Pet Surgery in Hickory
Thoughtful, well-prepared surgical care for the dogs and cats of Hickory. From routine procedures to soft tissue surgery, we focus on safety, communication, and recovery — so your pet gets back to themselves as quickly as possible.
Pet Surgery You Can Feel Confident About
If your veterinarian has recommended surgery for your dog or cat, your first reaction probably contains some level of concern — that’s normal. Surgery is a big deal, and good information goes a long way toward making it less stressful.
At Springs Road Animal Hospital, we perform a range of soft-tissue surgical procedures in our modern, updated facility. Our approach to surgery is the same as our approach to everything else: we explain what we’re doing and why, we make sure you understand the plan before we start, and we treat your pet’s comfort and safety as the priority every step of the way.
Common procedures we offer include:
- Spays and neuters
- Mass and lump removals
- Cystotomy (bladder stone removal)
- Foreign body removal
- Wound repair and laceration treatment
- Soft tissue procedures
- Dental surgery, including extractions
When advanced surgical care is needed, our team is here to help. We work closely with board-certified veterinary surgeon Dr. Brett Wood of Blue Ridge Veterinary Surgery to provide specialized, non-emergency surgical procedures right here at our hospital in Hickory, NC. By offering specialty surgery services in a familiar and convenient setting, we can create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your pet’s specific needs while ensuring seamless communication and continuity of care throughout the process.
What to Expect Before, During, and After Pet Surgery
Before surgery: Every surgical patient at Springs Road gets pre-anesthetic bloodwork to check organ function, clotting ability, and overall metabolic health. This tells us whether your pet is a good candidate for anesthesia and whether we need to adjust our protocol. We’ll walk you through the plan, the estimate, and any pre-surgery instructions (usually fasting starting the night before).
During surgery: Your pet is monitored continuously by our trained team throughout the procedure, with attention to heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, temperature, and depth of anesthesia. If anything comes up during surgery that wasn’t part of the original plan, we’ll call you before making decisions.
After surgery: You’ll go home with detailed discharge instructions covering medications, diet, activity restrictions, and any specific care for the surgical site. We’ll also schedule a recheck appointment to make sure healing is on track. And of course, we’re a phone call away if anything seems off during recovery.
Helping Your Pet Recover at Home
The discharge instructions matter, and it’s essential to follow them, even when your pet seems to be feeling better. Activity restriction is often the hardest part for everyone (your dog or cat included), but rushing recovery is one of the most common reasons we see complications.
A few practical tips:
- Set up a quiet, comfortable space away from other pets and busy household traffic
- Keep the e-collar on, even when it seems silly — pets are remarkably skilled at undoing surgical work in seconds
- Stick to the prescribed medications and dosing schedule
- Watch the incision site daily for swelling, redness, discharge, or signs of irritation
- Call us if anything looks or feels wrong, no matter how minor it seems
Recovery times vary by procedure. Most soft tissue surgeries take 10 to 14 days for full healing, while more complex procedures may take longer. We’ll give you a realistic timeline at discharge based on your pet’s specific surgery.
To discuss a procedure for your pet or schedule a surgical consultation, request an appointment online or call us at (828) 256-2151.
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