What is Laser Surgery?
Snowden Animal Hospital provides laser surgery for our patients as an alternate to traditional surgery (with the scalpel blade). We are one of the very few clinics to be offering this for pets.
A laser is a device that generates an intense beam of light at a specific wavelength. The most commonly used surgical laser is a CO2 laser which produces an invisible bean of light that vaporizes the water normally found in the skin and other soft tissue. The laser beam can be precisely controlled, only a thin layer of tissue is removed, leaving the surrounding areas unaffected.
Why Laser Surgery?
Less Pain– Laser energy seals nerve endings as it moves through tissue. Your pet feels less pain post-operatively.
Less Bleeding-The laser seals small blood vessels during surgery which allows us to perform surferies with extraordinary precision. This also speeds some procedures reducing the need for anesthesia.
Less Swelling-Laser energy does not crush, tear or bruise because only a bean of intense light contacts the tissue.
Laser technology reduces the trauma to your pet, improves recovery , and often shortens hospital stays.
What Does This Mean For My Pet?
Reduced risk of infection-The laser sterilizes as it removes diseased tissue, killing bacteria that cause infection.
Precision-The laser can remove unhealthy tissue while minimizing adverse affects to healthy surrounding tissue.
Quick return to normal activities-Recovery is rapid and there is less post-operative discomfort.
What Types of Procedures Can A Laser Perform?
A laser is ideal for a wide variety of surgical procedures for dogs, cats including SPAYS and NEUTERS. Laser surgery can correct many common conditions such as cysts, tumors, warts and infections that may occur around the eyes, ears, in the mouth, and anywhere on the skin. Specialized internal procedures are also possible.
Laser is IDEAL for:
- Spays (feline and canine)
- Dog neuters
- Oral tumours
- Eyelid tumours
- Stenotic nares
- Elongated soft palate corrections
- Lick granulomas
- Wart removals in older dogs