Veterinary Surgical Specialists PS

The days are longer and the weather is warmer! ☀️

Thanks to the ASPCA, here are some fun activities you can enjoy doing with your pet this summer season.

https://www.aspca.org/news/top-five-summer-activities-you-and-your-pet

Happy Father's Day to all the dads of both human and pet children!🐾

Happy Hug Your Cat Day! 🐱 Did you know that there are scientifically proven health benefits to cat ownership?

❣ Cat owners have a lowered risk of heart disease and stroke due to the relaxing effects felines have on their humans which minimizes stress and lowers blood pressure.

❣ A cat's purr creates vibrations at a frequency of 20-140 HZ, and studies have shown that frequencies in the 18-35 HZ range have a positive effect on human joint mobility after injury.

❣ If you spend 15-30 minutes a day petting or playing with your cat it can boost your mood! A result due to a rise in serotonin and a decrease in cortisol.

Showing your cat love and affection will let them know you care for them too - so give your cat extra lovin' today and give them a hug!

More birthdays at VSS!

This time it's our wonderful surgeon's birthday AND one of our technicians!

Happy Birthday Byron and Heather!! 🎂🎂

We can’t forget to wish one of our technicians a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎉

🎈 Enjoy your day, Brittany! 🎈

Happy Memorial Day! ♥💙

Today we honor those who lost their lives while serving in the U.S. military. Because of their bravery, we are able to celebrate today with our family and friends.

Have a safe and enjoyable weekend with your pets!

Today is International Chihuahua Appreciation Day! 🐾

Today we celebrate the smallest dog breed, which was named after the state in Mexico, where it was first observed in the 19th century. Purebred standards include these dogs shouldn't be more than 5.9 pounds in weight as adults. It is believed that Chihuahuas derived from the Techichi, a small dog kept by the Toltec people of Mexico as early as the 9th century.

And here is our resident chihuahua, Fawn! (And one of her humans) 😉 ❤️

Happy Mother's Day! ❤️ Whether your babies have fur, feathers, fins, or scales, thank you for opening up your heart and home to animals in need of a loving mom! We hope your day is full of love and appreciation for all you do.

This week, we are celebrating & 🐾

Taking place every year during the first full week of May, National Pet Week was established in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to celebrate the pets in our lives and to promote responsible ownership.

We'd love to see pictures of the pets you will be celebrating this week in the comments below ⬇️

For some great info on how you can honor your pet during National Pet Week (or any week!) follow this link: https://www.avma.org/events/national-pet-week

The World Veterinary Association created in 2000 as an annual celebration of the veterinary profession. Today we celebrate the efforts of all veterinary medical teams around the world! 🌎❤🐕🐈🩺

is coming to an end, BUT that doesn’t mean we stop celebrating our dedicated and talented team. We are so thankful for our client service staff members every single day! ♥🐾🐕🐈♥

Our receptionists mean more to us than they will ever know! Thank you for always having the deepest love for every animal that walks through our doors. 💙

This week is dedicated to our veterinary receptionists, customer service representatives, and administrative teams who help keep it all together for our patients and hospital teams. During an unexpected animal emergency or health crisis, people often feel distressed and vulnerable. These team members are typically the first point of contact to determine urgency, schedule visits, explain processes, and guide pet parents to action. With their care, they help keep people and patients attended to and support hospital operations running smoothly.

Join us in saying THANK YOU! To our wonderful team!

Today kicks off ! This week we are showing additional gratitude for our team members that work so hard to keep our hospital running. 🐕🐈♥

From our entire family here at VSS, thank you all for the love, compassion, and dedication you give to our patients every day!

Please join us in celebrating our dedicated staff by commenting your appreciation below!

Happy National Cat Lady Day! Embrace the Cat Lady within you, and share a picture of you and your feline bestie in the comments below! ❤🐱🐈😻❤

Here are some of OUR cats and two of our resident Cat Ladies! 🐾🐱

It's ! 🐕🐈🐇🐹❤ It's basically National Pet Day every day but we are just so lucky to have the joy, support, and connection pets bring to our lives - let's celebrate them a little extra today! ♥

Share a picture of your pet or pets in the comments below!

It’s National Pet First Aid Awareness Month 🩹 With the warmer weather approaching, everyone is more likely to be out with their pets at parks, on vacations, and in new areas. Being prepared is important for your pet’s safety.

We recommend always carrying a pet first aid kit stocked with items that are unexpired and that you know how to use. For example, your kit could include items such as nonstick bandages, adhesive bandage tape, towels, and absorbent gauze pads to control bleeding.

Check out this resource from the ASPCA to learn how to make your own pet first aid kit at home: https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/how-make-pet-first-aid-kit

🐰🐾Happy Easter from all of us at VSS! 🐾🐰

What is a TECA-BO and a VBO?

TECA-BO stands for Total Ear Canal Ablation and Bulla Osteotomy, and VBO stands for Ventral Bulla Osteotomy. A TECA-BO is sometimes necessary if the animal has chronic, unresolved ear infections, a tumor or polyp in the ear canal or middle ear, or if the ear canal is so scarred and narrowed that cleaning and treating it are ineffectual. A VBO may be warranted in animals with middle ear disease, such as a chronic infection, tumor, or polyp.

During a TECA-BO surgery, both the vertical and horizontal portions of the ear canal are removed as one intact cylinder. The bones of the middle ear and the ear drum are removed as well. The entire site is then flushed to be sure no material remains that could cause future issues.

Whereas a TECA-BO approach is from the external ear canal, a VBO approach is from the underside of the neck. The middle ear is a cavity surrounded by bone, except for the opening to the ear canal. During the VBO surgery, a small part of the bone is removed to make a window into the cavity, and allow for the infected tissue, polyps, or tumors that have been trapped in the middle ear to be removed. Scar tissue will then form a lining over the window during healing.

This is the ideal scenario for a TECA-BO and a VBO surgery. Of course, every patient is different and our surgeon decides on a case-by-case basis how to best approach each surgery.

Also just a reminder that we are a referral only hospital. If you suspect your pet requires surgical treatment, please visit your normal veterinarian who will assess your pet and send a referral to the appropriate hospital if surgery is recommended.

Dante is one of our TECA-BO patients, and Raphael is one of our VBO patients! 🐾🩷

With the First Day of Spring falling during we want to highlight the most common toxic plants and flowers:

- Lilies (lethal to cats)
- Sago Palms
- Azaleas
- Daffodils
- Tulips
- Hyacinths
- Cyclamens
- Crocus
- Oleander
- Hibiscus

We also recommend reviewing this extensive resource provided by the ASPCA to cross check any flowers or plants in or outside your home: https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants

If you suspect that your pet has ingested a toxic flower or plant, contact your local pet emergency clinic to bring them in ASAP. You can also call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for further instruction.

☘️ Happy St. Patrick's Day from all of us at VSS! ☘️

How LUCKY are we to have such wonderful clients and patients like you! Did you and your pets celebrate today? Share pictures with us in the comments below!

A little safety reminder for your pets - both alcohol and shamrocks are toxic to dogs and cats. Remember to keep your furry loved ones at a safe distance from these substances today.

Daylight Saving Time begins at 2:00am tonight! ⏰

As we spring ahead, our pets may be a little confused by their new meal times so keep that in mind as we all adjust to the new schedule.

We hope you and your pet are able to take advantage of the extra hour of daylight by spending some quality time outdoors. 🌞

What is Laryngeal Paralysis?

Laryngeal paralysis is a condition in which the muscles associated with the larynx become weakened, which causes the larynx to be unable to open in response to the animal breathing in. Subsequently, the animal can have a hard time getting enough oxygen, which can lead to respiratory distress, and they can be more prone to overheating since they use their breathing to cool themselves.

The Unilateral Arytenoid Lateralization or “Tieback” is a surgical approach to help laryngeal paralysis. During this surgery, non-absorbable suture is used to permanently pull the wall of the airway open on one side of the larynx. Both sides are not tied back due to an increased chance of airway compromise. Patients will normally have instant relief of the airway obstruction following surgery.

This is the ideal scenario for a Laryngeal Paralysis surgery. Of course, every patient is different and our surgeon decides on a case-by-case basis how to best approach each surgery.

Also just a reminder that we are a referral only hospital. If you suspect your pet requires surgical treatment, please visit your normal veterinarian who will assess your pet and send a referral to the appropriate hospital if surgery is recommended.

What is BOAS?

BOAS stands for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome, which is a pathological condition affecting short-nosed dogs and cats, and affects their ability to breathe, exercise, eat, sleep, play, and engage in normal activities. Some characteristics of this syndrome include narrowed nostrils, elongated and thickened soft palate, enlarged tongue, and small windpipe. These animals must increase their inspiratory effort to overcome the resistance caused by the upper airway obstruction and achieve sufficient ventilation. This increased respiratory effort generates a high negative pressure that sucks the soft tissues into the airway passage, making the tissues hyperplastic, and possibly causing the laryngeal cartilages to collapse, which further exacerbates the airway obstruction.

Multiple surgical techniques are used to help an animal with BOAS, including removal of the laryngeal saccules, soft palate resection, and bilateral alarplasty (enlarging the nostrils). Combined, these techniques help to reduce the respiratory effort of the animal and increase their quality of life.

This is the ideal scenario for a BOAS surgery. Of course, every patient is different and our surgeon decides on a case-by-case basis how to best approach each surgery.

Also just a reminder that we are a referral only hospital. If you suspect your pet requires surgical treatment, please visit your normal veterinarian who will assess your pet and send a referral to the appropriate hospital if surgery is recommended.

Today is National Walk Your Dog Day! 🐾

Some reasons to hit the pavement today:
- A daily walk helps to keep you and your pet healthy.
- Walks are a great way to bond with your pet.
- It lets you and your pet get some social interaction.
- It reduces stress and anxiety in both people and pets.

So grab a leash and hit the streets with your favorite furry friend! 🐾 🐶

What is OCD?

OCD stands for Osteochondritis Dessecans, which is an abnormality in the development of bone from the attached cartilage, forming a flap of cartilage (known as an OCD lesion). When this flap elevates and the underlying bone is exposed, an inflammatory process will start to develop. This condition can affect many joints in the body, including the shoulder, elbow, tarsus, and stifle.

During surgical correction of OCD, the flap of cartilage is removed and the exposed bone is debrided to encourage fibrocartilage to develop.

This is the ideal scenario for an OCD surgery. Of course, every patient is different and our surgeon decides on a case-by-case basis how to best approach each surgery.

Also just a reminder that we are a referral only hospital. If you suspect your pet requires surgical treatment, please visit your normal veterinarian who will assess your pet and send a referral to the appropriate hospital if surgery is recommended.

Happy Presidents' Day! 💙❤

What is an Arthrodesis?

Arthrodesis is a surgery in which a joint is permanently fused together. This may be recommended when the joint has deteriorated due to injury and/or arthritis, causing pain, limping, and hyperextension of the limb.

During surgery, the cartilage in the joint is removed and a stainless steel plate and screws are applied to stabilize the joint, often using bone graft to help ease healing.

This is the ideal scenario for an arthrodesis surgery. Of course, every patient is different and our surgeon decides on a case-by-case basis how to best approach each surgery.

Also just a reminder that we are a referral only hospital. If you suspect your pet requires surgical treatment, please visit your normal veterinarian who will assess your pet and send a referral to the appropriate hospital if surgery is recommended.

Fun Fact: One of our technicians had an arthrodesis performed on a joint in her foot this past November! 🩼🩹

Happy Valentine’s Day! 🥰💟💞 It’s that special time of year to share the love – especially with your pets. We hope your day is filled with extra snuggles and sloppy kisses from your furry loved one!

If you have a pet valentine this holiday, share a picture with us in the comments 💘💕😻

From the American Animal Hospital Association:

🌟 Celebrating Black Excellence in Veterinary Medicine!
Join us this week as we shine a spotlight on Dr. Lloyd B. Mobiley, an influential African American trailblazer in the field of veterinary orthopedics.



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