LRVSS’s Blog
Real stories about actual LRVSS patients.
Were Howie’s diagnosis and surgery a first?
“The situation was horrible. Howie was always sneezing and regurgitating food. He would hide constantly. We were so distraught, as we were told to either get him a feeding tube, do nothing and let him suffer, or put him down.” Our most memorable patient in 2024 at...
5 (more) critical questions about postop care
← 5 critical questions about postop care Today, we provide answers to 5 more questions we commonly hear from pet owners before surgery. 1. When are the next follow-ups due? Typically, there will be an appointment for suture or staple removal, usually 14 days after...
5 critical questions about postop care
Whether your cat or your dog has a minor lump removal or major surgery, there are some basic things you should know. After your pet has surgery, the surgeon & nurse team will answer many of your questions spontaneously. Still, it is useful to know what to expect...
Keeva, the unexpected 2 year cancer survivor
Do you believe in karma? By complete accident, I stumbled upon an old email sent by a vet student who was shadowing me during surgery. The email contained a picture she had taken during surgery. I still remembered the student, the patient, and the challenging surgery....
Chemo beads, our secret weapon against cancer
There aren’t 50 options to fight cancer. The main options are surgery, chemo, and radiation therapy. Unfortunately, chemo and radiation therapy can be expensive and can have side effects. Around 15 years ago, I was lucky to hear about a revolutionary option that is...
“My dog needs less anesthesia”
A patient under anesthesia for open chest surgery.Since every single surgery patient requires anesthesia, we hear many questions from fearful pet lovers. A very common question is: “I've heard that XYZ breed doesn't take the amount of anesthesia you would think for...
How Mollie almost died 9 months ago – a crazy spleen cancer story
Can you imagine what it must feel like to live with the conviction that your pet has cancer for 9 months? “Stress, anxiety and panic.” But let’s go back in time a bit. Nine months ago, Mollie, a sweet and loving 10 years Lab, “had an episode where she was lying on her...
Bandit and the Mysterious Bladder Mass
Do you believe that things happen for a reason? Do you believe that a mistake can be a blessing in disguise? This is the amazing story of Bandit, a sweet 6 year old mini Aussie. His owner remembers: “It all started with several “accidents” inside the house. I was...
Pain-free after elbow dysplasia surgery
You’ve heard of hip dysplasia – a fancy way to say hip arthritis secondary to a deformed hip. Well, the same can happen in an elbow. It’s a bit more complicated, and less frequent disease. It encompasses 3 different conditions that are occasionally found in young...
A year in the life of a surgeon
A new year is a perfect opportunity to reflect on our top 10 surgeries last year at LRVSS.Here they are, starting with the most common: 1. TPLO surgery No doubt, we perform a huge number of TPLOs (Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy) to address a torn ACL in dogs. It is...