Our pets are subject to many of the same disorders as humans. If you notice a lump anywhere on your pet, it is best to contact a veterinarian as soon as possible. At Colonial Manor Animal Hospital, our veterinarian has years of experience providing Homer Glen residents with tumor removal services. Pet surgery is a serious commitment and should only be performed when necessary.

What is a Tumor?

A tumor is an abnormal mass or lump of tissue that occurs due to cells dividing more than they should or not dying when they should. These can be cancerous and spread to other areas, or be harmless if in an isolated location. How our veterinarian will handle a tumor depends on whether or not it poses a threat to your pet’s health.

The Most Common Tumors

There are several types of tumors and some are more common than others. The most common tumors seen by our veterinarian include the following.

Mammary Tumors

Highly common in both dogs and cats, these are lumps that form in the mammary areas of the animal. More than 50% of these are completely harmless.

Mast Cell Tumors

These are the most common skin tumors in dogs, and often harmless.

Injection-Site Sarcomas

These tumors are most common in cats and typically form around injection sites of shots and vaccines.

The Tumor Removal Process

Pet surgery has grown to be nearly as advanced as human surgery over the past few decades. Pet surgery typically involves the following.

Anesthesia

Your pet will need to be placed under anesthesia during the tumor removal procedure. Anesthesia allows our veterinarian to perform the procedure efficiently and with minimal discomfort for your pet.

Surgery

In most cases, the tumor is simply cut away. The goal of our vet is to be sure to cut out the cells to halt the irregular growth of cells by removing the tumor from your pet’s body. The incisions are then closed with staples or stitches.

Biopsy

Biopsies are often performed in the surrounding areas to ensure that the entire growth was removed.

Since 1965, when Dr. George Ihrke founded the Colonial Manor Animal Hospital in Homer Glen, our staff has worked to help our pets and their families make it through difficult times. Our team of veterinarians, which also includes Dr. David Ihrke and support staff continue the mission to the highest standard of quality and care for our pet patients and their human companions.

We understand that people consider their cats, dogs, birds, reptiles and any other sort of pet a bona fide member of the family, without a modifier. Your veterinarian in Homer Glen understands your fears if you hear that your small animal or exotic pet needs to undergo any type of surgery, and we strive to do everything possible to provide you with as much information and preparation tips as possible to avoid surprises and so you can help your pet recover from any type of pet surgery—orthopedic surgery, for instance—quickly and completely.

What Are Some Reasons to Consider Pet Surgery with a Homer Glen Veterinarian?

You, like many pet lovers, may wonder what circumstances could possibly lead to the need for a Lockport veterinarian to perform an orthopedic surgical procedure on your beloved pet. There is more than one answer to this potential issue that animal lovers may one day face. Consider a few of the possible reasons you may need to consider consulting an orthopedic surgeon for pets:

• Accidents Happen to Everyone, Even Our Pets. An accidental run-in with a car, a fall from a great height, or anything else that creates tremendous force can cause a cat or dog’s leg to break.
• Fracture Repair Aside from helping with the pain a fracture or a broken limb will cause your pet, our experienced Veterinarians can help with plates, pins, and other specialized solutions tailored to your animal.
• Degenerative and Inflammatory ConditionsDegenerative conditions can cause intense pain for animals.
• TPLO (tibial plateau leveling osteotomy)This surgery is to correct injuries to the cruciate ligament (your dog’s knee). Usually affecting larger breeds, this painful injury can be permanently repaired by adapting the function of this joint.
• Diagnostic ArthroscopyThis minimally invasive diagnostic tool can be used under the skin to view orthopedic or soft tissue problems within the joint, giving you more information to make and informed decision.
• Congenital and Breed-Related Problems. Luxating patellas, or knee problems, are common in many breeds of dogs while disc disease is common in dachshunds, cocker spaniels and poodles. There are several conditions specific to certain breeds, often related to a combination of factors, such as build and weight.

No matter what the reason, our Homer Glen veterinarian staff cares about you and your pet regarding their orthopedic surgical care, and we will do everything possible to make the surgical process easier for you and your pet.

Pet surgery may be necessary for a variety of reasons, but if you must schedule this form of pet care, you no doubt want it to be as easy and comfortable a procedure as possible for your special friend. That’s why our Homer Glen animal hospital is proud to offer state-of-the-art pet laser surgery. Our advanced equipment and techniques can help your pet get through his surgery with flying colors, especially as administered by the skilled hand of our Homer Glen veterinarian, Dr. David Ihrke.

How Does Laser Surgery Work?

Laser surgery may sound like science fiction, but in fact this technique has been in use since the 1960s, refined and perfected over the decades to reach its current sophisticated state. The laser itself is a device that emits a beam of focused, amplified light. Different types of medical lasers operate in different frequency ranges to convey various benefits, including deep tissue healing; a surgical laser has sufficient energy to make incisions by vaporizing tissue. Our Homer Glen veterinarian’s surgical  laser does the same job that a scalpel has traditionally done — and it can do it even better.

Advantages of Laser Surgery for Pets

Laser surgery for pets offers some distinct and meaningful advantages over traditional surgical techniques. Some of the most compelling reasons to prefer this high-tech form of pet care include:

• Minimal tissue damage – A surgical laser can slice through tissue more finely than the sharpest scalpel. This produces the thinnest possible incision with a minimum of damage to surrounding tissues.
• Reduced bleeding – A surgical laser’s energy not only cuts; it also cauterizes. The beam seals the wound at the incision site instantly, dramatically reducing the amount of blood loss and tissue swelling while also reducing the risk of infection.
• Less discomfort – In addition to sealing off the wound itself and any involved blood vessels, the surgical laser used by our veterinarian in Home Glen also seals nerves that may have to be cut during the procedure. Sealing the nerves eliminates much of the pain associated with pet surgery.
• Speedier healing – A smaller, more neatly-sealed incision by our veterinarian in Homer Glen sets the stage for speedier healing with fewer potential post-surgical complications. That means your pet feels better and regains function sooner.

When your pet needs to undergo pet surgery you want the best for them. That’s why we offer advanced soft tissue surgery at your animal hospital in Homer Glen. Here at the Colonial Manor Animal Hospital we use soft tissue pet surgery for a variety of surgical procedures. Learn more with these frequently asked questions we often get from pet owners.

What is Advanced Soft Tissue Surgery for Pets as Offered by My Veterinarian in Lockport?

Advanced soft tissue surgery uses diagnostic imaging. This allows us to treat injuries and ailments in the soft tissue areas of an animal’s body. Soft tissue areas are those that do not involve the musculoskeletal system or central nervous system. It is a safe and effective way to perform a variety of operations. We use this type of surgery to treat animals of all sizes ranging from dogs and cats to exotic species including birds.

What Types of Pet Surgery can be Completed Using Soft Tissue Surgery?

Soft tissue surgery is useful for many types of pet surgery. Surgery involving the eyes, ears, throat, and lungs can be completed using soft tissue procedures. For example, we offer oncology surgery, as well as declawing, using this type of operation. We also use this type of pet surgery to handle traumatic injuries following accidents, such as car accidents. If your pet needs to undergo spay and neuter, please note that we use soft tissue surgery for many elective surgeries such as these. Stomach-related procedures, such as abdominal surgery, gastrointestinal surgery, and mass removals, are also achieved via soft tissue surgery.

Is Advanced Soft Tissue Surgery a Safe Choice for a Pet Surgery?

Yes, advanced soft tissue surgery is safe for pets. However, you must choose an animal hospital that offers experience and training with this type of surgical procedure. Please contact Colonial Manor Animal Hospital, your leading Lockport veterinarian for pet surgery.

Why Should I Choose a Veterinarian in Homer Glen for Animal Surgery for My Pet?

As your top rated Homer Glen veterinarian we are highly skilled and experienced with many types of animal surgery. However, advanced soft tissue surgery is one of our specialties. Speak with your preferred Lockport veterinarian here at the Colonial Manor Animal Hospital to set up advanced soft tissue surgery for your pet. Each of our animal doctors will communicate with you from start to finish pertaining the surgery. Our main goal is for the pet surgery to be stress-free for both you and your pet.

Veterinarians see many dogs with cranial cruciate ligament damage. This ligament is similar to the ACL in humans and can be vulnerable to injury. A number of procedures are available to repair these injuries. The TPLO procedure is showing promise as a reliable remedy with a high success rate. At Colonial Manor Animal Hospital in Homer Glen, IL, we can provide TPLO orthopedic surgery for pets to improve their mobility. Learn more here.