
A variety of surgeries that repair injuries to your pet’s muscles, bones, ligaments, or tendons.
Neurosurgery
Disk herniation, or intervertebral disk disease, can cause spinal pain and neurological problems in dogs. At Sunstone Veterinary Specialists, we offer surgical decompression of the spinal cord, a type of neurosurgery designed for dogs with disk herniation. This type of surgery may decrease your dog’s pain or help recover lost function.
Prior to this type of neurosurgery, most dogs require either a specialized x-ray study called a myelogram or advanced imaging, such as CT or MRI, to identify which disk(s) are causing the problem.
General surgery and Soft Tissue Surgery
General surgery, also known as soft tissue surgery, includes a wide range of procedures that involve the skin or organs. The type of surgery recommended depends on several aspects of your pet’s health, including the disease process he or she is diagnosed with and which organ(s) are affected.
Dr. Su completes the following soft tissue surgeries:
- Gastrointestinal - Surgery involving the digestive tract
- Prophylactic Gastropexy: Preventative surgery to reduce the risk of gastric torsion (bloat) in at-risk breeds.
- Hepatobiliary - Surgery involving the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts
- Urogenital - Surgery involving urinary and reproductive organs
- Episiotomy: Surgical incision of the perineum to facilitate a smoother and safer birthing process.
- Head and neck - Surgery involving your pet’s nose, ears, mouth, or throat
- Brachycephalic Airway Surgery: Corrective procedures for breeds with brachycephalic features to improve breathing.
- Total Ear Canal Ablation: Surgical intervention for chronic ear conditions to improve overall ear health.
- Thyroidectomy/Parathyroidectomy: Specialized procedures for thyroid and parathyroid gland conditions.
- Cardiothoracic - Surgery involving your pet’s heart or lungs
- Wound management - Surgery involving care an abscess, ulcer, or other type of wound
Oncologic Surgery
Cancer can affect any tissue, organ, or region of the body. At Sunstone Veterinary Specialists, we offer customized surgical treatment for cats and dogs. The type of surgery recommended will depend on several factors, including the type of cancer, which tissues or organs are involved, and the overall goal of surgery.
Our skilled veterinary surgeon, Dr. Su, is dedicated to working with you, your primary care veterinarian, and other specialists, such as an oncologist, to ensure that your pet receives exceptional, personalized care. She provides a range of cancer-related surgery services, including:
- Biopsy collection and differential diagnosis
- Curative surgery, such as wide or radical excision
- Surgical management prior to other cancer therapies, such as partial resection
- Palliative care measures, such as marginal resection or tumor debulking