Surgery for dogs, cats, and small pets

The surgery team at Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency Hospital performs a wide range of small animal orthopedic, soft tissue, oncologic, and emergency procedures.

We pride ourselves on providing an above the standard-of-care approach for each of our patients. This is done while always keeping the goals of pet owners in mind.

We communicate promptly with your primary veterinarian shortly after consultation or surgery, to keep them updated with the status of your pet throughout the entire process.Our goal is to exceed your expectations by providing thorough and compassionate care, while giving you the peace of mind you need during a stressful time.

Shot of a vet attaching a cone to the neck of a large bulldog

Soft-Tissue and Orthopedic Surgery

Our board-certified surgeons treat a wide range of veterinary orthopedic, thoracic, abdominal, and soft-tissue conditions. We combine the expertise of our surgeons, specialists, and advanced technology to ensure your pet receives extraordinary surgical procedures and care.

The types of surgeries performed at Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency are:

Soft-tissue surgery:

  • Minimally invasive surgery
    • Laparoscopy
  • Reproductive surgery
    • Emergency cesarean
    • Ovariohysterectomy (OHE) revisions
  • Abdominal surgery
  • Thoracic surgery
  • Upper airway surgery
  • Surgical oncology
  • Emergency surgery
  • Wound care and reconstruction

Orthopedic Surgery:

  • Cranial cruciate ligament tear​ repair
    • Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
  • Patellar luxation
  • Bone fractures and bone breaks
  • Elbow dysplasia
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Osteoarthritis

Surgery expertise with 24-hour care

Recovery is an essential part of any patient’s care, and our highly-trained technical staff continuously monitor your pet's anesthesia and post-operative care. Our surgical team works closely with you and your family veterinarian to achieve a successful surgical outcome for your pet. 

Here’s what you can expect for your pet's surgery at our hospital:

  • Expert consultation with board-certified specialists
  • 24-hour care
  • Specialized equipment not available in general practice
  • Special surgical expertise
  • Access to other specialists where appropriate

We understand that surgery is a stressful time for you and your pet. Our team is here to offer compassion, skill, and expertise. 

photo of a young ginger tomcat in a plastic Buster collar

What we do

At Carolina Animal Specialty & Emergency, we’re committed to optimizing patient outcomes. Our surgical team works collaboratively with your neighborhood veterinarian and our entire specialty team works diligently to provide the best possible care for your pet. 

Our veterinary surgeons determine the least invasive and most effective procedures for your pet's condition before moving forward with surgery. We’ll try to recommend surgical alternatives to minimize discomfort and complications and maximize outcomes. Whether your pet needs surgery to remove bladder stones or abdominal surgery to remove a sock, trust our surgical team to provide expert surgical care.

We’re experts in orthopedic conditions of pets, and we perform lameness exams and gait evaluation to assess the orthopedic or neurologic cause of an animal’s lameness.

Depending on the cause of an orthopedic injury or change in gait, our surgeons may recommend surgical intervention or medical treatment and physical therapy.

How to schedule surgery with our hospital

Please have your veterinarian call to arrange the referral of your pet to our surgery service. We can schedule a consultation with one of our veterinary surgeons to assess your pet's case. In an emergency situation, pets can be seen through our 24-hour emergency service and then scheduled for a consultation with our surgery team.

For new clients

  1. Once we receive a referral from your veterinarian, we will contact you to schedule a consultation appointment with our surgeon.
  2. Your pet will then be assessed in a consultation with our surgeon.
  3. The surgeon will discuss a treatment and diagnostic plan for your pet with you.
  4. You’ll be given an estimate for the most optimal treatment plan for your pet.
  5. Surgery will then be scheduled based on the recommendations of our surgeon.

For referring veterinarians

Please contact our hospital or fill out the online form for your patient that needs a surgical consultation. Thank you for your referral.