Surgery and physiotherapy

We perform many types of surgeries including neutering and spaying, removal of cancerous masses, cystotomies to remove bladder stones, cesarian sections, exploratory laparotomies to remove foreign bodies stuck in the digestive track or to take intestinal biopsies, just to name a few.

Our operating rooms are equipped with devices that allow close anesthetic monitoring during surgeries (cardiac and respiratory monitors, blood pressure monitors, thermometers, electric heater carpets, EKG, etc) so that we can operate safely on animals. Furthermore, the anesthetic gas that we use is also very safe.

The fact that our surgical instruments are autoclave sterilized, that is at extremely high temperatures, increases even more the safety of our procedures because our instruments are then completely free of microorganisms that can infect the surgical sites.

Surgeries can be performed either with the use of a scalpel blade ou with the CO2 surgical laser. In both instances, the surgical technique is the same. The difference between the two is that with the laser there is much less bleeding, much less swelling (edema) and much less pain post-operatively because while cutting, the laser cauterizes blood vessels, seals the lymph vessels which are responsible for the swelling and seals the nerve endings which are responsible for the sensation of pain.

Sterilization is a procedure commonly done in companion animals. It has benefits not only from a behavioural standpoint but also from a health point of view.

Indeed, sterilization controls the overpopulation of cats and dogs which in turn limits the number of animals that are abandoned or euthanized. Furthermore, this procedure decreases the frequency of certain behavioural problems such as marking, fighting, aggressiveness and running away.

Finally, sterilization prevents certain diseases frequently observed in animals like pyometra (pus in the uterus) and mammary cancers (when done before the first heat).

We recommend that cats be sterilized between 3 and 6 months of age, before they enter puberty.

As for dogs, the recommended age for sterilization depends on the size of the breed and the sexe of the dog. We recommend that small breeds males be sterilized between 4 and 6 months of age, medium to large breeds male dogs be sterilized between 8 and 10 months of age and that giant breeds male dogs be sterilized at approximately one year of age.

As for females, we usually do the procedure between their first and second heat, at around 8 to 10 months of age.

We perform surgical correction of entropion (eyelids turned inward) and ectropion (eyelids turned outward), enucleations, « Cherry eye » correction, nictitans flap surgery and corneal scarification to help heal deep corneal ulcers.

We treat certains skin lesions like papillomas with cryosurgery.

This procedure, which rarely requires sedation, uses liquid nitrogen to freeze focal areas.

We perform certain types of orthopedic surgeries such as limb amputations and arthroplasties.

We also put casts on to immobilize non displaced fractures.

Physiotherapy has the advantage of reducing the recovery period after an orthopedic surgery which in turn increases its success rate.

Physiotherapy also helps patients affected by arthritis and other joint conditions. It can help improve an animal's quality of life without the risk of deleterious side effects such as is often seen with the use ou medications and other products.

Our therapeutic bath, the Aqua Paws Plus®, which is in fact a threadmill submerged in water and controlled by computer, is used for dogs. Its use is very safe because it is always done under constant supervision from the veterinary team.

Compared to conventional exercices done on the ground, exercices done in water greatly diminish impacts on joints while increasing muscular mass. It is also equipped with resistance jets that allow dogs to achieve superior levels of recovery.

The bath is also sometimes used to increase the exercice level of obese dogs to help them lose weight.

Dr Émilie Piché-Rondeau DMV, was specifically trained in physiotherapy in Tennessee in 2009. Consequently, when a patient is in need of physiotherapy, she is the one this patient is referred to for a personnalized program.

The Hôpital Vétérinaire de l'Est Inc. (member of MONVET Veterinary Group Inc.), is equipped with a therapeutic laser, the K-LASER®. This device is very useful to decrease pain and often constitutes a good alternative to or is a good complement to the use of antiinflammatory medications and painkillers.

Its principle of action is simple : when the probe comes into contact with the area to treat, it sends pulses that increase the local blood supply and decreases swelling and pain.

The laser can be used for many conditions such as in the post-operative period after an orthopedic surgery, when there is arthrosis or in the presence of a lick granuloma, etc. Most often, only a few sessions of a few minutes duration are sufficient to relieve pain effectively !

Its main advantage is that it doesn't cause any side effects so no vomiting, no diarrhea and no loss of appetite are observed with its use. The laser is therefore quite indicated for animals that have a sensitive stomach, those that suffer from kidney or liver failure and for older animals.