Are you thinking about having your animal spayed or neutered? We encourage you to visit us at Centre Street Animal Hospital located in Thornhill to discuss all of the available options. We will discuss what is involved in the spaying or neutering procedure as well as give you a tour of our facilities so that you can see first hand where the operation will be taking place. We will also provide guidance specific to your own situation so that you can make the best decision for your pet.

Preliminary blood work is done before the surgery to ensure that your pet will be able to handle the anesthetic medications. During surgery we monitor your pet’s blood pressure, heart rate, ECG, carbon dioxide and oxygen saturation, exactly as in a human hospital. IV fluids are administered throughout the procedure to keep blood pressure stable. An IV also provides us with immediate access to the vein for drug administration.

We can perform any other pre-authorized procedures while your pet is under anesthetic such as microchipping, baby teeth extractions and routine dental scaling. This extra work will not impact  the recovery times for your pet’s spay or neutering procedure, but it will save your pet the discomfort of going through another procedure at a later date- and you will save time and money as well. We can customize the procedure to suit your needs and financial considerations as well as provide a safe and successful procedure for your pet.

Laser Surgery

Laser surgery is used for all procedures, as it can be very beneficial for many reasons. Laser surgery is recognized in human and veterinary medicine for its benefits to both patient and surgeon. While several types of lasers are used for different applications, the primary device used in soft tissue surgery is a carbon dioxide laser. The advent of the surgical lasers has improved the treatment of many disease states previously treated with a scalpel or electrosurgical unit. The laser provides the surgeon with increased control, while significantly reducing the pain and swelling due to its unique properties. There is less bleeding and less swelling in the area where the procedure will take place, while also reducing the risk of infection which leads to a faster recovery. We want any surgery performed on your pet, including their spay or neuter, of your pet to be as easy and safe as possible.

Reduced Pain

The CO2 laser beam seals nerve endings as it cuts through tissue. This reduces the amount of pain the patient feels during and after surgery.

Reduced Bleeding

The CO2 laser beam cauterizes and seals small blood vessels as it cuts. This laser energy achieves hemostasis, which is a process that causes bleeding to stop, meaning to keep blood within a damage blood vessel and providing the surgeon with a bloodless surgical field in most procedures.

Reduced Swelling

There is no physical contact between the laser and the surgical region, eliminating the tearing and bruising of tissue associated with traditional surgical methods. Lymphatic vessels are also sealed.

Reduced Infection

Laser energy acts as an antibacterial agent by producing high temperatures, effectively eliminating microorganisms.

Quicker Recovery

As a result of all of the above, laser surgery provides a quicker and more comfortable recovery for your pet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Laser for Pets?

Laser technology, with its medical use dating back to the early 1960’s, reduces trauma to your pet, shortens recovery time, and often decreases the length of hospital stays for your loved ones. Your Veterinarian is amongst the Top 20% of hospitals nationwide offering laser surgery.

What is a Laser?

Laser is an acronym for Light Amplification by the Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A laser is a device that generates an intense beam of coherent light that can cut, seal or vaporize tissue.

What types of lasers are there?

Lasers come in a variety of modalities, each suited for particular needs. CO2, diode, YAG and other types of lasers are all used in human and veterinary medicine. While no laser suits all applications, CO2 lasers are by far the most common laser first purchased by a small or mixed animal practice in veterinary medicine, for the reasons below.

What is a CO2 Surgical Laser?

The carbon dioxide (CO2) laser emits a colorless, infrared light at a specific wavelength of 10,600 microns, which has an extremely high affinity for the intercellular water of cells.

How does a CO2 Surgical Laser work?

The main constituent of cells-water, readily absorbs the wavelength of light produced by the CO2 surgical laser. The spectral absorption of water provides the CO2 laser with the ability to coagulate, cut, char, or ablate/vaporize tissue depending on the power density and the energy level applied by the surgeon. The surgeon can control the extent by which the laser beam is absorbed into surrounding tissue, resulting in an extremely precise tissue incision.

Why should I choose laser surgery for my pet?

A summary of the benefits the laser will provide you and your pet are:

• Less pain
• Less bleeding
• Less swelling
• Extreme precision
• Reduced risk of infection
• Quicker recovery

With the associated laser benefits, your pet will recover quicker and return home sooner.

Are lasers new?

Laser technology has been helping doctors to safely and effectively treat patients since the early 1960’s. The principles necessary for the concept of laser development date back to the early 19th century with Bohr’s theory of optical resonance. The technology is well proven and it is now being adopted by veterinarians worldwide to improve patient care.

What Type of Procedures Can a Laser Perform?

A laser is ideal for a wide variety of procedures for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, horses and other animals. Procedures include but are not limited to the removal of cysts, tumors and warts, as well as specialized internal procedures.