1. SURGICAL PROCEDURES

2. ELECTIVE VS. NONELECTIVE
ELECTIVE PROCEDURES – performed at the veterinarian and owner’s convenience
Patients are usually healthy
Examples: spay, neuter, declaw
NONELECTIVE PROCEDURES – procedure MUST be done urgently to improve patient’s life
Usually emergency procedures
Animals are usually compromised
Examples: intestinal foreign body removal, pyometra

3. ELECTIVE VS. NONELECTIVE
NOTE: some surgeries are necessary to improve quality of life, but are not urgent and it is ok if the procedure is delayed until conditions are favorable
EXAMPLES: cruciate repair, entropion, ear canal ablations from chronic otitis, cancer resection

4. ELECTIVE PROCEDURES

5. TAIL DOCKINGS (PUPPIES)
DEFINITION
Partial amputation of the tail
INDICATIONS
Usually for aesthetic purposes (however can be done in instances of trauma)
Breed standards set by AKC

6. PREOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
TAIL DOCKING
PREOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
Always consider the dam
Is she protective?
Usually provides the warmth/
food
Schedule to be performed
at age 3 -5 days.
General anesthesia is not performed at this age
Pick location of procedure carefully-puppies have a weak immune system

7. TECHNIQUE AND INTRAOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
TAIL DOCKING
TECHNIQUE AND INTRAOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
Puppy should be supported in the palms with the hind limbs supported between the middle and index fingers
Rear of puppy is toward the surgeon
Site is aeseptically prepared
Exact location is determined and tail is excised distal to desired location
Hemorrhage is controlled
Suture placed to oppose the ends of the tail
Problems with amputating too much of the tail

8. POSTOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
TAIL DOCKING
POSTOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
Return to mother quickly
Don’t allow dam to lick sutures out!
Observe for hemorrhage/early removal of sutures/redness/drainage/open surgery site
Area can get infected
Some have to be re-done

9. DEWCLAW REMOVAL (PUPPIES)
DEFINITION
Amputation of the claw on the medial aspect of each limb – if present
INDICATIONS
Aesthetic purposes
Usually performed at time of tail docking – if necessary
Also perform if there is a known risk of trauma for the patient (particularly hunting dogs)
Some breeds, such as Great Pyrenees, require the declaws to be present for showing

10. DEWCLAW REMOVAL PREOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS Same as for tail dockings
TECHNIQUE AND INTRAOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
Aeseptically prepare surgery site
Cradle puppy on its side and extend one leg at a time toward the surgeon
Dewclaw is excised
Hemorrhage is controlled (pressure, electrocautery)
Can either heal by second intention or sutured closed (silver nitrate, surgical glue)

11. POSTOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
DEWCLAW REMOVAL
POSTOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
Return to mother quickly
Don’t allow dam to lick surgical area!
Observe for hemorrhage/early removal of sutures/redness/drainage/open surgery site
Area can get infected

12. Tail Docking & Dewclaw removal video

13. TAIL AMPUTATION AND DEWCLAW REMOVING - adults
INDICATIONS
Aesthetics, trauma, infection, neoplasia
PREOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
What is reason for surgery?
Neoplasia – Obtain clean margins, submit tissue for histopathology
Trauma – Stabilize patient before procedure
Infection – Culturing of area may be warranted

14. DEWCLAW REMOVAL - adults
TECHNIQUE AND INTRAOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS – dewclaw removal
GENERAL ANESTHESIA required
Clip, aeseptically prepare site
Dewclaw is excised at the base (excision extends through joint, not bone)
Hemorrhage is controlled, skin edges are apposed with suture
Paw is bandaged to prevent swelling, self trauma

15. DEW CLAW AMPUTATION

16. TAIL AMPUTATION - adults
TECHNIQUE AND INTRAOPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS – tail amputation
May also be performed in other animals
Clipped, aseptically prepared
Some surgeons prefer for tail to positioned in air (vertically)
Tourniquet at base of tail is useful for hemorrhage
Skin is incised, tail is disarticulated at the joint that was specified (usually skin incision is distal to disarticulation site to facilitate closure)
Ligation of blood vessels
Skin is sutured to cover caudal vertebrae that is now exposed

17. TAIL AMPUTATION

19. TAIL AMPUTATION AND DEWCLAW REMOVAL - adults
POST-OPERATIVE CONSIDERATIONS
Tail bandaging is difficult
Monitor site for hemorrhage/swelling/drainage/redness/self-trauma/dehiscence
Consider placing an Elizabethan Collar
Skin sutures generally removed in days
Pain meds are important