Pet Surgeries
Welcome to Rock House Vets
Veterinary Surgeons in Wolverhampton.
At Rock House Vets, we excel in pet surgical procedures, dedicated to safeguarding the health and happiness of your cherished companions. Our skilled team is proficient in a variety of surgeries, including Lump removal, Foreign body extraction, Bladder stone elimination, Anal gland surgery and Mammary gland surgery.
Rock House Veterinary Clinic, is a trusted choice for Professional pet care and surgeries. As leading Vets Wolverhampton, we combine cutting-edge technology with compassionate professionalise to ensure your pets receive the very best care.
Explore further details about our services below.
Our Veterinary Surgery Services
Neutering
Canine Eye Surgery
BOAS Surgery
Pyometra Surgery
Lump Removal
Orthopaedic Surgery
Aural Haemotoma
Cherry Eye Surgery
Neutering
Spay/Castration for Cats, Dogs and Rabbits
Neutering is a surgical procedure which removes the reproductive organs from an animal making it impossible for them to bear offspring. In male animals, this involves castration (complete removal of the testicles) and in females, this usually involves removing the ovaries and womb (more commonly known as spaying).
WHY SHOULD I NEUTER MY PET?
Whether you own a dog, cat or rabbit, neutering has many benefits that can improve your pet’s quality of life. These benefits should be discussed with your vet to make sure neutering is a suitable option for your pet.
FEMALES
- Bitches left unneutered can develop reproductive problems (eg breast cancer or pyometra – infection of the womb) Which can be prevented with early neutering.
- Reduces the chances of her developing breast (Mammary) cancer.
- Removes the risk of unplanned pregnancy
MALES
- For males, castration significantly reduces the risk of developing a prostate disease, along with many other health benefits that can be discussed with your vet.
- Decreases the possibility of tumours and hernias around the bottom, which are common in older, unneutered pets.
- Both castrated and entire males can make excellent pets, however, dogs that show signs of aggression should be considered for castration although this will not guarantee the correction of the behavioural problem.
Book neutering for your pet at Rock House Veterinary Clinic click here
WHEN SHOULD I GET MY PET NEUTERED?
We recommend that all dogs and cats not intended to be bred from are neutered (spayed) at around 6 months for bitches (after their first season) and 9 months for males. However, the exact age may vary depending on your vet’s recommendation. Rabbits are generally spayed or castrated when they are 4-6 months of age. For rabbits, neutering should be performed before the rabbit is 2 years old to get the benefit of prevention of disease.
WHAT IF MY PET HAS AN UNDESCENDED TESTICLE?
Undescended testicles (cryptorchidism) have an increased tendency to grow tumours. They may also twist on their stalks and cause life-threatening inflammation. One of the most common risks of undescended testicles in dogs is the increased risk of testicular cancer if the undescended testicle is not removed. The surgery to remove an undescended testicle is far more delicate and invasive than the castration surgery used to remove normally descended testicles. Removal and neutering of the retained testicle (s) are recommended as soon as possible.
For a neutering consultation for your pet at Rock House Veterinary Clinic click here
Pyometra
A pyometra is an infection inside the womb. Any unneutered dog is at risk of developing a pyometra, especially if they are over six years old. Hormonal changes during a season/heat put your dog at risk of a womb infection. Once the heat is over, the majority return to normal. Unfortunately, some dogs develop complications, which lead to an infection (pyometra). As a pyometra develops, the womb fills with pus. A pyometra can lead to blood poisoning, kidney failure, peritonitis and even death.
BOAS Surgery Wolverhampton
We offer nose and pallet, pallet only, and nose only BOAS surgery. BOAS means ‘problems breathing due to having a short head’ BOAS is a result of selective breeding. BOAS commonly affects flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, Pekingese, French Bulldogs, British Bulldogs, and Shih Tzu. Flat-faced breeds have become popular pets because of their ‘cute’ appearance and good nature, their snuffly breathing is often considered loveable. Sadly these ‘loveable snuffles’ are a sign that they are struggling to breathe due to BOAS.
Rock House is rapidly becoming the people’s choice for BOAS Surgery
We aim to offer our BOAS surgery at realistic prices while still offering only the best in treatments and aftercare.
What is BOAS?
Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is a recognised condition. Predominantly affecting certain dog breeds with shorter muzzles, flatter noses and wide-shaped heads. These are known as brachycephalic breeds (‘brachy’ meaning short, and ‘cephalic’, meaning head).
The soft tissues of the nose and throat in some brachycephalic dogs may be excessive and can lead to partial obstruction of their airways. This makes it difficult for these dogs to breathe normally, causing noisy breathing and often heavy panting. This condition is a progressive disorder that can impair a dog’s ability to;
Exercise and play – reduced ability, slow, may appear lazy or less inclined to go for a walk.
Eat – frequently regurgitates.
Sleep – excessive snoring and may wake themselves up when they can’t catch a breath properly.
The condition may deteriorate with time, so the sooner something can be done to help, the better the expected outcome. Also, general anaesthesia and surgery are far less risky in terms of maintaining an open airway if the symptoms are only mild or caught early.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF BOAS?
NARROW NOSTRILS?
Having narrow nostrils makes breathing difficult; some severely affected dogs have to pant to get enough air.
CROWDED NOSE AND THROAT?
Flat-faced dogs have a lot of nose tissue packed into a small space, which means they have to breathe through very narrow, crowded nasal passages.
OVERLONG SOFT PALATE?
Flat-faced dogs often have a large soft palate that sits further back than normal. It often covers the windpipe, which makes breathing difficult.
The soft palate can also cause problems during sleep – if it’s covering the windpipe you may notice your dog snoring or waking up suddenly gasping for breath.
NARROW WINDPIPE?
A narrow windpipe makes breathing difficult, especially when exercising. Breathing through a narrow windpipe is a bit like trying to breathe through a drinking straw. Two sacs inside the windpipe often become enlarged and cause further problems.
What our BOAS surgery involves?
- We offer an X-ray to every patient, this is essential to investigate the presence of concurrent and secondary diseases such as aspiration pneumonia or hiatal hernia.
- Your surgery will only be carried out by a veterinary surgeon who is skilled and has a wealth of experience in this field.
- Our BOAS patients will then have our head nurse as their dedicated nurse with them at all times during the recovery process.
- All of our BOAS patients will be offered an overnight stay for close monitoring.
Our popularity is forever growing around the UK. We are becoming increasingly famous for our love and understanding of bulldog breeds and BOAS surgery.
We take pride in our ability to take care of these issues and surgery on a daily basis. It’s important to know that having a vet who has a lot of experience with brachycephalic breeds is extremely important when choosing to own this type of breed.
CAN BOAS (BRACHYCEPHALIC OBSTRUCTIVE AIRWAY SYNDROME) WORSEN WITH AGE?
Dogs who suffer from BOAS, have more difficulty breathing, which then can cause secondary difficulties to develop over time. Added weight gain from restricted exercise and ageing over time may develop into life-threatening breathing difficulties in dogs.
WILL BOAS STOP MY DOG FROM SNORING?
The main objective of treatment is to clear and unblock the airways. Our veterinary surgeon will do a soft palate resection (removal of extra soft palate skin that promotes snoring). And a Stenotic nare resection (widening of the nostrils to improve airflow). The reduced effort required to breathe following surgery will greatly improve your dog’s quality of life. Most dogs will benefit from increased exercise, better feeding and digestion, heat tolerance, better sleep, and reduced snoring.
Canine Cherry Eye Surgery (Replacement)
The cherry eye is the prolapse of a tear gland present on the third eyelid of canine patients. In a dog with no problems, the gland stays in its proper position which is tucked nicely at the inner corner of the eye, thanks to a small ligament. When the gland pops out of its normal position, it’s because of some level of laxity (looseness) or weakness of the ligament. This causes the gland to start protruding as a reddish mass at the corner of the dog’s eye, hence the term “cherry eye.”
Entropion Surgery
Entropion is an abnormality of the eyelids in which the eyelid rolls inward. This inward rolling often causes the hair on the surface of the eyelid to rub against the cornea. Resulting in pain, corneal ulcers, perforations, or pigment developing on the cornea which can interfere with vision.
Canine Eye Tacking
Quite often puppies are presented for tacking to correct entropion whilst they are under 6 months of age. This is performed under a quick general anaesthetic. Multiple strong sutures or stainless steel staples are placed in the affected lids to prevent the eyelashes from irritating the eyes.
The aim is to roll out the affected lids to allow the puppy to develop its skull and the fat pad behind the eyes. In some puppies, this will be sufficient when they are skeletally mature but some pups will go on to require entropion surgery. Eye tacks can be removed after several weeks in the conscious puppy.
Aural Haemotoma
An aural haematoma, also known as an ear haematoma, is a blood blister that develops between the skin and cartilage of the “pinna” (ear flap). It’s very common in dogs who are prone to ear infections, especially if they have floppy ears rather than ears that stand straight up.
The condition occurs when trauma or an injury to the ear flap causes the small blood vessels inside the pinna to break and leak internally, resulting in a blood-filled swelling.
Prolapse Repair For Dogs Wolverhampton
Rectal prolapse can occur in any breed of dog. As the name implies, this condition involves the rectum, which protrudes from the anal opening. Initially, the prolapse might happen only while your dog is passing stool. However, over time, the relapse can become severe enough to remain constantly protruding from the anus.
Not only is this uncomfortable for your dog, but it’s also very serious. Left untreated, a prolapse can prevent the dog from being able to pass any stool, which ultimately can cause severe illness or even death.
True vaginal prolapse is a rare condition in dogs. It is occasionally observed in animals with constipation, dystocia, or forced separation during breeding. If a true prolapse occurs, the bladder, the uterine body and/or distal part of the colon, may be present in the prolapse.
Fortunately, with prompt treatment, most dogs will recover fully from a prolapse. If steps are taken to remedy the cause of the condition, it’s unlikely the dog will experience another.
Lumps, Mass & Tumour Removal
Usually, people notice new masses while petting their cat or dog. While skin and subcutaneous masses are usually benign, some are malignant, and all new masses should be investigated.
Lumps are not usually a medical emergency. Just to be sure though, you should bring your pet to the vet for an evaluation as soon as possible.
What are the different types of tumours and masses?
If a mass or tumour is determined to be benign, the veterinarian may suggest just monitoring for growth. In the case of malignant tumours, surgery is often the recommended treatment. Here are several such tumours and masses to be aware of:
- Papillomavirus tumours, which, although benign, may cause discomfort.
- Lymphoma can lead to swollen lymph nodes, coughing, a lack of appetite, and lethargy.
- Melanoma, which is often dark brown or black in colour and can cause pain and swelling.
- Hemangiosarcoma, which targets the blood vessels. If present in the spleen, rupturing can occur, which is considered a medical emergency.
- Histiocytomas are common in young dogs and often affect the face and extremities. They will often regress on their own after 6-8 weeks but if grow rapidly or become ulcerated they may need to be removed to stop them from becoming infected.
- Osteosarcomas- are generally not removed in first opinion practice unless a pet undergoes leg amputation.
- Lipomas are classified as fatty tumours. These benign tumours are quite common in dogs.
- Mast cell tumours, lead to itchiness and skin redness in animals.
What to Expect During Mass Removal?
Your surgeon may use electrocautery to remove the tumour. The incision line will be closed with sutures, which, are often in multiple layers. The suture may be absorbable or non-absorbable.
The excised tissue is routinely submitted to a reference diagnostic laboratory for evaluation by a boarded clinical pathologist. Further treatment recommendations are made based on the histopathologic evaluation.