Surgery
Veterinarians turn to board-certified surgeons to assist with more complicated surgical cases than they would typically see in day-to-day practice. Veterinary Specialty Center is home to the most experienced surgical team in the Chicagoland area. Our surgeons provide a variety of orthopedic, soft tissue, neurologic, laparoscopic, oncologic and emergency procedures along with interventional radiology techniques.
Team Approach
Our surgeons understand that excellence demands a team approach. Every pet benefits from collaboration with our anesthesiologists, radiologists and other specialists to provide comprehensive care and best minimize complications before, during and after the procedure. Our anesthesiologists examine each pet to create a custom protocol to provide optimally safe anesthesia using state-of-the-art monitoring equipment. They also develop a plan for multi-modal pain management before, during and after the surgical procedure. If necessary, our critical care specialists will provide the aftercare for your pet in our ICU.
Consultation
Consultations begin with an examination of your pet and a review of your pet’s records. Your surgeon will discuss treatment options and prognosis before providing a patient care plan with various options. We know that each pet family’s situation is unique and will work with owners to find a solution that best fits their situation.
Diagnostics
Additional diagnostics may be recommended to help understand your pet’s illness or lameness and ensure there are no other co-morbidities (like heart problems, the spread of cancer). Each test that is recommended will be explained to you, and should additional problems be discovered, you will be consulted as to what additional decisions or tests should be performed on your pet’s behalf. We understand these can be stressful times and will do our best to ensure the communication is clear. Designating one primary family member to receive communications will help us ensure the best care for your pet. One of the benefits of our facility is that most diagnostics can be performed on the same day as your consultation. If appropriate, most pets can have same-day surgery, minimizing the stress of being away from the family.
Some of the diagnostic tools we have at our disposal include:
- 64 Slice Computer Assisted Tomography (CAT scan)
- 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- In house “full” laboratory with blood-gas analysis and advanced coagulation panels (TEG)
- In house clinical pathologist
- Radiologist-performed ultrasound
- Musculoskeletal ultrasound
- Video gait analysis
- Advanced digital radiography
- Fluoroscopy
- Endoscopy and other scopes through our internal medicine specialists
- Nuclear medicine
- Thermography
- Diagnostic arthroscopy
Aftercare
We are a 24-hour facility and have trained technicians and assistants to help care for your pet after the procedure. Emergency veterinarians are staffed around the clock should your pet require any additional monitoring, and our intensive care unit has the most advanced equipment and experienced technician staff in the Chicago area.
Once your pet is discharged and is back home, our hospital remains available 24 hours a day for your questions and concerns. Communication is prompt and thorough with your family veterinarian to ensure no lapse in your pet’s medical care. We remain committed to seeing your family and pet through whatever your needs may be, and are proud to continue offering our surgical services to the Chicagoland area and beyond!
The most common conditions that we treat at VSC include:
Orthopedic
- Bone cancer
- Cranial cruciate ligament injury
- Developmental & juvenile disorders
- Elbow dysplasia
- Growth deformities
- Hip dysplasia
- Fractures & traumatic joint dislocations
- Total Hip Replacement
- Patella luxation
- Medial shoulder instability
- Osteoarthritis
- Osteochondritis dissecans
- Shoulder disorders
- Shoulder tendon injury
- Traumatic tendon injury
Soft Tissue
- Abdominal/Gastrointestinal (GI)
- Cancer
- Cardiothoracic
- Colorectal
- Endocrine
- Esophageal
- Hepatobiliary
- Large mass removal
- Laryngeal paralysis
- Minimally invasive
- Reconstructive surgery for severe wounds
- Urogenital
Neurologic
- Wobbler’s syndrome
- A-A luxation
- Spinal fractures and tumors
- Intervertebral disk disease
- Brain tumors
Emergency Surgery
- Gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV or “bloat”)
- Intestinal obstruction
- Gastric foreign bodies
- Septic abdomen
- Ruptured gall bladder
- Uterine infection
- Cesarean section
- Traumatic abdominal and thoracic wounds
Interventional Radiology
Our C-Arm Fluoroscopy is a moving X-ray that enables our surgical teams to perform a variety of non-invasive procedures. The image is transmitted to a monitor so the bones, joints, and movement can be seen in detail. The machine can be rotated around the patient to obtain different views without changing the position of the animal. Some of the procedures we can perform include:
- Tracheal stenting for tracheal collapse
- Laser ablation of ectopic ureters
- Urethral stenting for cancer
- Balloon Valvuloplasty for Pulmonic Stenosis
- Cutting Balloon Valvuloplasty for Subaortic Stenosis
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus Occlusion
- Transvenous Pacemaker Implantation
- Liver shunt occlusion
- Intra-tumor chemotherapy delivery
- Minimally invasive fracture repair
