Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA)
TECA surgery is recommended in patients with chronic otitis (recurrent ear infection), which causes the ear canal to get calcified (narrowed), which in turn makes external ear cleaning ineffective. Other common causes due to which the surgery is done are ear polyps, tumors, etc. In TECA all the diseased tissue including the external ear canal, portion of the tympanic bullae and its lining are surgically removed. This procedure relieves the pet from chronic pain, odor, repetitive ear cleaning and expensive medications. Patients with chronic otitis usually have diminished hearing abilities, thus the surgery may not cause significant change in hearing. It is important to note that a number of nerves travel in close proximity to the ear. These nerves are exposed during the surgery and can be temporarily or permanently damaged and minimal drainage may exist post operatively in some cases.
Corkscrew Tail Caudectomy
Corkscrew tail is a vertebral malformation that commonly occurs in certain dog breeds such as French Bulldog and English Bulldog.The vertebrae can be fused together or abnormally structured, which leads to the tail taking on an abnormal curvature. The most common clinical sign is recurrent skin fold dermatitis which leads to severe itching and pain. This causes the pet to bite at the tail and scoot. Bacterial infection can cause foul odor from the skin around the tail. Initially this condition can be managed medically, however, in severe recurrent infections we recommend surgical correction of the tail. The pet is placed under general anesthesia and the surgeon removes the required portion of the tail vertebrae. Along with this, excessive skin folds are also removed. This alleviates obstruction of the anus. The likelihood of getting skin fold dermatitis after this procedure is minimal. It is important to follow post- operative instructions to allow proper healing.
Feline Perineal Urethrostomy
FLUTD (Feline lower urinary tract disease) is a common problem with cats, but male cats are predisposed to urethral blockage. Feline Permanent urethrostomy is a surgical procedure used to manage male feline patients which have repeat urethral blockages. Such patients benefit from the surgery as it allows continued passage of small urethral calculi, crystals and mucoid debris. The patients who get this procedure done have a favorable prognosis. Special attention should be given to hygiene needs of these pets after the surgery to reduce incidence of UTIs.
Anal Gland Sacculectomy
Anal Gland Sacculectomy is a procedure which involves the removal of the patient’s anal glands permanently. A surgical laser is utilized for excision of the anal glands. This surgery is recommended for patients in which the anal sacs need to be emptied repeatedly after short intervals. Pets with recurrent anal gland infections are also good candidates for this procedure. This surgery will relieve the patient from the discomfort associated with anal sac expression at short intervals.
Mandibular and Sublingual Salivary Gland Excision (Salivary Mucocele Removal) Sialoadenectomy
Salivary Mucocele is a collection of saliva that has leaked from a damaged salivary gland or duct and is surrounded by granulation tissue. The curative treatment for this condition is surgical excision of the salivary glands and associated ducts. Mandibular and Sublingual glands are excised together because the sublingual gland is in close proximity to the mandibular gland duct. The procedure is performed using a surgical laser. The prognosis is excellent in case of complete excision. The surgery prevents mucocele formation.
Brachycephalic Syndrome Surgery
Brachycephalic airway syndrome refers to a particular set of upper airway abnormalities that affect brachycephalic breeds such as Pug, French Bulldog, English Bulldog, etc. This syndrome is a combination of stenotic nares (narrow nostrils), elongated soft palate and everted laryngeal saccules. All these conditions cause increased airway resistance which leads to increased respiratory effort. Severely affected dogs have more pronounced airway noise (snore), exercise intolerance, and can collapse after exercise. Other common signs include coughing, gagging, retching, and vomiting. Fortunately all these conditions can be cured with a highly specialized surgery using a laser. It is worth noting that these anatomical corrections are suture free surgeries when done with laser. These procedures can improve a pet’s quality of life remarkably by improving the breathing of the patient.