Veterinary Specialist Services' experienced and specialist surgeons provide the surgical care for cats in CSS. VSS surgeons have a broad knowledge in a wide range of surgical fields and work as part of a multi disciplinary team of veterinarians, nurses and support staff to provide the best care and outcome for your cat. We are the only hospital where specialists in feline medicine, surgery, cardiology and anaesthesia can all work together to get the best outcome for your cat.
Surgical procedures at Cat Specialist Services
Some common conditions that may be managed with surgical input include:
- Management of cats with complex medical problems who need surgery e.g. concurrent heart disease or diabetes
- Lameness assessment to identify the cause of limping
- Management (surgical and non-surgical) of all surgical conditions including:
- Joint problems
- Spinal and other neurological problems
- Bone fractures
- Abdominal surgery e.g. foreign bodies, intestinal biopsies, cancer removal, adrenal tumour removal
- Urinary tract surgery e.g. subcutaneous ureteral bypass catheters for ureteral stone obstructions
- Thoracic and cardiac surgery e.g. thymoma removal
- Head and neck surgery
- Skin and reconstructive surgery
- We are the only feline referral hospital that offers laparoscopic or thoracocscopic techniques (keyhole procedures). See here
What happens when my cat comes in for surgery?
- Your cat will need to be fasted the morning of the procedure. Water does not need to be restricted.
- Please bring all your cat's medications with you.
- It would be great for you to bring food from home to help encourage them to eat if they are likely to stay in the hospital for a few days.
- If you wish to bring an item from home that hasfamiliar scents on, this is encouraged, however please note, sometimes items make their way into the vortex of the laundry and while we make every effort to ensure items aren't lost we cannot guarantee it! So please, no family heirlooms!
- Our reception staff will ask you to sign a consent form and ensure that we have all the relevant contact details for you throughout the day.
- Your surgeon or feline clinician will discuss the procedure with you in detail and advise you when the procedure will be likely to take place.
- Due to the nature of some illnesses, if emergency patients present then the surgical list may need to be altered. We will send you an SMS when your cat's procedure is about to start.
- Your surgeon or feline clinician contact you as soon as possible once the procedure is completed.
Our surgical suites are purpose built and are maintained under the highest of standards for maintaining sterility.
With surgery comes anaesthesia and understandably many cat owners may be concerned about this. Anaesthesia risks are minimised with proper planning before the procedure, careful and detailed monitoring during the procedure and diligent aftercare.
Our staff are highly trained and lecture throughout Australia and overseas. If required, specialist anaesthetists are on staff and can also be organised for high risk patients or procedures.
Most patients having surgical procedures remain hospitalised for 24-48 hours after the procedure to ensure they receive sufficient pain relief.
Your cat will be cared for in our cat only ward with our dedicated feline nurses or in the Pet Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
We will give you daily updates during their stay and you are welcome to visit. Please book a time with our reception and we will ensure patient treatment times are changed to fit around this.
All cats prefer to be at home. As soon as we are confidant your cat is ready for discharge we will contact you to organise a collection time and provide you with discharge notes and instructions.
The benefit of having your cat's surgery with us - the combined effort of specialists in surgery, feline internal medicine, anaesthesia, cardiology, critical care and oncology combined with superb dedicated veterinary nurses for the best possible patient outcomes.
Removal of a ureteral stone from a ureter in a cat which measures 3-4 mm in diameter.
Advanced imaging equipment such as fluoroscopy can be used to guide surgeries such as in this cat having a subcutaneous ureteral bypass catheter placed for treatment of ureteral stones.
