Gastric Dilation and Voluulus (GDV) is a life threatening disorder often occurring in large, deep-chested dogs such as Great Danes, Standard Poodles, Dobermans, Old English Sheepdogs, St. Bernard's, Weimaruners, Rottweilers, Bassett Hounds, Irish Setters and Gordon Setters.   GDV occurs when the stomach fills with gas and twists upon itself, requiring emergency surgery to correct it.  While the exact cause is unknown, stress is suspected to contribute to GDV.  Once the stomach twists upon itself, food is no longer able to enter or exit.  The stomach wall becomes necrotic and the dog can go into toxic shock.

Fortunately, we are now able to use a minimally invasive surgical procedure called laparoscopic gastroplexy to prevent GDV.  Through a small incision this laparoscopic technique is done with a tiny, state-of-the-art camera system.  The stomach is attached to the abdominal wall internally, preventing the stomach from twisting on itself.

At PRAH, we offer a new, safer, minimally invasive surgical technique called a "single port laparoscopic spay", where we remove the uterus and both ovaries through a single 1/2" incision instead of the 3 to 5 inch incision required during traditional spay surgery.  This surgical technique is done with the use of a tiny state-of-the-art camera system.  The uterus and ovaries are removed by cauterizing the blood vessels and ligaments, eliminating the tearing of ligaments and possibility of hemorrhage by the main arteries to the ovaries.  This technique reduces the post operative pain by 65% over the traditional method and laparoscopic patients recover more quickly with no major incisions to heal from.

The results of laparoscopic procedures are astounding as we watch animals wake up from anesthesia and stand up as if they've not just had surgery!

Neuters are the surgical removal of both testicles of male dogs and cats.  Besides preventing unwanted litters, neutering pets at an early age (4 to 8 months) will prevent males from marking their territory with urine and other territorial behaviors such as roaming, which often ends in fights or being hit by a car.  Neutering also helps prevent testicular cancer, prostrate cancer, urinary incontinence, and behaviors such as aggression.  We recommend neutering your pet between 4 and 9 months of age.

Contrary to popular belief, neutering does not cause laziness or weight gain, developmental problems, or any adverse behavioral problems.

Some of the other surgeries we offer are:

*Feline Declaws
*Ear Cropping
*C-Sections
*Single Port Laparoscopic Biopsies and Exploratory Surgery

Soft tissue surgeries include suturing lacerations, draining abscesses, and removing tumors or masses which are then tested for cancer cells.  Most masses are benign, but as in humans, early removal and diagnosis is important in the treatment of your pet.

Spays are ovariohysterectomies, the surgical removal of both ovaries and the uterus of female dogs and cats.  Besides preventing unwanted pregnancies and getting rid of messy heat cycles, spaying your pet will also help to prevent mammary, ovarian and uterine cancers and pyomuetra (an infection in the uterus).  Spays can be performed at any time after 4 months of age.  We perform both traditional and laparoscopic spays.    Spaying a female dog before her first heat cycle reduces her chance to less than 1% of developing breast cancer.  If spayed after one heat cycle, the chances increase to 8%, and if spayed after 2 heat cycles, the chances increase to 26%.  Breast cancer is the number one cancer found in dogs and cats.