Surgery

Endoscopy involves using special flexible or rigid "tubes" with a camera and light source to non-invasively examine various parts of the body to diagnose growths and tumours, inflammatory disease, remove foreign bodies/stones and obtain biopsy samples.

Laparoscopy, also known as keyhole surgery, is another option for pet owners who want less pain and faster recovery for their beloved furkids. It is a minimally invasive surgical option with less pain, smaller wounds and faster recovery. The procedure uses tiny video cameras (endoscopes) and fine instruments via tiny incisions. This procedure is performed by our Principal Veterinarian, Dr Brian Loon, who has been performing endoscopy and laparoscopy since 2014.

For more information, please click here.

 

Our orthopaedic department is led by our Principal Veterinary Surgeon, Dr Brian Loon. We perform various bone surgeries such as:

• Femoral head ostectomy (FHO) for severe hip dysplasia or hip dislocation/ luxation
• Toe or leg amputation

Orthopaedic surgeries are performed in our surgery suite reserved for sterile procedures. Our veterinarians also trained and equipped to perform various pain management techniques such as epidural anaesthesia, local nerve block anaesthesia, fentanyl patches, continuous rate infusions (CRIs) and acupuncture to ensure a pain-free and smooth recovery. Our hospitalisation facilities are catered for animals of all sizes to provide a peaceful environment for recuperation.

Post-operative care including initial activity restriction and subsequent physiotherapy is essential in ensuring a successful post-surgery recovery. Our veterinary team will work closely with pet owners through this process.

What surgeries are performed at Amber Vet?

Examples of surgeries we perform:

• Laparoscopic (keyhole) surgery and spay
• Lump/tumour removals
• General abdominal surgery
• Sterilisation (Neuter/castration, spay)

Please call us for more information on particular surgeries.

What can I expect during the admission process?

All pets undergoing surgery will receive a thorough pre-surgery check up to fully understand your pet's health and any pre-existing medical conditions. Owners will be guided through the surgical procedure, potential risks/complications as well as post-operative care to expect.

A pre-anaesthetic blood test is recommended for all pets prior to anaesthesia or surgery. This assesses liver and kidney function, red blood cell levels and blood clotting function. This allows us to thoroughly assess your pet and provide you the assurance that risks of anaesthesia and surgery are minimised.

Important notes:

1. The admission process is expected to take about one hour.
2. The owner registered in our accounts must be present to sign permission forms. Please call us to make prior arrangements if another representative will be present at admission instead.
3. A deposit of 50% of the estimated cost of the procedure will be collected at admission.

What is done to ensure my pet’s safety and comfort during surgery?

When monitored intensively, the risk of general anaesthesia is generally very minimal in both young and old pets without severe organ dysfunction. All our patients under anaesthesia are closely monitored by a dedicated nursing staff as well as advanced equipment to monitor breathing rate, heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, ECG, body temperature and carbon dioxide levels in the breath. This ensures that your pet remains as safe as possible during the entire procedure.

We are equipped with the Covidien ForceTriad ™, a human-grade electrocautery/ blood vessel sealing machine that makes precise surgical incisions with less bleeding and seals blood vessels, thus minimising overall blood loss and surgical time, especially useful in surgeries such as large tumour removal, splenectomy and laparoscopic spay.

Dental COHAT

Oral health is important for pets. At Amber Vet, we provide more than just routine dental scaling and polishing. We perform Dental COHAT (Complete Oral Health Assessment and Treatment) - which includes full mouth dental x-ray to detect any decaying abnormal teeth (including hidden teeth roots) which are not visible to the naked eye.

At Amber Vet, we provide sterilisation (also known as neuter for males or spay for females) for dogs, cats as well as small animals such as rabbits.

In addition to standard open abdominal surgery, we also provide minimally invasive keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) for spays, as well as neuters for testicles that are undescended in the abdomen. (Testicles that are not retained in the abdomen, i.e. retained in the groin or located normally in the scrotum, cannot be performed laparoscopically.)

Find out more about minimally invasive laparoscopy (keyhole) surgery.