Services

Services | Surgery

The Seattle Veterinary Specialists Soft Tissue and Orthopedics service is a veterinary referral practice staffed by Michael B. Mison, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, Tina Branham LVT, VTS (Anesthesia), Mandy Tennert, LVT and Resa Roth.  The ability to collaborate among all our emergency doctors, as well as with the other specialists in this hospital, significantly expands the knowledge base, improves the level of patient care, and greatly enhances surgical accessibility.   The SVS surgery caseload encompasses patients with a wide range of orthopedic, oncologic (cancer), thoracic, and soft tissue problems.  Dr. Mison is available for surgery, consultation, assistance with difficult surgical cases, or when the use of specialized surgical equipment or techniques is required.  His combined efforts with the other specialists and ER doctors allow him to confer on patient management, to be readily available for trauma or other emergency referrals, and to further expand his own surgical subspecialties.   The service is equipped with the latest specialized instrumentation and equipment. The safest anesthetic agents are used, and patients are continuously monitored throughout anesthesia. Experienced veterinary technician specialist in anesthesia, licensed veterinary technicians and a well-trained technical support staff play a key role in perioperative intensive care. Patient care is provided 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.  Examples of surgeries provided include:

Soft Tissue Surgery:
Portosystemic Shunt (PSS)
Oncologic (Tumor) Surgery
Reconstructive Surgery/Skin Flaps or Graft
Brachycephalic Airway Surgery (Stenotic Nares, Soft Palate Resection, and Everted Laryngeal Saccules)
GI and Hepatobilliary Procedures
Gastropexy (Routine and Laparoscopic)
Analsacculectomy
Arytenoid Lateralization (Laryngeal Paralysis)
PDA ligation (Patent Ductus Arteriosus)
Vascular Ring Anomalies
Hernia Repair
Lung Lobectomy
Thorax and Abdominal Exploratory
Total Ear Ablation and Bulla Osteotomy
Biopsy

Orthopedic Surgery:
Fracture Repair
Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair
Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
Patellar Luxation
Ununited Anconeal Process
Fragmented Medial Coronoid Process
Corrective Osteotomy
Amputation
Joint Repair, ODC

Laser Surgery:
Brachycephalic Airway Surgery
Reconstructive Surgery
Surgical Oncology

Miminally Invasive Surgery:
Laparoscopic or Laparoscopic Assisted Procedures
Thoracoscopy

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:  What time should I drop-off my pet for surgery?
A:  You pet should be dropped-off on the day of surgery on or before 8am.  Special accommodations can be made if you a traveling long distances. 

Q:  When should I withhold food and water for my pet?
A:  Please withhold food after 10pm on the night prior to surgery.  It is very important that your pet have an empty stomach when undergoing general anesthesia.  Surgery may have to be rescheduled if your pet has not been fasted appropriately.  A small to moderate amount of water is okay.

Q:  Can I give my pet a bath before surgery?
A:  You may wish to have your pet bathed or groomed one week prior to surgery.  Bathing and clipping cannot be performed for 2-3 weeks post-operatively and even longer if a cast or splint has been applied.  Do NOT give your pet a bath the day before surgery.  Doing so actually increases the incidence of incisional infection. 

Q:  How much skin will be shaved on my pet?
A:  Prior to surgery, your pet will have the skin around the surgical site shaved to obtain a sterile field. Please be assured that we shave only the area necessary to provide an adequate field for sterile surgery.  Most patients will also have small areas shaved for placement of IV catheters, pain medication patch or an epidural.  If your pet is receiving epidural pain management, a small area on the lower spine will be shaved for this injection.

Q:  Will my patient be monitored during anesthesia?
A:  The surgery service is staffed by experienced licensed veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, and and veterinary techinican specialists in anesthesia.

Q:  Will I get a call after surgery?
A:  The surgery service team will give you a call after surgery as soon as your pet has recovered from general anesthesia.  Please feel free to give us a call to check on the status of your pet or when your pet is scheduled for surgery.

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