Veterinary surgery is a fundamental discipline within veterinary medicine responsible for diagnosing, treating, and correcting diseases, trauma, and anatomical abnormalities through surgical techniques. Its application ranges from minor procedures to highly specialized interventions, always maintaining strict principles of safety, asepsis, and animal welfare (Fossum, 2019).
Basic principles of veterinary surgery
Surgical practice is based on a set of universal principles: asepsis, careful tissue handling, hemorrhage control, precise surgical technique, and respect for animal welfare. These fundamentals ensure that any intervention is as safe and effective as possible, minimizing risks and promoting patient recovery (Hedlund, 2021).
A surgical procedure also requires proper preoperative evaluation, balanced anesthesia, intraoperative monitoring, and standardized postoperative care. Each step directly influences the prognosis and quality of life of the operated animal, making multidisciplinary teamwork key to success (Duke-Novak, 2020).
- Asepsis: cleaning, sterilization, and proper handling to prevent infections.
- Surgical technique: precise incisions, minimal manipulation, and correct suturing.
- Hemostatic control: use of techniques and materials to prevent bleeding.
- Anesthetic monitoring: constant monitoring of vital signs and adequate analgesia.
Clinical: lack of basic controls can result in infections, suture dehiscence, or anesthetic complications (Fossum, 2019).
1. Types of veterinary surgery
Veterinary surgery is divided into multiple categories according to purpose and complexity. These areas range from preventive procedures to complex reconstructive interventions requiring high specialization (Hedlund, 2021).
- Soft tissue surgery: spays/neuters, mastectomies, enterotomies, splenectomies, among others.
- Orthopedic surgery: fracture repair, luxations, angular corrections, and arthroscopy.
- Neurological surgery: spinal decompression, disc hernia correction, management of cranial trauma.
- Emergency surgery: gastric torsion, deep wounds, emergency cesareans.
Clinical note: each area requires specific equipment and training to ensure adequate results and minimize risks (Fossum, 2019).
2. Preoperative evaluation and anesthesia
Preoperative evaluation is essential to identify risks and plan surgery. It includes detailed physical examination, blood tests, imaging tests such as X-rays or ultrasounds, and assessment of the patient’s cardiopulmonary status (Duke-Novak, 2020).
Modern veterinary anesthesia combines intravenous and inhalant agents, advanced vital sign monitoring, fluid therapy, and multimodal analgesia to ensure safe procedures. Adequate analgesia not only reduces intra- and postoperative pain but also improves recovery and reduces complications (Duke-Novak, 2020; Hedlund, 2021).
- Premedication: anxiolytics, analgesics, and muscle relaxants to facilitate induction.
- Anesthetic induction: fast-acting agents to start anesthesia with minimal stress.
- Maintenance: inhalant anesthesia, assisted ventilation, and continuous monitoring.
- Analgesia: combination of opioids, NSAIDs, and regional blocks for pain control.
Application: adequate anesthesia reduces surgical mortality and accelerates recovery (Duke-Novak, 2020).
3. Common surgical techniques
Surgical techniques must be adapted to species, size, clinical condition, and type of procedure. They range from simple incisions to deep approaches requiring millimetric precision and specialized equipment (Fossum, 2019).
- Ovariohysterectomy: the most common procedure for reproductive control and prevention of reproductive diseases.
- Fracture repair: use of plates, intramedullary nails, and external fixators to stabilize bones.
- Enterotomy: removal of intestinal foreign bodies with minimal manipulation to avoid complications.
- Laparoscopic surgery: minimally invasive techniques that reduce pain and speed postoperative recovery (Hedlund, 2021).
4. Complications and postoperative care
All surgery involves inherent risks. Common complications include infections, hemorrhages, persistent pain, adverse anesthetic reactions, and suture dehiscence. Careful postoperative monitoring and an appropriate care plan are essential to reduce these complications (Fossum, 2019).
Postoperative care includes pain control, activity restriction, proper wound management and healing, administration of antibiotics if necessary, and periodic check-ups to assess recovery. Clear and constant communication with the animal’s caregivers is fundamental to ensure treatment success (Duke-Novak, 2020).
- Pain control during the first 48-72 hours with appropriate analgesics.
- Avoid jumping and intense activity for at least 10-14 days to prevent injuries.
- Proper use of an Elizabethan collar to prevent licking or biting the wound.
- Check sutures between days 10 and 14 to remove stitches or evaluate healing.
Conclusion
Veterinary surgery is an indispensable tool for diagnosing and treating diseases that compromise the life, function, or welfare of animals. Its practice combines anatomical knowledge, precise technique, advanced anesthetic protocols, and comprehensive postoperative care to maximize success and welfare (Fossum, 2019).
Staying updated in surgical techniques, anesthesia, and clinical management allows professionals to improve outcomes, reduce complications, and provide a higher standard of animal welfare, contributing to increasingly humane and effective veterinary medicine (Hedlund, 2021).
References
• Fossum, T. W. (2019). Small Animal Surgery. Elsevier.
• Hedlund, C. (2021). Veterinary Surgical Techniques. Wiley-Blackwell.
• Duke-Novak, M. (2020). Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Wiley.