Comprehensive Surgical Services

At Hamilton Crossing Animal Hospital, your pet’s safety, comfort, and successful recovery are our highest priorities. We utilize modern anesthetic protocols, sophisticated monitoring equipment, and comprehensive pain management plans to ensure every surgical procedure is as safe and stress-free as possible.

We offer a wide range of common soft tissue surgeries right here in our clinic, and we partner with specialized experts for complex orthopedic needs.

Routine and Specialized Soft Tissue Surgeries

Our experienced veterinary team routinely performs several types of soft tissue surgeries essential for your pet's health and quality of life.

Spaying and Neutering (Ovariohysterectomy & Orchiectomy)

Spaying (females) and neutering (males) are two of the most important preventative surgeries we perform.

  • Spay (Female): Eliminates the risk of a life-threatening uterine infection (pyometra) and significantly reduces the risk of mammary (breast) cancer. Also eliminates heat cycles and associated behavioral issues.

  • Neuter (Male): Prevents testicular cancer and significantly reduces the risk of certain non-cancerous prostate conditions. Also decreases roaming, marking, and some forms of hormone-driven aggression.

Mass Removal Surgery

Finding a lump or bump on your pet can be frightening. Our goal is to quickly and definitively address abnormal growths.

  • Diagnosis and Treatment: Mass removal surgery involves the surgical excision of a growth, whether it's a simple fatty tumor (lipoma) or a suspicious tumor. We almost always recommend sending the removed tissue to a lab for histopathology (biopsy) to determine if it is benign or malignant (cancerous).

  • Importance of Timely Removal: Early removal is critical, especially for cancerous masses, as it can significantly improve your pet's long-term prognosis and quality of life.

Cystotomy (Bladder Surgery)

A cystotomy is a procedure where we surgically open the bladder.

  • Purpose: This surgery is most commonly performed to remove painful bladder stones (uroliths) that cannot be dissolved by diet. It is also used to relieve life-threatening urinary blockages, obtain biopsies of the bladder wall, or remove certain bladder tumors.

  • Relief and Recovery: Removing bladder stones and obstructions quickly resolves pain, restores normal urinary function, and prevents severe, potentially fatal complications like kidney damage or bladder rupture.

Advanced Orthopedic Surgery (TPLO)

To ensure your pet receives the highest level of specialized care without the stress of referral travel, we partner closely with a trusted, certified traveling veterinary surgeon. This surgeon brings their specialized expertise and advanced equipment directly to our hospital.

TPLO (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy)

TPLO is the gold standard surgical procedure for dogs that have ruptured their Cranial Cruciate Ligament (CCL)—the dog equivalent of an ACL tear in humans.

  • The Injury: A torn CCL causes severe instability, pain, and lameness in the knee (stifle) joint.

  • The Procedure: TPLO does not repair the torn ligament. Instead, the surgeon alters the geometry of the knee joint by making a precision cut and rotating the top of the shinbone (tibia). A specialized plate and screws are used to secure the bone in its new position.

  • The Benefit: This permanent change stabilizes the knee joint, allowing large and active dogs to regain full mobility and range of motion with less long-term risk of severe arthritis than other surgical options.

Benefits of Using Our Traveling Specialist

  • Familiar Environment: Your pet receives specialized care in the comfortable, familiar surroundings of Hamilton Crossing Animal Hospital, reducing stress and anxiety.

  • Team Continuity: Our primary care veterinarians work hand-in-hand with the specialist throughout the procedure and recovery process.

  • Advanced Expertise: You gain access to a highly skilled, board-certified orthopedic surgeon who performs these complex procedures routinely.