Pet Surgery
At Willapa Veterinary Service, we offer veterinary surgery in Raymond, WA, including soft-tissue and orthopedic procedures.
Pet Surgery in Raymond, WA
We are currently performing advanced orthopedic and soft tissue procedures in our Raymond facility. We also perform TPLO, fracture repairs, routine spays and neuters, mass removals, and other less complex surgeries as well. Our surgeon, Dr. Jim Belknap, is board certified by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and has over 30 years of experience performing complex surgeries on a referral basis. Jim started as an equine surgeon at referral surgical centers at Auburn and Ohio State University Colleges of Veterinary Medicine before transitioning to small animal surgery.
Jim has been performing small animal surgeries in our Raymond facility for approximately three years and continues to expand the number of surgeries performed at the practice. He enjoys working with referring veterinarians and emphasizes to the owners that our practice will only treat the pet for items related to the surgical procedure and will send the pet back to the original practice for all further care. Jim performs all preoperative consults with the owners, laying out the different surgical and non-surgical alternatives, applying no pressure to the owners to make their decision. In patients who go to surgery, Jim puts a great emphasis on continued personal follow-up communication with the owner until the animals have fully recovered.
Our Surgical Services
Pet Lameness Examination and Treatment
Dr. Belknap has a great interest in diagnosing and treating canine lameness, including those not responsive to NSAIDs (i.e., meloxicam, carprofen). In many cases of osteoarthritis in canine patients ranging from athletes to geriatric dogs, Jim performs joint injections (similar to that performed in humans), which can dramatically affect the animal’s performance and quality of life.
Veterinary Soft Tissue Surgery
This is any surgery not related to bones or joints. It can be routine elective procedures such as neuters and spays to much more complicated intra-abdominal surgeries. Our veterinary personnel does a careful evaluation that determines whether or not your pet requires soft tissue surgery. We strive to make your pet’s procedure as safe and comfortable as possible before, during, and after the surgery. Our veterinarians use the safest and most effective anesthesia to manage your pet’s pain during soft tissue surgery. We will closely monitor your pet’s vitals throughout the process.
Surgeries of the head and neck including:
- Entropion, eyelid masses, etc.
- Corrective surgery for brachycephalic airway syndrome
Abdominal surgeries including:
- Gastropexy
- Exploratory surgeries of the abdomen
- Splenectomy, liver mass resection
- Surgery of the gastrointestinal tract
- Foreign body removal, resection/anastomoses
- Biopsy for diagnostics
- C-section
- Tumor resections-including advanced/complicated tumors with reconstructive/plastic surgery
Veterinary Orthopedic Surgery
Orthopedic surgery is the branch of surgery concerned with conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedic surgeons use both surgical and nonsurgical means to treat musculoskeletal trauma, sports injuries, infections, tumors, and congenital disorders.
At Willapa Veterinary Service, we have invested the capital and time required for proper training on the equipment needed to perform complex orthopedic procedures with accuracy and efficiency.
We perform many types of orthopedic (bone) surgeries, including:
- TPLO for cranial cruciate ligament rupture
- Corrective surgery for medial (and lateral) patellar luxation
- Internal fixation for fractures
- Joint arthrodesis (i.e., pancarpal arthrodesis) for severe osteoarthritis and injuries
- Corrective surgeries for limb deformities