laser surgery
Read all our benefits in laser surgery
Laser Surgery
Riverside Animal Clinic has added a surgical laser to our menu of surgery options. The laser cauterizes the patient’s incision resulting in:
- Less Pain
- Less Swelling
- Faster Recovery
- Less Anesthesia Use
- Significant Reduction in Blood Loss
The surgical laser seals the nerve endings and blood vessels as it moves through tissue, creating less pain during recovery and far less blood loss than conventional surgery. A surgical laser is faster to use than a scalpel meaning less time under anesthesia. The laser makes a clean cut through tissue, not injuring it like a scalpel, resulting in less swelling of the tissue.
Laser Declaw
An Iowa State University study found cats who had declaw procedures with laser recovered more quickly than the old cut and stitch method. That’s why we always use laser for our feline declaw patients. Dr. Jim Carlson has performed approximately 22,000 laser surgeries in his 26 year veterinary career. “To see a cat wake up from a declaw procedure and begin immediately using its paws to play is proof that laser is a gentler therapy,” said Dr. Carlson. See Dr. Carlson perform a laser declaw surgery and then click on the second video showing the kitten’s exuberance the next day.
Eye Surgery
The delicate areas around the eye sometimes require surgery such as growth removal, entropion or “cherry eye”. Our doctors use laser surgery when operating around the eyelid or on the eye itself.
Ovary Sparing Spay
Pet owners across the United States are continuously reminded to “spay or neuter” their pets. However, spay/neuter at an early age has become a somewhat controversial topic. As a result, a new option is available in a limited capacity in the United States.
Dr. Jim Carlson, owner of Riverside Animal Clinic, was the first Illinois veterinarian to offer the ovary sparing spay. Gaining in acceptance first with large dog owners and breeders, the ovary sparing spay offers an alternative to the traditional spay that improves a dog’s health throughout her lifetime.
The ovary sparing spay is different from the regular spay procedure because the ovaries are retained and only the uterus and cervix are removed. The ovaries will continue to provide the dog with medical and health benefits from the protective hormone estrogen. The procedure relieves the pet and owner of the nuisance spay cycle and eliminates the ability for the dog to carry a litter of puppies.
According to Dr. Carlson there are many good reasons for retaining ovaries. “What I like about this surgery is that it addresses population concerns without the impact of hormone loss. We are really at the forefront of what hormone loss means to dogs, especially dogs prone to specific diseases after an early spay including: incontinence, increased cancer risk and bone loss,” said Dr. Carlson.
Please let our office staff know of your interest in the ovary sparing spay when booking your appointment.
Tumor & Skin Tag Removal
We believe using a surgical laser to remove growths, skin tags and small tumors is quick and prevents complications from blood loss. The laser cauterizes the wound and seals the blood vessels in the skin so your pet will likely have a smaller incision site and can go home with dissolving stitches. Surgical laser is an excellent way for a surgeon to get cleaner margins- a thorough excision of the tumor and surrounding tissue- so there’s less tissue to remove and that reduces scarring
Upgraded Anesthesia Options
RIverside Animal Clinic McHenry now offers an upgraded anesthesia option. Used in 90% of human pediatric cases, Sevoflurane allows pets to fall asleep quickly and awaken within minutes of surgery. Sevo is quick to clear the body and speeds up recovery. The unique properties of Sevoflurane render it a lower potency drug than the other more commonly used anesthetic, Isoflurane. There are no known contraindications of Sevoflurane which is used daily in our practice. The speed of recovery is 40-50% faster than Isoflurane with less frequent patient anxiety.
Isoflurane is a standard anesthesia used in healthy pets. Your pet’s recovery won’t be quite as quick as with Sevoflurane, but we carefully monitor your pet’s progress while it is waking up to be certain he or she is warm and comfortable.
All pets who come to Riverside receive anesthetic induction according to the guidelines of the American Animal Hospital Association. This includes intubation for the delivery of gas anesthesia during all surgical procedures including dental cleanings.