Pet Soft Tissue Surgery
We offer surgery of the skin, throat, ear, etc.
Soft tissue surgery is a large subject, as it includes any surgery that is not orthopedic.
Various operations are performed in the field of plastic surgery, including skin mass removal and complex operations. Dr. Phil Zeltzman has over two decades of expertise in all types of soft tissue surgery.
Belly Surgery
Belly surgery is a type of abdominal surgery that may be done to treat a wide range of conditions. They include removing diseased organs, removing bladder stones, performing biopsies, and expelling foreign objects. Pets have been known to swallow socks, keys, and even pebbles in the past.
Dr. Zeltzman performs a prophylactic gastropexy operation, which is designed to prevent GDV (gastropexy) in dogs at risk for it. The surgery fastens the stomach to the inside of the belly, preventing it from turning and risking the pet’s life.
Bladder & Urinary Surgery
The most frequent bladder surgery for canines is the removal of bladder stones. A perineal urethrostomy (PU) is used in cats. Male cats are more prone to blockages in their urethra than female cats. A PU is performed to expand the exit route when this occurs numerous times.
Laryngeal Paralysis
The larynx or voice box of a dog may be paralysed. While it is a stressful situation, the “tie-back” operation expands the airway and is the difference between suffocating and breathing freely. The complication rate in competent hands is low.
Mass Removal
Anywhere on or inside an animal’s body, cysts and tumors can develop. They usually need to be removed. If a mass is biopsied first to see whether it is malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous), they may also be diagnosed via cytology.
Ear Surgery
Ear polyps are a common problem among cats, and they must be treated with several operations. Ear infections can occur in certain dog breeds, such as Cocker Spaniels. If the infection is severe enough, an entire ear canal ablation (TECA) or the removal of the ear canal may be required. The procedure appears to be quite invasive, yet it has very good outcomes, allowing dogs to live without suffering from ear infections.
Other soft-tissue procedures Dr. Zeltzman can help with include:
General Procedures
- Abdominal surgery
- Abdominal port placement for chronic effusions
- Adrenal gland removal
- Bladder (stone removal, masses)
- Colon surgery
- Cryptorchidism
- Diaphragmatic hernia
- Ectopic ureter
- Exploratory laparotomy
- Gallbladder (removal vs. re-routing)
- Hemoabdomen (internal bleeding)
- Incontinence treatment
- Intestinal obstruction (foreign bodies)
- Intestinal surgery
- Kidney surgery
- Liver biopsy, including “keyhole” liver biopsy
- Liver surgery
- Megacolon
- Pancreas surgery
- Pleuro-Peritoneal Diaphragmatic Hernia (PPDH)
- Prophylactic gastropexy (“twisted stomach” or bloat or GDV prevention)
- Prostate surgery
- Spleen removal (splenectomy, bleeding masses)
- Stomach surgery (foreign bodies)
- Urethra surgery
- Uterus infection (pyometra)
Head & Neck Surgery
- Cheiloplasty (for excessive drooling)
- Cleft palate
- Ear and throat polyps in cats
- Ear hematoma
- Elongated soft palate
- Everted laryngeal saccules
- Eye and eyelid surgery
- Facial fold removal
- Laryngeal paralysis (“Tieback”)
- Lateral Bulla Osteotomy (LBO)
- Oro-nasal fistula
- Para-thyroid gland removal
- Salivary gland surgery (mucocele, sialocele)
- Stenotic nares (narrow nostrils)
- Thyroid gland removal (cat or dog)
- Total Ear Canal Ablation (TECA)
- Ventral Bulla Osteotomy (VBO)
Reconstructive Surgery
- Open wound management (trauma)
- Skin flaps
- Skin grafts
- Vacuum-Assisted Closure (VAC) of open wounds
THORACIC SURGERY (THORACOTOMY)
- Chylothorax
- Esophagus surgery
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
- Persistent Right Aortic Arch (PRAA)
- Pleural port placement for fluid buildup
- Lung surgery, including “keyhole” lung biopsy
- Pyothorax
"Back end" Surgery
- Anal sac surgery
- “Corkscrew” tail removal
- Perianal fistula management
- Perineal hernia
- Prepubic urethrostomy (P/U salvage or revision, urethral tear or stenosis)
- Urethrostomy (perineal or P/U in cats, scrotal in dogs)
- Redundant vulvar fold (vulvoplasty, episioplasty)
- Scrotal ablation
Emergency Surgery
- Blocked urethra (cat or dog)
- C-section
- Foreign bodies
- Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV)
- Hemoabdomen
- Pneumothorax
- Pyometra
- Spleen removal (splenectomy)